18 November 2024
Nestled within the scenic coastline of Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, Bandar is a community marine reserve that stands as a testament to the power of local stewardship in marine conservation.
Situated in a picturesque bay, Bandar is rich in diverse marine habitats, including vibrant coral reefs, lush seagrass beds, and dynamic macroinvertebrate communities. These ecosystems are teeming with life, featuring a wide array of fish species and fascinating algae varieties that contribute to the ecological richness of the area.
The locally managed marine area (LMMA) of Bandar is spearheaded by Community Fisheries Council (Centro Comunitário de Pesca- CCPs), pivotal players in preserving this marine haven. This community-based organisation works hand-in-hand with state and private actors, creating a robust network of support that ensures the protection and sustainable use of Bandar’s resources. Together, they champion the cause of marine conservation, showcasing how local communities can lead impactful environmental efforts.
The LMMA of Bandar encompasses a carefully delineated conservation area, divided into zones with specific usage guidelines. The limited-use conservation area spans 1.71 miles (4.42 km²), offering a space where sustainable fishing and resource use are encouraged. Meanwhile, the exclusive conservation area covers 2.87 miles (7.43 km²), where fishing is prohibited to allow marine life to thrive undisturbed. This zoning approach ensures a balanced protection strategy, safeguarding biodiversity while maintaining cultural and economic activities.
Northern Mozambique has East Africa’s highest recorded levels of marine biodiversity. Cabo Delgado province, where ZSL operates, is crucial for species of conservation concern (e.g., Endangered Napoleon wrasse, and Threatened shark species like Carcharhinus amblyrhinchos. Cabo Delgado also boasts key habitats, including mangroves that supply critical ecosystem services (fish nursery areas and coastal defence against erosion and extreme weather).
Cabo Delgado’s marine biodiversity provides vital income and food security for vulnerable coastal communities. The province’s inhabitants are among the poorest in Mozambique – over 50% live below the poverty line. They are hugely dependent on marine resources, with over 80% of people participating in fishing activities and minimal access to other livelihoods. This dependency means high vulnerability to environmental and socioeconomic shocks. It is also increasing pressure on these important coastal habitats, resulting in mangrove and coral reef degradation from destructive livelihoods (salt ponds, wood cutting) and unsustainable fishing practices (night and neap tide fishing, destructive fishing gears), alongside natural gas exploitation, intensive migration (thousands of people have fled unrest in northern Cabo Delgado since 2017), and fluctuating climatic patterns.
The degradation of coral reef and mangrove ecosystems has far-ranging impacts, including a serious decline in fish catches reported by communities, and drastically increased vulnerability of coastal communities to devastation from extreme weather events.
Bandar’s cultural significance is deeply intertwined with its biodiversity. The marine reserve not only provides ecological benefits but also sustains the traditional and new livelihoods of coastal communities, preserving their unique heritage and way of life.
Despite its ecological and cultural importance, Bandar faces numerous threats that challenge its conservation efforts. Overfishing has strained fish populations, leading to a noticeable decrease in catch amounts. The increasing number of local and immigrant fishers, including those displaced from insurgency-affected areas, has intensified the pressure on Bandar’s resources.
Shared fishing areas among neighbouring communities, such as Gimpia, Mueve, and Nangua, along with those in the city of Pemba, have further complicated resource management. The introduction of harmful fishing practices, such as using mosquito nets, hammers, and fine mesh trawls, exacerbates the issue. Night fishing with petromax lights, particularly by fishermen from Nampula and Tanzania, poses an additional threat, highlighting the need for coordinated efforts to mitigate these challenges.
Amidst these challenges, Bandar has achieved remarkable conservation successes that inspire hope and demonstrate the efficacy of community-driven initiatives. Since 2013, ZSL’s Our Sea Our Life (OSOL) programme, working with local environmental NGO Associação do Meio Ambiente (AMA) and coastal communities, has developed and run a scalable marine protection model in Cabo Delgado. This model establishes LMMAs: protected areas co-managed by government and local communities (through the CCPs) to secure biodiversity, local livelihoods, and food security. Complementing the system of LMMAs, we develop tailored livelihoods interventions with local communities and establish Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), which provide access to financial services to meet basic needs and to invest in sustainable livelihoods. VSLAs underpin the work of LMMAs by helping offset the opportunity costs of conservation and providing a platform for discussing and engaging in environmental action. OSOL also integrates community-led mangrove restoration to maintain connectivity between marine habitats threatened species depend on throughout their life cycle.
The LMMA of Bandar partnered with OSOL in 2019. The Bandar LMMA has now been legalised and has constructed and inaugurated the first watch tower within an LMMA in Mozambique. Our aim is to support Bandar to experience a significant increase in fish catches, including larger species with higher commercial value, revitalizing local fisheries and supporting economic growth.
Our work with Bandar also targets food security threats, through the sustainable management of marine resources and opening new opportunities for income diversification, empowering families to explore alternative livelihoods and reducing their dependency on fishing alone.
The positive impacts of Bandar’s conservation efforts extend beyond ecological benefits, enhancing the overall well-being of the communities. The sense of pride and ownership felt by local residents fuels their commitment to protecting their marine heritage, creating a sustainable future for generations to come.
During the past year, we have been able to reflect on our collaboration with the Bandar community. We admire Bandar community’s adaptability and how they adapt to, and embrace, new ideas. They have been an exemplary partner community and collaborators on Our Sea Our Life, and have provided many learnings to take forward. Specifically, we have great admiration for the bivalve aquaculture groups, who have demonstrated resilience and openness to trial new things, even when they may be challenging or success is not immediate.
The project is grateful to the support of the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States through the BIOPAMA Programme.