Over the past weeks our ranger team was involved in various trainings and education trips to the island and received some new equipment possible due to the financial support of the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States through the BIOPAMA Programme.

Overview of activities:

Head Ranger, Omar Nyange and his ranger team are thrilled to have received three new patrol torches which are provided with the financial support of the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States through the BIOPAMA Programme. These waterproofed torches are key equipment for ranger team that conducts daily night patrols in the Chumbe MPA.

Patrolling, Surveillance and Enforcement (PSE) has been critical for ensuring the full protection of Chumbe’s nature reserve, undertaken through a permanent presence of patrol rangers on Chumbe Island. The rangers on Chumbe are unarmed and approach fishers using educative enforcement techniques which have been a highly effective approach for promoting compliance with the reserve since 1993. With the support of the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States through the BIOPAMA Programme, Chumbe is conducting monthly ranger training to re-fresh PSE skills of our team.

Chumbe was excited to work with Mr. Makame Haji from the Marine Conservation Department in Zanzibar on a joined ranger training event on Chumbe Island. Mr. Makame shared his knowledge and experience on fisheries rules and regulations, and marine conservation management in Zanzibar. Co-facilitated by Head Ranger, Omar Nyange, the team discussed challenges and the importance of continued education opportunities for fishing communities.

“There is no better tool or equipment you can have onboard than a well-trained crew.”  by Larry Pardey. We couldn’t agree more with Larry Pardey (a famous sailor and writer) and have put boat engine maintenance and troubleshooting at the focus of last month’s ranger training. The training was provided with the support of the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States through the BIOPAMA Programme and led by Mr. Hija, a very experienced boat engine mechanic from Zanzibar who had started his profession as patrol ranger in Chumbe Island some 15 years ago.

Chumbe has restarted its long-term environmental education (EE) programme with local fishing communities:

Nyamanzi was the first community to visit Chumbe Island last month. Their group was dominated by local women who are involved in invertebrate harvesting. Locally known as ‘chaza’ collectors, these women work in the intertidal area during low tide and collect live mussels that are sold in the communities and on the local market. Despite working in the marine environment all the time, none of these women knew how to swim and it was their first time ever to snorkel in a coral reef!! What an experience – we were so impressed by their courage and eagerness to get into the water!! Guided by our Head Ranger and his experienced team, the rest of the day was packed with theoretical and practical learning sessions linked to marine protected areas, coral reefs and sustainable harvesting and delicious lunch.

Asante sana, Nyamanzi community – we learned a lot from you!