14/03/18

Mwambao was pleased to have the opportunity for Kiwengwa community data recorder Juma Ame Ali and staff member Danielle Stern to participate in a two-day coral reef monitoring workshop led by CORDIO’s Dr David Obura. They were joined on the workshop by representatives from 14 NGOs and dive centres from around Zanzibar.

The workshop provided information about monitoring coral reef health, including establishing a monitoring protocol and practical guidance implementing a monitoring protocol via snorkelling or diving. Juma and Danielle left the workshop feeling empowered with the knowledge and skills to monitor coral reefs around Zanzibar and hope to train community members working with Mwambao in coral reef monitoring. We are already carrying out biological monitoring of reef closures in Pemba. We plan to do the same in Unguja, Zanzibar, giving another tangible measure of the impact of octopus fisheries closures. More information about the workshop can be found in CORDIO’s blog.