Women on the Frontlines of Marine Ecosystem Protection in Zanzibar

Asha Juma Khamis and Asha Bakar Mtwana are on a mission to help preserve the vibrant marine ecosystems that sustain their community. Along the coastline and in the waters off Pemba, Zanzibar, these two women work as marine rangers with Blue Alliance PECCA and patrol the North Pemba Channel Conservation Area.

Asha Juma Khamis (41) and Asha Bakar Mtwana (38) live in the Makangale area of North Pemba, Zanzibar. As part of the Blue Alliance PECCA enforcement team, these courageous women are working relentlessly to protect the ocean. Each day, they embark on boat patrols to remove illegal fishing nets and educate local fishers on sustainable practices. Back on land, they walk the beaches and mangrove forests, teaching fishers about the importance of only catching fish and octopus of the right size, so as to avoid depleting stocks. Their patrols ensure that the waters of the North Pemba Channel Conservation Area are protected from illegal activities, thereby benefiting both marine biodiversity and local communities. In addition to the daily patrols, the Blue Alliance rangers are involved in monitoring Crown of Thorns Starfish (CoTS), protecting sea turtle nests, and raising public awareness of conservation challenges. 

About the Pemba Channel Conservation Area 

The Pemba Channel Conservation Area (PECCA) lies in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. This unique environment is home to over 40 threatened marine species, including the endangered Napoleon wrasse, green and hawksbill sea turtles, reef manta ray, dugong, and shark species such as the grey reef shark and the scalloped hammerhead. The Pemba Channel, which separates the island of Pemba from mainland Africa, is also known for a very high degree of cetacean diversity and relative abundance. Some 13 species have been recorded, including the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphin and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin. 50% of Tanzania’s reefs are located around Pemba Island, and the northern part of the Pemba Channel Conservation Area (PECCA), which Blue Alliance PECCA is managing, encompasses approximately 27,000 hectares of highly biodiverse coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds. The cool water upwellings from the deep Pemba Channel make Pemba Island’s coral reefs a potential refuge against climate change. 

Collaborative Efforts to Combat Illegal Fishing

In collaboration with the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Blue Alliance PECCA, plays a pivotal role in enhancing compliance with fishery and environmental laws within the northern part of the Pemba Channel Conservation Area. This is achieved through a combination of surveillance, long-term community engagement programmes, and the enforcement of fisheries legislation aimed at combating destructive fishing methods. Regular joint patrols, consisting of local police and military representatives, Shehia* fishing committee enforcers, and Blue Alliance PECCA rangers like Asha Juma Khamis and Asha Bakar Mtwana, are a key component of this effort.

* A Shehia is the lowest official administrative unit in Zanzibar. 

Technology Meets Conservation

The Blue Alliance rangers continuously augment their conservation efforts through the use of new enforcement strategies and tools, including the EarthRanger app. This tool helps them track illegal fishing and other activities in real-time, even when they’re out of cell signal range. The app lets them use their smartphones to make swift, informed decisions. By logging precise locations and taking photos on the spot, they can quickly act on threats to their marine environment. “We use the EarthRanger app to record when we go on patrol,” Asha Bakar Mtwana notes, highlighting how technology is helping to protect their ocean.

Reflecting on how her involvement with Blue Alliance PECCA has changed her perspective on marine conservation, Asha Bakar Mtwana says, “I have come to understand that conservation brings a lot of benefits, not just for the environment but for our community as well. Through the education I’m receiving, I’m able to teach others about the importance of protecting our marine resources.” 

A Typical Day in the Life of the Rangers

For both Asha Juma Khamis and Asha Bakar Mtwana, conservation is deeply personal. Asha Juma Khamis, balances her role as a ranger with growing cassava and sweet potatoes. “Before I became a ranger, I was a fisher. But when I saw how overfishing was affecting us, I knew something had to change. That’s why I joined Blue Alliance,” she explains. “I wasn’t aware of conservation issues before, but now I understand that it can help our community improve its income.”

