Coral Reef Restoration and Aquaculture for People and Oceans

Community-based Ocean Conservation since 2008​

Protecting the oceans – empowering people
Half of the world’s population lives in coastal areas that are under threat from overexploitation and climate change. Coral reefs are dying, biodiversity is declining, and livelihoods are being eroded.

marinecultures.org works with coastal communities in Zanzibar on sustainable aquaculture, coral restoration and fisheries management, and runs conservation projects for marine wildlife.

Latest news

Launch of the Co-Fisheries Management Programme

A Major Step for marinecultures.org With the launch of our Co-Fisheries Management Programme, marinecultures.org is entering a new three-year phase. Together with coastal communities, we will work in six villages

Annual Report 2025

Our Annual Report 2025 is out!Thank you for reading and thank you for walking the path with us.

We are hiring a Conservation Manager

We are hiring a Conservation Manager. Apply now and become part of the family! Click here to read the full job description.

What we do

Reef restoration

At our coral farm in the Jambiani Lagoon, we cultivate corals that are used to restore damaged reefs. We build artificial reefs, install buoys for fishing and diving boats to prevent anchor damage – and raise awareness of the ecological importance of the reefs.

Fisheries Management

Healthy marine ecosystems can only be preserved in the long term if local people are actively involved in their protection and use – and derive tangible benefits from them.

Sponge farming

Alongside gathering seafood and farming seaweed, sponge farming has become a new occupation for women on the east coast of Zanzibar. Our sponges are unique.

Training Centre for Reef Restoration

We empower local people to restore coral reefs independently and offer practical training to help them do so.

Awareness Programme

Our awareness-raising program strengthens the local community’s environmental awareness while also showing people where and how marinecultures.org operates.

Volunteering

We run a volunteer program that involves dedicated supporters in our work to promote healthy marine ecosystems.

Our Partners