18/07/2005 - An environmental
education and community conservation drive
spearheaded by WWF is bearing fruit in Mafia
Island.
The campaign is beginning to have the desired
effects in areas such as marine conservation
following the decision by a group of six youths
to abandon illegal fishing methods in favour
of modern fishing and other legal undertakings.
The move came after five years of WWF’s campaign
on the island.
Following their decision, the youths were
issued with zero-interest loans ranging from
2m/- to 5m/- after getting basic training
in running small-scale businesses.
The training is aimed at enabling them to
run their businesses efficiently and repay
the loans according to schedule.
The youths plan to start retail and petroleum
products businesses in addition to buying
modern fishing gear and selling fresh fish
in Mafia and Dar es Salaam.
Speaking at a function in which the loans
were handed over to the youths, the Sustainable
Fisheries Officer for Mafia Island Marine
Park, Masoud Kipanga, said that Mafia Island
Marine Park (MIMP) and WWF had been working
closely to educate communities on the island
to abandon illegal fishing methods and engage
in sustainable fishing.
’’But we did not expect them to abandon the
destructive methods without providing them
with alternative means of income.
Hence the training in running small-scale
business and the subsequent issue of interest-free
loans,’’he said.
All the recipients of the loans come from
within eleven villages that are within the
MIMP project area.
Kipanga said efforts to educate communities
to abandon destructive fishing methods had
also been directed to areas outside the project
area including islets surrounding Mafia Island.
’’We have recorded success in Bwejuu Island.
The fishermen there no longer use small size
nets. Residents of Chole Island are on the
move and they should completely stop using
illegal fishing gear in the near future.
