Fringing reefs are numerous along the northern coastline away from river mouths and around the offshore islands, with mangroves and patch reefs on the western shores and simpler reef profiles along exposed eastern shores. Over 50 hard coral genera and over 300 reef fish species have been recorded from the Quirimbass Archipelago. Diversity and coral cover appear to be lower in the Primeiro and Segundo Archipelagos, which may be related to cold water upwellings, but this region has extensive seagrass and important dugong and turtle populations. There are also reported to be large seabird nesting colonies on some of these islands.

Coral reefs in Mozambique form the basis for tropical fisheries supporting about 6.6 million people in 48 coastal administrative districts. The status of most reefs is good, with high cover of hard and soft corals, although the fish population abundance is very low or is dominated by small size classes of herbivore fish.

Primeiras and Segundas Archipelago: A chain of coral islands surrounded by fringing reefs in Northern Mozambique: surveys confirm that these are the best reefs in Mozambique, not only in terms of diversity, but also their conservation status. Fish (194 species in 42 families) have been identified as well as 43 hard coral genera and 15 soft corals. This area was proposed as a MPA in 2004 and is now being processed by the Government.