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Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMA) have emerged as a promising model that address challenges faced in marine conservation in the Western Indian Ocean region. Their community-led approach has been proven to ensure the sustainability of marine conservation efforts, protecting fisheries and safeguard marine biodiversity.

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Tanzania through the ReSea Project and the Blue Nature Alliance recently convened LMMA practitioners from both mainland Tanzania and the islands of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region including Mkinga, Pangani, Kigamboni, Kilwa, Mafia, and Mtwara, as well as representatives from Wete, Mkoani, Unguja Kusini, and Chake Chake from the islands. The session, led by Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ Tanzania’s Seascape Governance Officer Eva Msella, with Coastal and Ocean Resilience Programme Manager Joseph Olila, explored coalition-building strategies for LMMAs at both national and regional levels.

The meeting gathered LMMA practitioners from various management structures in Tanzania, including Collaborative Fisheries Management Areas (CFMAs), Collaborative Management Groups (CMGs), Shehia Fisheries Committees (SFCs), Beach Management Units (BMUs), and Fisheries Officers from Ministry and District level. These community management committees face challenges such as poor governance and management practices, lack of coordination and minimum engagement in stakeholder partnerships, limited awareness on conservation of marine biodiversity, poverty, limited access to opportunities and funding, lack of legal recognition, and, notably, isolation and working in silos.

Networking has proven to be an effective tool for enabling peer-to-peer learning among local communities and for representing their voices and defending their rights. This Workshop provided stakeholders with a platform to strengthen collaboration efforts and explore strategies to create a coalition that could support the LMMA movement across Africa.  

Over the course of the two-day workshop, participants examined the challenges currently facing LMMA management structures, proposed solutions, developed recommendations. These will serve as the basis for the next pivotal phase: establishing a National LMMA Network, which will contribute to the broader national initiative known as the Great Blue Wall.

During the session, Ms. Upendo, a Fisheries Officer from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, stressed the importance of inclusive participation. She underscored the need for diverse representation, ensuring that every voice is heard. Ms. Upendo further emphasized that the roadmap being developed must reflect the voices of all community members in their diversity, ensuring it is actionable and inclusive.

This session marks a major advancement in reinforcing the LMMA movement in Tanzania, ensuring that local communities play an active role in managing and safeguarding marine resources.

The ReSea Project is anchored on the Western Indian Ocean led, Africa-driven Great Blue Wall initiative which seeks to establish a network of regenerative seascapes. The project promotes an inclusive approach where the voices, experiences and practices of local communities are sought and included in the project’s interventions. In Tanzania, the ReSea Project is implemented in the Tanga-Pemba Seascape by Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ and Mission inclusion with the support of Global Affairs Canada.