Enlargement of the Protected Area around Mnemba Island

22.07.2023

We congratulate the Ministry of Blue Economy and Oceans Without Borders for the extension of the marine protected zone around Mnemba Island, which has been severely damaged in recent years by the excessive number of boats and tourists, as well as illegal fishing.

in March 2023 the protection zone around the island was extended from 200 to 400m and in the south to 700m. In addition, the number of visitors per day was limited from 400 to 80 and the entrance fee was set at $25 per person. The initiative is part of the government's plan to protect and preserve important marine ecosystems and increase revenues.

marinecultures.org has long been committed to Mnemba Island. 2017, we re-marked the boundaries of the protected zone. The original buoys had been gone for years and had never been replaced, despite the high revenue generated from the marine park entrance fees. In addition, we also set 8 mooring buoys so that the dive & snorkel boats damage the corals less.

Ocean Without Border Team mit Ali Mahmudi (marinecultures)

In 2021 marinecultures.org started an intensive and comprehensive reforestation program with the NGO Oceans Without Borders. In Jambiani, four motivated northern Zanzibaris were trained as rangers and coral reef restorers and, analogous to our own farm, a coral nursery with 42 coral tables was built. By 2022, enough corals had finally been raised and work processes improved to begin reforestation of the severely damaged Haus Reef.

To compensate the local tourism industry for the loss due to the enlargement of the protected zone, we developed a concept for an artificial reef structure. OWB has now constructed six structures in the shape of starfish and turtles on its own initiative. Once the 1500 corals transplanted from the nursery onto the new structures have grown, these shapes will be almost indistinguishable from the natural reef.

The marinecultures logo was unfortunately forgotten in the video.

It is hoped that the new government regulation, as well as the artificial reef, will reduce tourism pressure on Mnemba House Reef and support collaborative reforestation efforts.

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