Coast KZN

Defining the Coastal Zone

Admiralty Reserve

The main functions of the AR are environmental (biodiversity conservation, particularly of coastal dune vegetation); provision of public access to the beach which is essential for recreation and tourism, and therefore has an economic benefit; geomorphological by providing dune stability and ensuring that the natural coastal processes of sand transport and deposition are not hampered in this dynamic coastal zone; and legal through providing a buffer strip which assists in the administration and control of the beach and sea-shore.

Admiralty Reserve in KwaZulu Natal

July 2008


"The Admiralty Reserve forms part of the range of zones that describe the coast along with the seashore, I coastal waters and coastal buffer zone. It is generally described as a strip of land between 150 to 200 feet (45 m to 60 m) wide, inland of the high water mark. However, it is not a continuous line along the coast, officially only being present where the land is owned by the State and/or where it is described in title deeds. 


The Admiralty Reserve (AR) forms an important part of the sensitive coastal zone; however, its origins and exact location along the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) shoreline were not well documented or understood. For this reason, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Planning and Development Commission took a decision to research the Admiralty Reserve, specifically: to map its location and extent, to highlight key issues and to make recommendations regarding the future administration of the AR.


The initial research was completed in 1997. Since that time, there have been considerable changes in both the legislation and policy concerning the coastline, as well as changes to the institutional structures at local government level. A decision was taken in 2007 to update the previous research, paying particular attention to how current legislation has, or will affect the status of the AR, to produce a new set of maps showing the extent of the Admiralty Reserve, to highlight the key issues and to update the recommendations regarding the administration of the Admiralty Reserve."