The presence of kelp on ’s beaches WHYWHY IS KELPIS KELP SO SO provides a variety of environmental, social and IMPORTANTIMPORTANT TO TO CAPE CAPE economic benefts. The indiscriminate removal of kelp in large quantities can have an impact on the functional TOWN’STOWN’S BEACHES BEACHES integrity of coastal ecosystems, which may have a ANDAND WHY WHY DO DO WE WE number of ‘knock-on’ consequences.7 Some of the benefts that beach-cast kelp provides in Cape Town NEEDNEED TO TO MANAGE MANAGE IT? IT? include the following:

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Gaynor Schoeman a Adriaan Grobler b

The presenceThe presence of kelp of onkelp Cape on Cape Town’s Town’s beaches beaches traps traps The presence of kelp on beaches attracts a range wind-blownwind-blown sand, sand, creating creating a ‘thicker’ a ‘thicker’ beach. beach. This This of organisms which break the kelp down through is importantis important as more as moresand sandon beaches on beaches contributes contributes the decomposition process. This process is vital to establishingto establishing a natural a natural buffer buffer against against erosion erosion and and for the nutrient cycle3 which is necessary for the will helpwill withhelp protectingwith protecting dunes dunes from windfrom windand wave and wave establishment of pioneer foral species such as energy.energy.6 A ‘thicker’6 A ‘thicker’ beach beach and well-established and well-established dune spinach (Tetragonia decumbens)a and the dunesdunes offer offerprotection protection to abutting to abutting coastal coastal public public seepampoen (Arctotheca populifolia)b. and privateand private infrastructure infrastructure during during storm storm surges surges.5 .5

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Peter Ryan

KELP MANAGEMENT This vegetationThis vegetation is important is important for creating for creating and stabilising and stabilising Beaches where kelp is frequently removed show low sand sanddunes. dunes. Wind-blown Wind-blown sand sandthat is that not is stabilised not stabilised insect abundance and biodiversity.4 Shorebirds feed ON CAPE TOWN’S can leadcan tolead the to smothering the smothering of coastal of coastal infrastructure infrastructure on insects attracted to the kelp. Studies indicate such assuch walkways, as walkways, roads roads and even and evenprivate private property. property. that coastal ecosystems and shorebird populations BEACHES are at risk of possible collapse due to loss of insects as a food source after sustained kelp removal.8 Prepared by: Coastal Management Branch Environmental Management Department Queries: [email protected] 3 3 Tel: 021 487 2284 / 021 487 2350

AccumulatedAccumulated kelp onkelp a beachon a beach provides provides a physical a physical Haydn Basson bufferbuffer against against wave wave attack. attack. AREAS WHERE THE KELP REMOVAL PERMITS AND CITY REMOVES KELP APPLICABLE LEGISLATION A DELICATE Guided by the principles of achieving a balance It is illegal to remove kelp from the beach (or the ocean) BALANCING ACT between social and environmental needs, the City for commercial purposes without frst obtaining a permit currently removes kelp from the following beaches: from the National Department of Environment, Forestry While kelp provides a range of environmental and Fisheries in terms of the Marine Living Resources and social benefts, it can at times cause a West Coast and Atlantic Seaboard Act 18 of 1998. Provided a permit is obtained as per public nuisance: the requirements of the Marine Living Resources Act, • Southern half of Small Bay, people may collect kelp for personal use; however, it • , • Kelp can wash up in large quantities, may not exceed 10 kg per person, per day. Permits for obstructing or impeding access by • Rocklands Beach, Sea Point personal use may be obtained from a post offce. the public to and along the beach; • Queen’s Beach, Sea Point • Under certain conditions it can attract • Saunders’ Rocks, Sea Point large quantities of kelp fies; and • Clifton 2nd, 3rd and 4th Beach • Beach For further information on the ’s • Under certain circumstances, kelp can coastal cleaning protocol, visit: http://www.capetown. • Western section of Beach generate an unpleasant odour. gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/nature-and-outdoors/ Coastline our-beaches-and-coast/conserving-our-coast The City has developed a kelp management • Southern section of Beach References protocol which addresses the nuisance component of kelp, while simultaneously • Danger Beach, St James 1. Bolton, J. & Blamey, L. (2017). Kelps in are thriving, but some key inhabitants of kelp forests are not. ensuring that the ecological benefts of • St James, opposite tidal pool The Conversation. kelp are retained. The protocol guides the • , Surfers Corner 2. Carolus, A. & Bowen, D. (2020). What is kelp? Everything City’s management of kelp and is based • Blue Waters Coastal Resort, you need to know about this marvellous seaweed. on the following principles: • Monwabisi Beach, www.aquarium.co.za • Gordon’s Bay, adjacent main beach parking facility 3. Coupland, G. T., Duarte, C. M. & Walker, D. I. (2007). • Beach-cast kelp is only removed from High metabolic rates in beach-cast communities. beaches that are considered highly Ecosystems, 10(8), 1341-1350. altered environments (i.e. no longer 4. Gilburn, A. S. (2012). Mechanical grooming and beach considered as functional or productive Did you know? and Namibia award status are associated with low strandline biodiversity ecosystems) and which are popular are the only countries in Africa that have kelp in Scotland. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 107, 81-88. recreational destinations. Kelp is currently forests. Kelp forests are recognised as one of 5. Nordstrom, K. F., Lampe, R. & Vandemark, L. M. (2000). removed from approximately 1% of the the most productive and dynamic ecosystems Re-establishing naturally functioning dunes on developed total length of Cape Town’s coastline. on Earth – as productive per unit area as a coasts. Environmental Management, 25(1), 37-51. • Beach-cast kelp is left on beaches that tropical rain forest. They provide food and 6. Nordstrom, K. F., Jackson, N. L., Hartman, J. M. & Wong, M. (2007). Aeolian sediment transport on a human altered are in a more natural state and which are shelter for many species, including seals, fsh, invertebrates, whales, sea otters and seabirds. foredune. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 32(1), less popular in terms of recreational use. 102-115. South Africa’s kelp forests are home to some • Kelp may be removed when it washes up fsh species that are found nowhere else in 7. Nordstrom, K. F., Jackson, N. L. & Korotky, K. H. (2011). in excessive amounts (typically during the world. These forests also absorb energy Aeolian sediment transport across beach wrack. Journal of Coastal Research, 211-217. winter months after severe storms). from rough seas which reduces the erosive potential during storms. 8. Orr, K. K. (2013). Predicting the ecosystem effects of harvesting beach-cast kelp for biofuel. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Aberdeen).