The Fish-to-Market program (FTM), supported by Fauna & Flora (with funding from Darwin Initiative) in a collaboration with Kumbatia Seafood, the Northern Rangelands Trust and The Nature Conservancy, addressed the entangled challenges of overfishing and decreasing income faced by small-scale fishers in Lamu county (Kenya). Traditional conservation approaches offered only short-term relief, prompting a need
Mafia Marine Park carries out its responsibilities across 12 villages and 5 hamlets surrounding the park. As part of its conservation efforts, one of the key responsibilities is to provide education on ending violence for community members and special groups within society. This program aims to reach 17 villages, 20 primary schools, and 4 secondary
The Mafia Island Marine Park (MIMP) conducts training related to conservation activities as part of a special program aimed at providing conservation education in primary schools, secondary schools, and vocational Colleges. These ongoing training sessions have been provided to five primary schools, one secondary school, and one vocational college, all located within marine conservation areas.
Coral Garden Conservation (CGC) is a non-governmental organization with over a decade of experience in both terrestrial and marine conservation initiatives, including lagoon clean ups, mangrove planting, endemic tree reforestation, seagrass and coral conservation, and nature-based solutions against coastal erosion. Aligned with SDG 14, CGC established a Community-Based Voluntary Marine Conservation Area (VMCA) in 2020
Seaweed farming in the Mafia Island Marine Park (MPA) presents a promising opportunity to strengthen community livelihoods while supporting marine conservation goals. Located in a biodiversity-rich region, the MPA faces increasing pressure from climate change, overfishing, and pollution. Seaweed farming is a low impact, sustainable activity that contributes to ocean health and provides a critical
Conservation of marine resources are facing many challenges among which is coral reef degradation resulting from unsustainable resource practices and coral bleaching. Coral restoration has been a means of rehabilitation of degraded reef in some Marine Protected Areas. A coral reef restoration activity is currently being undertaken at Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park (TACMP) in Tanzania
The Bay of Tsimipaika, is located in the north-west of Madagascar, DIANA region, hosting an extensive mangrove area of over 8,500 Ha. These mangroves have been subjected to high anthropogenic pressure due to cutting for timber wood and charcoal production , with a net loss of over 2,500 Ha (Jones & al.2014). Aware of this
In the early stages of developing the Save Seascape, a community-led protected area in Mozambique’s Sofala. Akashinga works closely with coastal communities to lay the groundwork for long-term marine conservation. This biodiversity hotspot is critical for sea turtles, dugong, sharks, and rays, and its diverse ecosystems—including mangroves, reefs, and estuaries—are essential to both marine life
Through its RECOS project, the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) is strengthening its capacity to monitor marine ecosystems in the Comoros. The focus is on the seagrass beds of Mohéli, which are crucial habitats for marine species such as turtles. The Mohéli Marine Park, one of six pilot sites in the region supported by the RECOS
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
