We believe restoration of coral reefs can not be done on such a scale that every damaged reef in the world can be brought back to its original thriving state. Restoration is one of the tools we have to reach a much more important goal - protecting a coral reef from human impact so it can restore by itself. Restoration of various areas within that reef can provide healthy, thriving hubs for the other flora and fauna of the reef to benefit. Our community-based coral restoration projects and awareness campaigns are part of a strategy to create understanding for this concept with the local community.
A reef provides food and refuge for a lot of marine life. It is a nursery or safe house for a lot of fish, crustaceans, etc. Many animals also reproduce on the reef. Since all animals are part of the food chain, sooner or later they become prey for bigger fish. Once grown up, many fish swim outside the reef. So, due to the protection of the reef marine life will ‘spill over’ to the adjoining areas and fishermen can benefit. Whereas fishing on the reef destroys the nursery and prevents fish to grow mature.
Also, a Marine Protected Area (MPA) attracts a lot of tourist thus creating alternative income for the fishermen. The long-term presence of NGOs like Coral Reef Care provides conservation jobs. Altogether, protecting a biologically significant area like a coral reef is a win-win for nature and mankind.
To facilitate enforcement of the rules in a protected area, CRC helps the community to deploy buoys in order to mark the area. Find here some examples of our efforts to establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs):
Together with the community in Bukti, Sukadana and Pemuteran, more than 25 hectares were declared Marine Protected Areas in 2021-2023. We are in the process of formalizing the Bukti area, making it a No Fishing Zone by law. We plan to do the same with Sukadana and Pemuteran in the coming years.
Awareness campaigns with marinecultures on Zanzibar have led to the understanding with a great part of the fishermen that an MPA leads to a ‘spill over effect’ to their fishing zones. In 2015, the fishermen agreed that fishing would not be allowed anymore on and around the artificial reefs we deployed. Also, many temporary no fishing zones are created to help octopus populations to recover .
The coral farm and artifical reefs in Vipingo (Kenya) are situated in a no Take Zone in an LMMA (Locally Managed Marine Area, Coral reforestation Kenya). Being present in the area on a daily basis has the advantage that we can help enforce the rules of the LMMA.
