Tanzania has marked three decades of marine conservation with calls for greater community involvement, wider use of technology and increased investment to unlock economic opportunities from the country’s marine resources.
The calls were made during a high-level panel discussion held at Utende in Mafia on September 26, 2026, as the country marked 30 years of marine parks and reserves alongside the Mafia Island Festival.
The discussion, led by the Marine Parks and Reserves Unit (MPRU), brought together government representatives, European Union (EU) officials, current and retired marine conservation practitioners to examine how Tanzania can strengthen protection of its marine resources while expanding their economic contribution.
Key issues included strengthening participatory conservation, using technology to improve monitoring and management of marine resources, adding value to fisheries products and attracting investment into the blue economy.
The discussions highlighted the growing need to link conservation with the livelihoods of communities living along the coast and on islands, where fishing and other marine-related activities provide income and food.
Participants also drew on experiences from Tanzania’s 30 years of managing marine protected areas, focusing on ways to respond to emerging pressures on marine resources while ensuring communities benefit from conservation.
Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Ng’wasi Kamani represented the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries as the guest of honour at the climax of the anniversary celebrations.
The anniversary was marked alongside the Mafia Island Festival in Utende, which brought together stakeholders to highlight the importance of marine conservation and the potential of the blue economy to support livelihoods and economic growth.