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“In all of the world’s oceans, there are few coastal areas that
can claim to be as free of pollution as the coastal waters of
Namibia.
Contributing to this pristine environment is the absence
of large towns and heavy industry.
Namibia’s coastline is
approximately 1570 kms in length and is for the most part
unpopulated.
The coastal waters are, however, heavily fished and there are
mining and prospecting activities for diamonds and oil.
These
activities have an impact on the ecosystem and through the
introduction of pollutants and ecosystem disturbance, can degrade
the coastal environment. Other threats come from global
environmental change.
Namibia’s coastal waters are probably more sensitive to global
climate changes than most, as the coastal environment relies on
active upwelling cells to maintain a high rate of productivity.
Upwelling depends entirely on prevailing wind patterns, which are very
sensitive to global climate
Change.”
Molloy & Reinikainen 2003
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