Problems
Causes of stress on coral reefs in East Africa
The reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves are increasingly threatened by human activity: ● Soil erosion from agriculture and grazing has increased the amount of silt carried by rivers into the coastal waters, damaging reefs and seagrass beds. ● Rivers also transport chemical fertilizers and toxic pesticides into marine environment. ● Over-fishing and exploitation of seashells, corals, turtle shells, for tourist souvenirs are diminishing marine fauna. ● Reefs are being destroyed by dynamite fishing, and mining of coral reefs for lime and construction materials. ● Bottom trawling for fish damages seagrass beds. The damaging fishing practices include usingdynamite, pull-seine nets, poisons, over-exploitation of small fish in small mesh nets andtraps, and over-harvesting of octopus, shellfish, sea cucumber and lobster. ● Increased shipping and harbour development. ● Increased coastal mining. ● Higher levels of pollution and rubbish disposal continue to affect reefs nearpopulation centres. ● East Africa's reefs suffered further damage from threats that may be related to climate change.
Solutions
Action to restore coral reefs.
Action to restore coral reefs: ● Environmentalists have called on governments around the world to step up protection of the marine environment and remove subsidies to the fishing industry, which they say has depleted wild fish stocks and brought marine ecosystems to the brink of collapse. ● Reef restoration has become a focus of a number of community development and conservation initiatives, such as in the Kinondoni Integrated Coastal Area Management Programme (KICAMP) of Dar es Salaam where restoration is an integral part of the ecotours, with local communities gaining economic benefits and environmental awareness. ‘Ecologically friendly’ and community-based tourism developments are encouraged, especially smaller enterprises focused on diving and wilderness activities. ● Socio-economic monitoring methods is developing as part project of the GCRMN (supported by the Government of Finland through CORDIO), the Reef Livelihoods Assessment project, the Regional Fisheries Information Systems project (SADC) and the Fisheries Management Science Programme (the last 3 supported by DFID, UK). All of these focus on the local scale of community and sustainable livelihoods, because artisanal and small-scale fishing are the main socio-economic uses of coral reefs by the communities. ● There are effective and long-lasting Marine protected areas (MPAs) in all countries, and most of the countries have plans to create new ones and improve the management of existing MPAs. Local and international NGOs (e.g. IUCN, WWF) and tourist operators have been active in assisting governments and communities establish MPAs.
Gallery
3
Timelines
2022
Volunteer groups and local residents conduct coral restoration and ocean conservation activities
2016
Mass bleaching of corals in the Western Indian Ocean resulted in a 20% decline in coral cover at over 130 sites.
2009
Mass bleaching of coral reefs due to heat.
2002
In January-February, a large-scale Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) impacted the coasts of Somalia and Kenya. A fungal disease caused high mortality on many reefs in Kenya and northern Tanzania.
2001
There were dramatic floods in southern Mozambique, which increased sediment flows into coastal waters. Harmful Algal Blooms and an unknown fungal disease of corals in Kenyaand northern Tanzania.
1998
The Big El Niño caused the worst coral bleaching and loss in human history. The Coral Triangle started to bleach in May and continued till September.