Similarly, Asha Bakar Mtwana balances multiple responsibilities, including being a mother of six, a farmer, and a fisher. She describes her daily routine: “A typical day in my life starts in the morning at the farm, growing cassava and sweet potatoes. After finishing my home activities, I head to the Blue Alliance office in the afternoon to check the area for plastics and other waste, clean, and participate in any scheduled patrols.” 

In addition to being a ranger, Asha Juma Khamis works as a farmer, growing cassava and sweet potatoes.

The female rangers regularly participate in swimming training initiated by Blue Alliance. By exploring the underwater world and gaining a deeper understanding of marine ecosystems, they become better equipped to make informed decisions and take appropriate actions.

Breaking Barriers

Although many celebrate their achievement, the female rangers’ work comes with very real challenges. In a community where women don’t typically take on such roles, they regularly face scepticism and even hostility. Some people view them as outsiders, disrupting the status quo. “The biggest challenge for me is that some people view my work negatively. They think I might adopt bad manners because I work with men, and sometimes they see me as an enemy because I stop them from illegal fishing,” says Asha Juma Khamis. Asha Bakar Mtwana agrees that they are often seen as the enemy and adds, “We receive bad words from some people; sometimes they even throw stones at us.”

One of their most harrowing experiences occurred when the two rangers were kidnapped by local fishermen angered by their enforcement activities. Fortunately, they were rescued by the local police force, ‘Kikosi Maalum cha Kuzuia Magendo’ (KMKM), with whom Blue Alliance PECCA collaborates on compliance and enforcement activities. To address tensions and prevent incidents such as these, Blue Alliance PECCA and its local enforcement partners have implemented a conflict resolution mechanism. This approach involves follow-up meetings with the offending parties, engaging in dialogue, and reaching an agreement to prevent future conflict.

Despite the risks and challenges the rangers face every day, they persevere with their work, driven by a deep commitment to protect their environment. Asha Bakar Mtwana explains, “I have been inspired to be a ranger because I understand that when we use the marine resources properly, we will have so much benefit from it.” And their work is already making a difference: fish populations are rebounding, and the community is beginning to reap the benefits. “The most rewarding part of being a ranger is seeing more fish and octopus being caught by the fishermen, which helps support their families and improve their economic activities”, says Asha Juma Khamis. Asha Bakar Mtwana echoes this sentiment, noting, “The good results of our conservation activities make me even more motivated in my work.”

Both women hope that their efforts will continue to contribute to a healthier ocean with more fish, leading to enhanced livelihoods for their neighbours and eventually improved economic opportunities such as through sustainable ocean-based tourism. 

Gender Inequality in Pemba, Zanzibar

Although Pemba Island, through the United Republic of Tanzania, has ratified multiple global and regional frameworks that have the potential to enhance the lives of women and girls, enforcing these policies has been challenging. Despite commitments to gender equality, traditional norms and socio-political obstacles have impeded the full realisation of these initiatives, leaving significant legacy gender disparities in place. Women in Pemba, for instance, face underrepresentation in leadership positions and the formal labour market, especially in high-paying jobs and certain industries. These barriers make it challenging for women to break into fields traditionally dominated by men, such as marine ranger roles and work in wider marine conservation. (Zanzibar Gender Equality Profile).

The two women remain hopeful for the future. Asha Juma Khamis and Asha Bakar Mtwana believe their efforts will lead to healthier marine ecosystems, which in turn will improve their communities’ livelihoods. “I hope to see an increase in fish populations and coral health, which will lead to a better income for our fishers and community,” shares Asha Bakar.

As they continue to patrol the waters of Pemba, Asha Juma Khamis and Asha Bakar Mtwana are not just safeguarding marine life – they are also breaking down barriers and inspiring other women. By protecting the ocean and challenging societal norms, these female rangers are helping to build a future where both nature and people can thrive.