1. Biodiversity Credit Market

 Opportunity – 11 June 2024

The Director of Green Economy Partnership (GEP)Ms. Mayer Gutierrez and her team visited JDF and TUMCA on Tuesday 11 June 2024 and meet the JDF team lead by its Executive Director and TUMCA Manager. The aim of the GEP team visit was to introduce the Biodiversity Credit Market Concept and look on how the concept can fit in into the JDF co-management activities. The teams agreed on continuing to gather more information and agree on the modalities of testing the concept within JDF initiatives.

2. Consultative meetings between JDF, TUMCA and BVC to replan the project activities based on the current needs of TUMCA  17 November 2023

The tripartite meeting consisted of JDF, TUMCA and BVC was held on 17th November 2023 and attended by members from all three parties. The main issue for discussion was for delegates to be acquainted with TUMCA governance system so that they can review the co-management project activities and fit them to TUMCA, based on their current needs. The delegates were informed by TUMCA that there are 23 Shehia Fisheries Committees (SFC) in the whole TUMCA area and five CMGs, with each CMG composed of between four and five SFCs. Nine SFCs capacity have been strengthened through the support from Mwambao Coastal Network and nothing has been done for the remaining 14 SFCs. Two CMGs have also been supported by Mwambao and the remaining three GMG’s capacity need to be strengthened. There is also a Stakeholders Management Committee comprising of both public and private institutions and meets regularly semiannually. The chairperson of this Stakeholders Management Committee is the North ‘A’ District Commissioner (DC). TUMCA has also the General Management Plan (GMP) 2021-2030 draft document which is designed as a ‘roadmap’ on reaching the desired objectives within ten years, by following a series of steps and procedures to be implemented over time. The GMP aims at promoting the understanding and implementation of the management plans by the MCA managers, resource users and other stakeholders.

3. TUMCA stakeholders meeting to launch the project  16 October 2023The first project activity was conducting project launching meeting to all TUMCA stakeholders which was conducted on 16th October 2023 at the Department of Marine Conservation conference room and involved all TUMCA stakeholders, both government and non-government private sector institutions. The meeting was officiated by the North ‘A’ District Commissioner, Hon. Sadifa Juma Khamis who is also the Chairperson of this Stakeholders Management Committee. In his opening remarks, Hon Sadifa hailed the JDF-TUMCA joint initiative of coming out with this important project aimed at strengthening the capacity the SFCs and CMGs in the co-management initiatives at TUMCA. He particularly emphasized that this project should intensively focus on creating awareness for fishers’ community regarding combatting illegal fishing and the sustainable management of marine resources. He urged JDF to make special effort in educating the community on how to resolve existing conflicts in their communities mostly caused by illegal fishing and the extortion of marine resources. He also particularly appreciated Blue Ventures Conservation for supporting this project in terms of technical assistance and necessary resources for carrying out project activities. He provided the assurance of his District Administration of supporting the project to realize the intended objectives.

4.     Awareness Meeting for Shehia leaders (Shehas) and CMG leadership on their roles in the co-management initiatives

The awareness meeting for Shehia as well as CMG leaders was conducted on 26th November 2023 and was attended by Shehas of all 23 Shehias of TUMCA as well as chairperson and secretaries of the five CMGs. The meeting was officiated by Dr. Makame Omar Makame, the Director of the Department of Marine Conservation of the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries. In his opening remarks Dr. Makame highlighted the importance of marine conservation as among the major policy issues of the Ministry of Blue Economy Ministry and Fisheries and the government in general. He emphasized that the sustainability of the tourism industry, which is Zanzibar’s major economic sector, depends largely on the marine resources conservation which attracts most of the tourists who visit Zanzibar. He explored the importance of Shehas in the conservation process as key stakeholders in the management and sensitization of communities in marine conservation initiatives.