Qn 01; What is a marine park or marine reserve?

Ans;  Are designated areas of mainland Tanzania,declared under the Marine Parks and Reserves Act. No.29 of 1994.They include:
- Any area within territorial waters or the exclusive economic zone or any island or coastal area declared as a marine park or reserve by the Minister for the time being responsible for marine parks and reserves.

- all submerged or dry land, waters, airspace, tideland and subsoil within the area as described in the declaration notice or general management plan of the area and

- a buffer zone, namely any area outside of, but generally adjacent to, a marine park boundary that is designated as such under the General Management Plan of the park in question.

N.B In Zanzibar (including Pemba),marine protected areas are designated under separate legislation specific to Zanzibar.Gazetted areas include:
1. Chumbe Island Marine Sanctuary.
2. Menai Bay Conservation Area (MBCA) in Unguja.
3. Mnemba Conservation Area in Unguja.
4. Misali Island Conservation Area (MICA) in Pemba.

Qn 02; What is a distinction between Marine Park and Marine Reserve ?

Ans; A Marine Reserve, from functional (where some resource use occurs) to preservation, constitutes a defined space of coastal, marine resources and environment to which specific forms of management is applied which normally includes limited entry, e.g, Bongoyo and Mbudya Island Marine Reserves,
     
whereas,

      A Marine Park is a specialised version of a marine reserve where various community users and habitation is encouraged through a strict zonation scheme, and emphasis on education, recreation and preservation is highly recommended through participatory management approaches, e.g., Mafia Island Marine Park.

Qn 03; Why create a marine protected area (MPA)?

Ans; The primary reason for creating "marine protected areas' include:
> To preserve biological diversity.
> To maintain essential ecological processes and life support system.
> To ensure the sustainable utilisation of species and ecosystems ,and.

- Since the coastal environment supports the social, cultural and economic livelihood of coastal communities through the provision of food, shelter, incomes, employment and basic existence, a MPA helps to ensure and enhance the living standards of the local population. The MPA could also take advantage of the natural endowments and aesthetic attractiveness of the costal and marine environment through promoting recreation,tourism and education oriented activities,thus adding to the local and national economies.

Qn 04; Who are the management authorities for marine parks and reserves?

Ans; The management authorities for marine parks and reserves in Tanzania include;
> The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.
> The Board of Trustees, Marine Parks & Reserves ,Tanzania.
> The Marine Parks and Reserves Unit, under the Manager.
> Advisory Committees of individual marine parks.
> The park management of individual marine parks under the Warden-in-Charge.
> The first point of contact of the marine park and reserve management authority are:

- The Warden-in-Charge for each individual marine park
- The Chief Warden for Marine Reserves (At the Marine Parks & Reserves Unit head office in Dar Es Salaam). 

Qn 05; How many Marine Parks and Marine Reserves do we have in Tanzania mainland?

Ans; We have two Marine Parks and five Marine Reserves that have been established under the Marine Parks and Reserves Act No.29 of 1994;

          Marine Parks are:          
                                           - Mafia Island Marine park
                                - Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Parks
               and,
              Marine Reserves are:
                                          - Fungu Yasini Island
                               - Mbudya Island
                               - Bongoyo Island
                               - Pangavini Island
                               - Maziwi Island