Projects

Our current projects include a sponge farm for research and breeding purposes and a monitoring program for crowns-of-thorns-starfishes, a coral reef predator.  Both are implemented at the coast of Jambiani on Tanzania’s Zanzibar Island.

In addition to the sponge farm, marineculture.org’s long-term projects include the establishment of a research centre for the sustainable production of various shellfish for the local market, as well as corals for the international aquarium market.

We intentionally seek connections to both research and industry. Research on marine natural products has great potential, which also benefits the local population.

Dornenkronen Seestern Monitoring Vorbereitung
 

Further Projects

  • Educating the coastal community and visitors in interacting with the ocean, reefs, and lagoon
  • Publication of a behavioural code for
    • Fishermen
    • Collectors
    • Tourists
    • Swimmers, snorkelers, and divers
    • Scientists and researchers
    • Students and residents of neighbouring communities
  • Protection of the reefs: monitoring of crowns-of-thorns starfish and drupella, as well as developing measures to conduct population censuses. Establishment of a local Monitoring Task Force and a stationary anchor apparatus for diving and fishing boats.
  • Development of aquaculture tourism.
  • Development and expansion of Marine Protected Areas, no-take zones, and rest areas in collaboration with the local population and fishermen in accordance with integrated development plans for the coastal regions of Zanzibar and Tanzania.
  • Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs): protection of reefs, lagoons, and larger catches.
  • Artificial Reefs (ARs): attractions for tourists and local population (e.g. students); repopulation of threatened species.
  • Support and development of guidelines and controls for a better protection of the seas, beaches, and native wildlife of the coast.