Tanzania

Marine Protected Areas in Tanzania

Tanzania has 13 MPAs which are referred to as marine reserves or marine conservation areas throughout Tanzania and Zanzibar. These areas are managed by local and national government. One of these areas, the Chumbe Island Coral Park, is a privately owned area off the coast of Zanzibar and the Tanga Fishery Management Area is a region adaptively managed by the local community. Three of the MPAs are no-take marine reserves, the largest of which is Dar es Salaam at 32 sq km.

The MPAs in Tanzania serve to protect diverse ecosystems of mangroves, coral reefs, sea grass beds and the open sea, and the diversity of species housed within. The lives of the Tanzanian people have always been connected to the sea, and one of the goals of MPAs in this region is to protect this way of life for current and future generations by enhancing fish stocks and preserving the important habitats.

Sources:

Horrill 2007, Zanzibar Dept of Fisheries and Marine Resources 2007

http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/pa/pa_paday/?uNewsID=8053