Somalia’s 3,333 km coastline is the longest in Africa and is characterized by a diversity of ecosystems and an abundance of natural resources. Ecologically, the coast is split into two distinct zones – the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean coastline. The offshore Somali coastal area is one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world. These ecosystems include mangrove swamps, estuaries, rocky shores, coastal wetlands and coral reefs. Somalia has one of the most important large marine ecosystems in the Indian Ocean, known as the Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystem.
The coast of Somalia has fringing coral reefs in the Bajuni Archipelago and patches of coral reefs along the Gulf of Aden coastline. Coral communities are well developed consisting of 27 genera and 63 species.
Small cetaceans are abundant in the waters off Somalia. In a survey by Schleyer and Baldwin in 1999, large schools of delphinids were recorded. Common dolphins,, spinner dolphin, , spotted dolphin, , humpback dolphin, and bottlenose dolphin, were all recorded. Turtle species have been recorded in Somali waters, namely loggerhead, hawksbill, olive ridley and leatherback. Green turtles have traditionally been recorded to nest along Somalia’s east coast. Additionally, there are ten endemic bird species in Somalia.
Somalia has six mangrove species. Most of the mangroves in Somalia are found along the southwest coast although isolated pockets of Avicennia marina grow on the northern coast behind sand spits and along the Gulf of Aden.
In 2007, mangroves in Somalia occupied an area of about 1 000 ha, mainly in the Juba/Shebele estuary, along the creeks of Istambul, Kudha and Burgavo, and on the sheltered side of the barrier islands.
Seagrass beds in Somalia are limited to an extensive area along the southern coast from Adale to Ras Chiamboni and few beds along the North coast. Seven species of seagrasses have been identified in Somalia, with T. ciliatum being abundant in most areas
 FAO (2007). The world’s mangroves 1980-2005. A thematic study prepared in the framework of the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005 FAO. Rome
Pwani ya Somalia yenye urefu wa kilomita 3333 ni ndefu zaidi barani Afrika na ina mazingira mbalimbali na rasilimali nyingi za asili. Kijiolojia, pwani imegawanywa katika maeneo mawili tofauti - Ghuba ya Aden na pwani ya Bahari ya Hindi. Eneo la pwani ya Somalia ni mojawapo ya mifumo ya ikolojia ya baharini yenye kuzaa zaidi ulimwenguni. Mifumo hiyo ya ikolojia inatia ndani mabwawa ya mangrove, vijito vya maji, pwani zenye miamba, maeneo ya mvua ya pwani na matumbawe. "Somalia ina moja ya mifumo mikubwa ya ikolojia ya baharini muhimu zaidi katika Bahari ya Hindi, inayojulikana kama ""Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystem.""" Pwani ya Somalia ina matumbawe ya matumbawe katika Visiwa vya Bajuni na sehemu za matumbawe kando ya pwani ya Ghuba ya Aden. Mimea ya matumbawe ni ya aina mbalimbali, na ina jamii 27 na spishi 63. Nyangumi wadogo ni wengi katika maji ya pwani ya Somalia. Katika uchunguzi uliofanywa na Schleyer na Baldwin mwaka wa 1999, makundi makubwa ya dolphinids yaliandikwa. Pomboo wa kawaida, pomboo wa spinner, pomboo wa spotted, pomboo wa humpback, na pomboo wa bottlenose, wote walirekodiwa. Spishi za kasa zimerekodiwa katika maji ya Somalia, yaani loggerhead, hawksbill, olive ridley na leatherback. Kwa kawaida kasa wa kijani-kibichi wamerekodiwa wakifanya viota kwenye pwani ya mashariki ya Somalia. Kwa kuongezea, kuna spishi kumi za ndege wa asili nchini Somalia. Somalia ina spishi sita za misitu ya mangrove. Mangrove nyingi nchini Somalia zinapatikana kwenye pwani ya kusini magharibi, ingawa vijiji vya Avicenna vinaongezeka kwenye pwani ya kaskazini nyuma ya matumbawe ya mchanga na kando ya Ghuba ya Aden. Mnamo mwaka wa 2007, misitu ya mangrove nchini Somalia ilichukua eneo la karibu hekta 1,000, hasa katika mto wa Juba na Shebele, kando ya vijito vya Istanbul, Kuda na Burgavo, na upande wa ulinzi wa visiwa vya kizuizi. Mimea ya majani ya bahari nchini Somalia ni mdogo kwa eneo kubwa kando ya pwani ya kusini kutoka Adale hadi Ras Chiamboni na vitanda vichache kando ya pwani ya Kaskazini. Aina saba za magugu ya baharini yametambuliwa nchini Somalia, na T. ciliatum ni nyingi katika maeneo mengi. Mangroves za Dunia 1980-2005 Mafunzo ya utafiti wa misitu ya kimataifa ya FAO Roma