One of the main threats to the success of marine conservation is IUU, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Boat patrolling is the most common method to monitor illegal activities in Tanzania. But boat patrolling requires many hours, is costly and difficult to conduct across large areas. Digital tools on the other hand allow marine managers to be more flexible, work efficiently with less expenses compared to marine surveillance and monitoring by boat.
On-line trainings in digital mapping and remote sensing
SwAM, The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management has organised a series of on-line trainings in digital mapping and remote sensing during the autumn. The aim is to develop the regional use of GIS, geographic information system, data management and how data can support conservation efforts locally and regionally in Tanzania.
Physical workshop: drone data, GPS and digital maps
Marine conservation managers from all four mainland Tanzania marine parks and reserves, met in Mafia Island Marine Park to get practical and tailormade support in using the knowledge they acquired. In addition, they learned how to operate and analyse drone data, and to use a handheld GPS in the practical management and import the data to the GIS tool QGIS. The teams worked on developing digital maps for their respective MPAs. They also added coordinates for marine conservation and monitoring sites.
Targeted operations for adaptive management
With the GPS and drone exercises they were taught how to apply adaptive management to be strategic in their daily surveillance and have more targeted operations to detect illegal activities in the marine parks.
“This training is very important in building capacity of marine park staff in using digital mapping and remote sensing and drones’ technology.” says Amin Abdallah, Warden-in-charge at Mafia Island Marine Park. “Adoption of this technology will help in our effort to combat IUU activities and in resource monitoring within the park boundaries and adjacent waters.” say Abdallah.
Authors
Jenny Hertzman and Ottilia Thoreson, the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management.
Contact us
Visit SwAM Ocean www.havochvatten.se/swam-ocean and Marine Parks and Reserves Tanzania www.marineparks.go.tz. For further information, please email jenny.hertzman@havochvatten.se or marineparks@marineparks.go.tz