The Inhambane Seascape in Mozambique has been recognized by Blue quest as one Hope Spot, with Mission Blue founder Dr Sylvia Earle praising the work of local conservation biologist Dr Andrea Marshall and her team at the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF). Dr. Marshall has spent two decades in Mozambique and has made it his life’s mission to see the country’s coastline fully protected.
Dr Earle said: “Mozambique as a country has taken important actions to protect the incredibly rich, vitally important life along its coast. “Now there’s the opportunity to significantly scale up and embrace protected areas with a larger area along the coast connecting the land to the ocean beyond.”
The waters south of Mozambique are home to many iconic megafauna, such as manta rays, whale sharks, dugongs, various crustaceans and five species of sea turtles. MMF and community partners have successfully lobbied to protect critical areas and build coalitions against harmful industrial practices, including seismic testing for oil and gas. Now, the Mission Blue Hope Point designation will further encourage sustainable management of the area.
While areas such as Bazaruto Islands National Park and Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary have provided important protections for important habitats, much of the province of Inhambane remains untouched. and monitoring. Offshore industrial fishing as well as manual fishing are contributing to the decline of rays, sharks and other large marine animals. As such, MMF and its partners still have a lot of work to do. “The Inhambane seascape is an area of incalculable importance. It is the Serengeti Sea of Africa,” asserts Dr. Marshall. “None of us will stop until it’s properly secured.”
Watch Dr. Earle introduce this valuable new Point of Hope and read more about Marine Megafauna’s work in Inhambane province on Website MMF.
