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unplanned settlements and poor waste management,
the coastal area has become pollution hotspot which has
contributed to the deterioration in surface and ground
water quality.
In general the estuaries and deltas of Sierra Leone are found
to be in good condition and stable. Estuaries and bays
around Freetown receive most of the effluents from the
industries. Pesticides from agricultural run-offs may also
enter the estuaries as well as sediments from river mining
activities and the indiscriminate clearing of the mangroves
and forests. The most affected (worst) places are along the
Freetown coastline and the best places are found along the
Freetown peninsula coastline and in the north and south
of the country.
4.2. Small bays
The bays and estuaries support diverse ecosystems
for which inhabitants of the coastal areas and beyond
derive their livelihood. Around these coastal water bodies
occur extensive fringes of mangroves, tidal swamps
and intertidal mud flats. Because of their location near
terrestrial sediment sources, the estuaries and bays
contain large amounts of nutrients. The combination of
this nutrient supply with generally shallow water gives
rise to a diverse and large flora and fauna. These areas
are important as a source of recreation, transportation
and food and also they serve as a receptacle for waste
disposal.
According to the assessment, small bays are in fairly good
condition in Sierra Leone.
4.3. Beaches (sandy beaches)
In general, beaches are found to be in good condition.
Ten percent of the best beaches along the Sierra Leone’s
coastline are all-natural without major human influences
and are mainly sandy facing the eastern Atlantic (e.g. Kent
beach). The worst ten percent include the Goderich, Lakka
and Hamilton beaches, all of which show signs of erosion.
This is mainly due to sand extraction activities taking place
at those sites. The Lumley beach is probably undergoing
erosion due to the changing regime of the sea (accelerated
sea level rise). Most of the beaches outside the western
area do not have tourist recreational facilities and are used
mainly as fish landing sites: e.g. Tombo, Shenge, Konakridi,
Kambia, Pujehun, Port Loko, Moyamba and Bonthe. The
best places are along the Turner’s peninsular.
The sandy beaches are in generally good condition.
4.4. Rocky coasts and islands
The biodiversity of the rocky shores include mollusks,
barnacles, oysters, mussels, periwinkles, limpets,
gastropods, algae and coralline sponges. The loss of
biodiversity and integrity of rocky coasts is mainly due
to human activities, e.g. infrastructure development and
resource exploitation such as sand and stone excavation,
but also sea level rise. The wildlife observed include birds,
lizards, crabs and mollusks.
In most places, the rocky coasts are in very good condition.
However most of the islands are being eroded namely,
Plantain, Yeliboya and Bunce Islands.