MARINE PARKS & RESERVES : A PRICELESS HERITAGE

Twenty-six years ago, in 1975, Tanzania designated her first national marine reserves to protect her rich marine heritage. 

There were 7 reserves including the 4 small islands close to Dar es Salaam city, 2 sites in Mafia Island and 1 near Tanga. Resources for managing these areas were very scarce at that time, whilst threats were ever increasing.

Local coastal communities were denied access rights to marine resources within gazetted marine reserves. Little attention was paid on people's welfare to try and preserve these areas compounding basic conflicts increase between conservation and livelihood security. 

Unlawful fishing practices thrived, such as dynamite and beach-seine nets, to the detriment of marine habitats, particularly the fragile coral reef ecosystems.
 

To rectify the Government reviewed its marine heritage status and enacted a new Marine Parks and Reserves Act (1994) that embodies a more holistic strategy towards marine protected area (MPA) conservation. 

The Act has revolutionised how we shall protect our marine resources in the Tanzanian mainland by emphasising participation with communities and stakeholders.

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ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN MAFIA ISLAND MARINE PARK

The Tanzania shoreline has an extensive system of diverse marine and coastal habitats, which support some of the richest concentrations of biodiversity in the East African Marine Ecoregion. These vital ecosystems are currently under severe threat due to combined impact of population pressure, poverty, overexploitation and other destructive human activities.

It has been increasingly recognized that an integrated and holistic approach is necessary for the sound and sustainable management of these invaluable life support systems. In this context environmental education and training assume a pivotal role.

The new Environmental Education Strategy and Action Plan (EESAP) for Mafia Island Marine Park has been recognized as an essential element in the sustainable development process by the marine park's partners. The launching of the EESAP by the Park, with support from WWF, signifies another positive step in guiding a marine park at Mafia Island to its ultimate goal of sustainability

Some of the most pressing problems of Mafia district include depletion of both renewable and non-renewable resources; haphazard solid waste disposal; unsustainable agricultural practices; loss of biodiversity; poverty; population pressure and low standard of education

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MAFIA ISLAND MARINE PARK - GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT

Mafia Island Marine Park (MIMP) is the largest marine protected area in the India Ocean (822km) encompassing in the southern part of Mafia Island and an archipelago of several small islands and islets. The park is sandwiched between the Rufiji River delta to the west and the open India Ocean to the east. 

The twin influences of river and sea have combined over thousands of years to create an undersea landscape of unique verity underwater cliffs, tidal channels coral reefs and sea grass meadows. This allows countless different kinds of marine life to exist there and is the basis of mafia's exceptional biodiversity.

The underwater realm is the most diverse and spectacular, hosting an outstanding mosaic of tropical marine life. Outside Kinasi Pass, where Chole Bay empties into the India Ocean, vertical reef walls 15 metres high are patrolled by giant potato grouper, a fish 2 metres long. Smaller Malabar grouper race around on the bottom amidst a host of smaller emperors (changu) triggerfish, sweet lips and angelfish. 

On the surface above bottlenose and spinner dolphin are often seen leaping through the waves, and even an occasional sperm whale or whale shark. In Kinasi Pass itself clouds of yellow and blue-striped Kismiri snapper drift above dramatic undersea cliffs, whilst sting rays lurk in caves beneath. Barracuda and blue fin trevally cruise the main channel scouting for prey, occasionally shadowed by a giant eagle ray or a reef shark.

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THE MAFIA ISLAND TURTLE AND DUGONG CONSERVATION PROGRAMME

It is 5.45 a.m. The air is still and silent except for the occasional screech of sandpiper and the soft sound of waves rolling up the beach. As the pale inky sky blushes red, a small we smile, relieved.

We are at Kifinge bay a long sweeping stretch of sand within the Mafia Island Marine Park on the east coast of Mafia Island. I am with Omari Abdalla and Omari Baruti who are assisting with research on turtles on Mafia Island and who have been monitoring nest on k5 since large Green turtle laid it 68 days previously.

A few moments later a small head emerges, gulping air and looking about with uncertainty. Within half an hour the beach is dotted with tiny turtles propelling themselves forward awkwardly by their front flippers. We guard the young turtle hatchlings on their short but perilous passage from the top of the beach into the sea. 

Amazingly, only 1 in 10,000 turtles are estimated to reach adulthood, so our effort is but a small contribution towards their chances of survival. The first hatchling reaches the water's edge, pauses for a few seconds and then launches itself into the gently lapping waves and out to sea. 

96 hatchlings follow suit and if they are not eaten by fish or caught in fishing nets, it will be another 20 - 30 years before the females amongst them return to Kifinge bay to nest themselves.

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPOINT WARDEN-IN CHARGE FOR MNAZI BAY

The Board of Trustees have appointed Mr.Ernest Milali Machumu as the Warden-in charge for the new Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary marine park, gazetted in 2000.

Mr.Machumu is a career and seasoned tropical marine biologist previously serving as zone coordinator in margrave management stationed at Lindi and Tanga regions.

MPRU Secretariat welcomes him onboard and wishes him triumph in hs new and challenging endeavor.
 

MNAZI BAY-RUVUMA ESTUARY-A MARINE PARK IN THE MAKING

A new project at Mnazi Bay in Mtwara Region is expected to get under way within the next few months to support the development of the new marine park gazzetted there in 2000. 

The park will be a zoned, multiple-use marine park, similar in concept to the existing park at Mafia Island that will protect globally important examples of coral reef, mangrove and estuarine systems. The new park will address the root causes of biodiversity loss, and empower the local community to manage effectively, and utilize sustainable, the biodiversity resources on which their livelihoods depend.

Mnazi Bay I Ruvuma Estuary is located in southern Tanzania. The Government of Tanzania and the UNDP/WorId Bank Global Environment Facility (GEF) will jointly fund the 4.5 yr project. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) will provide technical support.
 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ADOPTS VISION AND MISSION STATEMNTS FOR MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN MAINLAND TANZANIA

The basis for long-term strategic planning for marine protected areas in mainland Tanzania was strengthened by the board 's recent adoption of Vision and Mission statements' processes is to enlist the involvement and strong support and commitment of all appropriate stakeholders.

CHOLE BAY, MAFIA - A DIVER'S PARADISE

Probably the most outstanding part of Mafia Island Marine Park's marine environment is the wonderful Chole Bay, which is fast becoming a 'Mecca ' for SCUBA divers from around the world .It is a vast circular bay over 50 sq km in size with a depth varying from 1 to 27 metres, and a tremendous variety of coral, fish and other marine species (see articles on p13 of this issue). 

An important feature of Chole Bay is that the water is continuously exchanged as fresh ocean water flushes in through Kinasi Pass every flood tide. This may be one reason why the extensive coral bleaching that obliterated corals In most other parts of the Indian Ocean in 1998.This happened when sea temperatures in the Indian Ocean became unusually high as a consequence of the ''El Nino'' in 1997.

As a result, Chole Bay's coral reefs remained largely intact and even the damaged areas are regenerating well. This is increasingly attracting SCUBA divers fed up looking at moribund coral structures in other Indian Ocean locations.

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