Degradation and Marginalization in Tanzanian Marine Environments
Channel: JMU ISAT
Date: 21/09/2018

Full Title: Degradation and Marginalization in Tanzanian Marine Environments
Presenter: Alyssa Withrow
Advised by: Jennifer Coffman
Abstract: Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse and productive of the world’s habitats. Reefs are home to a wide variety of marine flora and fauna, protect coastal areas from storms, and generate tourism and thus domestic and foreign revenue. About half of the world’s human population lives within the coastal zone, or 100 kilometers from the coast, and billions of dollars of revenue are generated annually through ocean-related businesses. Yet, over 90% of coral reefs along the continental shores of the Indian Ocean are threatened by degradation and climate change. Using the guiding framework of political ecology, this project focuses on Tanzania to explore how blast fishing and seaweed harvesting contribute to coral reef degradation, economic marginalization of the people most directly involved in these practices, and the establishment of Marine Protected Areas as a possible solution to such degradation and marginalization. This project is based on direct research in Tanzania, including personal accounts of current marine health in Tanzania, case studies from the Zanzibar archipelago, and educational lectures by faculty at the University of Dar Es Saalam and Institute of Marine Sciences in Zanzibar. In outlining recommendations for environmental governance of Tanzanian marine environments, I apply a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis to the specific case study of Chumbe Island Coral Park Ltd., a Marine Protected Area (MPA).