Page 239 - Atlas Sea Birds Ver1

Port of Ngqura
Coordinates: 33.81 S; 25.69 E
Description: The new Port of Ngqura, at the mouth of the
Coega River, became operational in 2009 and is located
within the Coega Special Economic Zone. Additional
infrastructure developments within the port are ongoing.
The main Kelp Gull breeding colony is within the port on
the west side of the harbour entrance. This colony has
relocated from its former nesting area on the Coega River
saltpans.Several pairs of Kelp Gull (included in the counts
below) breed adjacent to the Coega River mouth, mainly in
the hummock dunes (Martin 2021).
Conservation status: The Port of Ngqura is an expanding Old Abalone farm ( photo AP Martin)
operational port with no protected areas within the port.
The Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area, a
gazetted on 23 May 2019, covers much of Algoa Bay east 2019 2
of the Port of Ngqura below the high-water mark. At its 2020 a 2
closest point the MPA is 166m from the Ngqura eastern 2021 a 1
breakwater and includes Jahleel Island, 530m from the
eastern breakwater. a Martin AP (unpubl.)
Species and numbers breeding: Note: Approximately six pairs of Kelp Gulls nest along the
coast between the Port of Ngqura and Old Abalone Farm
Kelp Gull each year.
Year No. of pairs Damara Tern
2011 a 60 Year No. of pairs
2013 a 159 1983 a 1
2017 a 344 1990 b 1
2020 b 401 1999 c 1
2021 a 435 2007 d 3
2008 c 3-5
a Martin AP (unpubl.)
b Martin (2021) 2009 d 5
Notes:The Kelp Gull colony relocated from the Coega River 2010 c 2-3
saltpans soon after the Port of Ngqura was constructed. 2011 c 3-4

Old Abalone Farm 2012 c 5
Coordinates: 33.78 S; 25.72 E 2013 c 2
Description: A mobile dunefield between the Port of 2014 c 0
Ngqura and the Old Abalone Farm in Zone 10 of the
Coega Special Economic Zone. Sand mining has impacted 2015 c 10-12
approximately 50% of the original 100 ha dunefield to date 2016 c 4-6
and the Coega Mining Right continues to exploit sand 2017 c 1
from dunes adjacent to the Damara Tern colony. Damara
Terns breed in slacks between the dunes between 60m 2018 c 2
and 450m of the high-water mark (AP Martin unpubl. 2019 c 3-5
information). 2020 c 5
Conservation status: Most of the Damara Tern nests are
within a 10ha section, designed to protect the colony from 2021 c 9
development, of the Coega Open Space Management Plan The year shown is that in which the split-year breeding
(OSMP). However, the colony is moving northeast with the season starts.
wind-driven dunes and several nests now fall outside of the Where a range is indicated:
OSMP. In addition to sand mining, industrial developments Minimum = number pairs proven breeding (eggs/chicks);
are planned in the vicinity of the colony. The Addo Elephant Maximum = number of pairs on breeding territory.
National Park Marine Protected Area,gazetted on 23 May a Watson and Randall (1995)
2019, covers much of Algoa Bay east of the Port of Ngqura b Martin (1991)
below the high-water mark. c Martin AP (unpubl.)
Species and numbers breeding: d Whittington et al. (2015)

Kelp Gull Dunes east of Coega (Jan se Gat)
Year No. of pairs Coordinates: 33.76 S; 25.75 E
2011 a 1 Description: An approximately 60ha, mobile dunefield
on the eastern boundary of the Coega Special Economic
2018 a 1 Zone.

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