Bazaruto Archipelago National Park (BANP) seascape lies off the coast of Vilanculos in Mozambique’s Inhambane Province. This expansive protected area includes five islands, and habitats of exceptional ecological value. In addition to whales, sharks, sailfish, manta rays, dolphins and marine turtles, it is also home to East Africa’s last viable population of dugong.
Partnerships continue and will always be key to our Wild Impact success, and our continued partnership with &Beyond underpins all our work within the Bazaruto Archipelago seascape.
Within this region, we work collaboratively with African Parks and the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), and our team are becoming an integral part of this protected area’s marine conservation initiatives.
Our relationship with African Parks, who are responsible for the day-to-day management of this area, has developed to a point where our team is leading key habitat-monitoring activities which are providing valuable input for better data collection and species protection. The imminent arrival of our new boat will expand our influence significantly.
BANP is home to a rich and diverse range of marine habitats and resources including coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves. The park is also home to many communities living in poverty, with a heavy reliance on marine resources for their subsistence and survival. One of the key OWB activities includes critical habitat and biodiversity assessments (coral reefs, mangroves and sea grass beds) within the BANP seascape to better understand the impacts of resource-use through regular monitoring and assessment. This provides vital data to African Parks on the ecological integrity of the ecosystems for improved management decisions.
Fish catch survey data
With fishing pressure being one of the greatest threats to marine resources in the BANP, our team is supporting key data collection on species and size composition, as well as the type of fishing gear that is being used. This detail will be used to engage with communities and inform sustainable resource management. Statistics gathered indicate that on average 4,139 kg of fish per month has been recording across the main landing sites on Benguerra Island, with seine nets (long nets cast across an area) almost exclusively used by fishers, and all fish caught from boats.