22/03/18

Tanzanian communities are working to combat blast (dynamite) fishing through local marine resource management institutions*, but they generally have little training and limited ability and knowledge to enforce legislation.

To build the capacity of 18 members from 3 BMUs in Tanga and some Mwambao team members to combat blast (dynamite) fishing, Ali Thani (Mwambao staff) lead them to attend 6 days training on monitoring surveillance and control in the Fisheries Education and Training Agency (FETA), Bagamoyo Coastal Region. The training was organised under the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) biodiversity programme, in conjunction with WWF-Tanzania and SeaSense to build the capacity of BMUs to combat this pernicious problem facing Tanzanian reefs.

The main areas of theory and practical training include:

• Patrol techniques, including planning and how to arrest the culprit, communication and reporting
• Lifesaving techniques at sea
• Boat and boat engine maintenance
• Use of Fisheries laws to apprehend
• First aid in work place
• Fire fighting

This training is valuable to Mwambao as participants at the training will now be able to share the knowledge gained with others in specific target areas. The training will allow us to add value to our current initiatives to strengthen the capacity of SFCs and BMUs in enforcement procedures in Zanzibar and Tanzania mainland respectively.

*Local marine resource management institutions are groups elected within coastal communities to manage the use of marine resources, known as Beach Management Units (BMUs) on the east coast of Tanzania mainland and Shehia Fishermen Committees (SFCs) in Zanzibar.