Protected island in Mjini Magharibi Region of Zanziabr, Tanzania
Ukombe Island (Kisiwa cha Ukombe, in Swahili) is a protected island located in Dimani ward of Mjini District in Mjini Magharibi Region, Tanzania. The island is part of the Menai Bay Marine Conservation Area.[1][2]
Despite being a marine sanctuary, the island's reefs have been threatened by fishermen using sharp iron rods, known as umangu, to catch octopuses, which destroys coral reefs. Since there are no laws governing the harvesting of wild bivalves, anyone can gather bivalves of any size. The inhabitants of Fumba have also identified since netting near the sand banks of islands like Pungume, Kwale, and Ukombe as a threat to biodiversity, even though this practice is carried out secretly.[3][4]
References
- ^ Eriksson, Hampus, Maricela de la Torre-Castro, and Per Olsson. "Mobility, expansion and management of a multi-species scuba diving fishery in East Africa." PLOS one 7.4 (2012): e35504.
- ^ "Ukombe Island overview".
- ^ Torell, Elin, et al. "Tanzania biodiversity threats assessment: Biodiversity threats and management opportunities for Fumba." Bagamoyo, and Mkuranga, Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett (2007): 47.
- ^ Plass-Johnson, Jeremiah G., Christopher D. McQuaid, and Jaclyn M. Hill. "Morphologically similar, coexisting hard corals (Porites lobata and P. solida) display similar trophic isotopic ratios across reefs and depths." Marine and Freshwater Research 67.5 (2015): 671-676.
