Collaborative coastal management improves coral reefs and fisheries in Tanga, Tanzania

This paper describes the impact of 8 years of collaborative coastal management in the three coastal districts of Tanga region, northeastern Tanzania. Declining fish catches, destructive fishing practices, including dynamite fishing, and illegal mangrove cutting were the priority environmental issues. Through a participatory approach, six collaborative management areas were delineated. Each of the collaborative management areas has its own collaborative management area plan (CMAP), which is jointly implemented by the communities and the District Council. The joint management efforts include the closure of reefs for replenishment, enforcement and monitoring. Monitoring of the impact of the management interventions is carried out by a reef monitoring team comprised of villagers, and is co-ordinated by district staff. Since the implementation of the CMAPs, dynamite fishing has significantly declined and coastal marine resources have recovered.