In March we were really excited to be invited to join a National Geographic team in Mnemba Island, Zanzibar. Sea Sense partners with Mnemba Island Lodge to conserve the green turtles that nest on the tiny island each year. The National Geographic team were there to document conservation efforts in Mnemba, including research into green turtle post nesting migratory behaviour. Despite the presence of a camera crew and an almighty storm overhead, a female turtle came ashore and cooperated perfectly so Sea Sense was able to attach a satellite tag. The resulting film which documents the partnership between Mnemba and Sea Sense will be aired later this year on the National Geographic channel.

So what news of the tagged turtle? She was named 'Radi' which means 'lightning' in Kiswahili. She nested a further two times after we tagged her and she has since undertaken a post nesting migration north along the east Africa coast. She travelled almost 800km in 14 days and is still on the move along the central Somali coast! Click 'Radi Fan Club' and you can follow her each day!

As part of our ongoing ‘Theatre for Development’ programme, a new play was developed in Temeke District. Three actors and a trainer from Pangani joined the team and provided 'peer to peer' training to the novice artists from Kimbiji village.

After seven busy days of researching, creating and rehearsing, performances took place in Buyuni and Puna villages where crowds of hundreds gathered to watch the plays.

The performances addressed several 'hot topics' including the impact of dynamite fishing on community livelihoods and the negative impacts of poor leadership. After the performances, the audiences engaged in long debates about the issues raised. Several villagers with opposing views were able to find some common ground, demonstrating that through open discussion and debate, people can acquire new knowledge that may ultimately lead to the attitude and behaviour changes we are aiming for through our education and outreach programme.

As part of our governance and leadership programme, Sea Sense is connecting with key decision makers within district councils to strengthen their commitment to addressing threats to sea turtles and dugongs through effective fisheries management.

Meetings have been held with Council Management Teams in Rufiji and Mafia Districts to highlight challenges facing the fisheries sector in each district and to identify a way forward. Many district staff were unaware of fisheries sector issues, despite being in a position to make decisions on how the sector is managed.

Since the meetings, both district councils have made positive changes. The District Treasurer in Mafia has approved an increase in the allocation of financial resources for fisheries management and in Rufiji District, existing funds have already been disbursed for some fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance activities. In the coming months, Sea Sense will hold Council Management Team meetings in Kilwa and Temeke Districts.

A Focus Group Discussion was held with fishers in Kilwa District where there are high levels of dynamite fishing, beach seine netting, sea turtle poaching and marine pollution. Discussions centred around threats to sea turtles, dugongs and their habitats and a District Fisheries Officer was on hand to provide detailed explanations of the laws and regulations protecting endangered marine species and their habitats.

Older fishermen recounted stories of dugong sightings from the early 1970s as compared to today where dugongs are no longer sighted. One elder even admitted to slaughtering a dugong many years ago. Through the discussions, fishers learned more about the impacts of illegal and harmful fishing practices and the livelihood benefits associated with marine resource conservation.

The opportunity to discuss fisheries issues was well received but it was clear that relationships between fishers and District Fisheries Office were poor, mostly as a result of the District's failure to act in response to reports of illegal fishing from the community. Over the coming months, Sea Sense will focus on helping to build these relationships.

We are happy to announce that four new sources of funding have been secured in recent months to enable the continuation of our endangered marine species conservation programme.

The Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) is funding a three year regional programme to assess the status of dugongs and their habitat in Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Comoros and Seychelles. The programme will result in the first ever Western Indian Ocean trans-boundary Conservation and Management Plan for dugongs.

The Harris Foundation has pledged support for Sea Sense’s green turtle flipper tagging programme in Mafia Island - now in its third year and the Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust has donated funds to support the second year of green turtle flipper tagging in Temeke District. The funds will enable us to continue our research into green turtle nesting behaviour and help us to determine the size of the nesting populations which is critical for the formulation of effective conservation measures.

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation has continued their commitment to supporting our sea turtle bycatch work. We plan to conduct an observer programme in the artisanal gill net fishery so we can get a clearer picture of the true extent of sea turtle bycatch.

We are extremely grateful for this funding support and we will keep you posted on the projects as they develop.