Strengthening Community-led Marine Managed Areas in Coastal Tanzania

Critical marine habitats including coral reefs and seagrass meadows are being degraded by unsustainable fishing practices which result in overfishing and depletion of commercially important species including prawns, octopus and anchovy. Harmful practices are driven by inadequate control of fishing activities and a lack of livelihood options.

The project intends to address the key drives of these threats and ensure long-term ocean health while improving the socio-economic conditions of coastal people dependent on marine resources for their material, subjective and relational wellbeing. The project will strengthen the management effectiveness of community-led marine managed areas in three coastal districts, thereby addressing specific linkages between management capacity and multi-dimensional poverty.

The project primarily targets coastal communities in Mkiranga, South Kilwa and Lindi districts that rely on marine resources for their livelihoods. They include small-scale fishers and women and young people involved in other parts of the fisheries value chain.