Tanzania Marine Parks and Reserves
“I would like to highlight that as Marine Parks and Reserves are created as an important tool for conservation and tourism in Tanzania and worldwide. With the two, it is our responsibility to always balance them for the best of both present and future generations.”
Tanzania Coastline, Captured by Maria Pentzel
As an early Marine Conservationist in Tanzania, I would like to inform people about the existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Tanzania mainland in general. Tanzania mainland coastline stretches from latitude 5.7°S at the border with Kenya to the border with Mozambique at latitude 11°S and about 800 Km in length. It is largely dominated by beautiful beaches with historical ruins/sites, crystal clear waters hosting a pristine and magical underwater world with a wealth of marine habitats and wildlife such as coral reefs which lie 0.5 to 2.0 Km offshore along the narrow continental shelf. There are thick mangrove forests especially near the mouth of a major river such as Rufiji, Pangani, Ruvu and Ruvuma, also near minor river mouth systems like the Wami, Matandu and Mbwemburu together with sea grass beds. The main functions of these habitats are coastal protection, hiding places, nursery, spawning and feeding grounds for many marine species. The marine life found here are finfish (whale shark, coelocanth), shellfish such as coconut crabs, mammals (such as Humpback whales and sperm whales seen around August to November, dolphins and dugongs), reptiles (sea turtle) and birds.
Promotion of Marine Parks and Reserves is one of the priorities of our nation to enable Tanzanians to play an active role in marine conservation for protection of important national coastal and marine resources, sustainable development, poverty reduction and resilience to climate change. Coastal communities are involved and participate fully in the management (conservation and sustainable utilisation) of coastal and marine resources. The establishment of MPAs goes back to 1970 under the division of Fisheries where later in the 90s, Marine Parks and Reserves Unit (MPRU) was established under the Marine Parks and Reserves (MPRs) Act no. 29 of 1994.
The government of Tanzania started establishment, management and monitoring of Marine Parks as “multiple use areas” and Marine Reserves as “No-take area” where to date there are 3 Marine Parks and 15 Marine Reserves along the coast of Tanzania mainland which covers about 6.6% of our marine waters. In the 80’s the villagers of Mafia district had a desire to establish an MPA in their waters, this led to the establishment of the first Marine Park in the county in Mafia Island in 1995 (Mafia Island Marine Park - MIMP). It is one of the largest MPAs in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) and have whale sharks as a remarkable attraction to visitors. It is followed by Mnazi Bay – Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park (MBREMP) in Mtwara in 2000, a home of fresh water species such as fish, hippos, crocodiles and terrapins. The third one is Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park (TACMP) in Tanga in 2009, a home of one of the oldest fish namely Coelacanth (Latimeria Chalumnae). Dar es Salaam Marine Reserves System (DMRS) comprises of seven islands of Bongoyo, Pangavini, Fungu Yasin, Mbudya Sinda, Makatobe, and Kendwa. Tanga Marine Reserves System (TMRS) encompasses five island reserves of Maziwe, Kirui, Mwewe, Kwale, and Ulenge. Mafia Island Marine Reserve System (MIMRS) encompasses three island reserves of Shungu mbili, Mbarakuni and Nyororo.
I would like to highlight that as Marine Parks and Reserves are created as an important tool for conservation and tourism in Tanzania and worldwide. With the two, it is our responsibility to always balance them for the best of both present and future generations.
References
https://www.marineparks.go.tz/
Mndeme, Y.E.S. (1998) Efforts to save the marine environment in Tanzania. Naga, the ICLARM Quarterly, 21(3), pp. 10-12.
United Republic of Tanzania (URT), 2014. Marine Parks and Reserves Unit, Strategic Plan 2014-2019.
United Republic of Tanzania (URT), 2011. Mafia Island Marine Park, General Management Plan.
United Republic of Tanzania (URT), 2011. Mnazi Bay—Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park, General Management Plan.
United Republic of Tanzania (URT), 2011. Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park, General Management Plan.