TANZANIA, Chumbe Island - July 2004
Purchase mooring buoys for Chumbe Island Reef Sanctuary
Click photo to enlarge
Chumbe Island is a 55-acre coral island eight miles off of Zanzibar. The island's Reef Sanctuary is a no take area that extends 1,000 feet from the high water mark along the western stretch of fringing coral reef. This park is unique in that it is the only privately managed marine protected area in this part of the world. Local fishers, who fish from traditional fishing boats with outriggers, are very supportive of the sanctuary as they are seeing increased catches in the adjacent reefs as a result of the 'spillover effect' from the no take reserve. Seacology is providing mooring buoys to be installed along the borders of the marine sanctuary for use in emergencies and severe weather.
UPDATE January 2005 - The demarcation and mooring buoys were installed in September 2004.
UPDATE January 2007 - Seacology is funding the replacement of lost buoys. Buoys were ordered in September 2006 and are expected to arrive in Zanzibar in early January 2007. Anchors will be made on-site in early January 2007.
UPDATE October 2007 - After delays due to shipping and material complications three of the four bouys were installed in July and August of 2007. One buoy is kept at the Chumbe office as a reserve in case of loss. Solar powered lights on the buoys mark the area at night.
UPDATE June 2008 - In early 2008 the northern buoy line was cut. The buoy was retrieved and placed on land until project leaders could find a stronger chain. Buoys will be featured on a new map of the sanctuary, on posters, and in information packets in the Chumbe Sanctuary guest rooms.
