Cross Border Site: Kenya - Tanzania

Msambweni - Tanga

A Kenya-Tanzania cross-border site, extending from Chale Point and Gazi Bay in the north, to Maziwe Island near the Pangani River in the south. Approximate area is 2,990 km squared.

Description

There are more than 100 individual reefs with estuaries, creeks, bays, deltas and small islands. The reef system consists of fringing, inner and outer patch reefs, the latter adjacent to the continental shelf. Mangroves are most prevalent in the bays and river estuaries with extensive seagrass beds adjacent to reef areas. The forests at Gazi Bay and Chale Island are said to be the tallest mangrove trees in Kenya. There is high reef diversity due to the presence of three different reef types with two distinct coral communities for fringing and patch reefs. Species diversity is high with over 64 coral genera (including black corals), nine species of mangrove, 12 species of seagrass and diverse reef fish assemblages including an endemic grouper species. The small islands have populations of the coconut crabs and Maziwe Island, before its erosion, was a major Green turtle nesting site. Five species of turtle have been recorded in the site with the southern part in particular, adjacent to Maziwe Island, still having significant nesting of Green and Hawksbill turtles. Five species of dolphin have been recorded, including resident pods of Humpback dolphins. It is also an important feeding area for Crab plovers and at least two sites within the area support populations of Greater sandplover that exceed 1% of the biogeographical population. A few dugongs have been sighted in the area.

Contacts

Kenya Wildlife Services , Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, IUCN East Africa Regional Office, Fisheries Division (Tanzania), Ireland Aid (Tanzania Office), Districts of Muheza, Tanga and Pangani, and MPRU - Maziwe Island.

Conservation Status

Within this site some designated protected areas and areas with low population density maintain relatively high habitat and species diversity as well as resource abundance. The area south of the border to Tanga town is reported as degraded largely because of the significant proportion of reefs destroyed by dynamite fishing. Dugong populations are virtually extinct and the erosion of Maziwe Island, attributed to deforestation, has severely reduced turtle nesting. Coral bleaching has also made an impact with 35-95% coral mortality in some areas. Overfishing of all target species and the continued use of small mesh seine nets maintains high pressure on resources, although there is recovery of fish populations in protected areas. The principal conservation activity is the Tanga Coastal Zone Conservation and Development Programme, supported by Ireland Aid in partnership with District Councils and the IUCN-EARO in Nairobi. This programme has been operational since the mid-1990s and has recently focused on mainstreaming its activities into existing district governance institutions and activities while maintaining collaborative management. In Kenya the site is partially situated within Kisite Marine Park and the Mpunguti Marine Reserve. Therefore, the majority of this area is under some form of protective management.

Summary of threats and information needs

back to top

back to Priority sites

to Msambweni-Tanga Action Plan