ESTUARIES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Useful links

Recreational fishing (2005). http://www.environment.gov.za/HotIssues/2005/fishingBrochure/RECREATIONAL_FISHING_Bro.pdf

Main Page	General Information	Catchment Characteristics	Ecology	Water Quality
Threats	References	Hydrodynamics and mouth dynamics	Physical Features	Climate
LOURENS RIVER ESTUARY: Land and Estuary Uses

	Residential
	The villages of Somerset West and Strand are located next to the Lourens River (Ref. 2).

	Agricultural
	There are no agricultural lands adjacent to the estuary, but in the middle reaches of the river there is still some agricultural land, used for grazing.

	Industrial
	The Lourens Estuary lies in the restricted area belonging to the explosives company AECI. Just inland of the estuary the river is bounded by a golf course on the western side and a residential area on the eastern side.

	Recreation
	The Lourens Estuary is currently a bird sanctuary. The beach to the east of the AECI boundary, next to the Lourens Estuary is a public space used for recreational purposes such as swimming, sailing, picnicking, surfing and Life-saving training

	Conservation
	Between the mouth of the Eerste River and the mouth of the Lourens River, no fishing is aloud in the Helderberg Marine Protected Area, which stretches 500m seawards of the high water mark.Only shore angling (and no other type of fishing) is allowed between the mouth of the Lourens River, and the eastern breakwater of the harbour at Gordon’s Bay, extending 500 m seawards (Ref. 4).