116
Lindahl 1998 found that transplanted staghorn corals Acropora formosa survived and grew well, with average cover increasing from 22 to 30 over 23 months. Both low-density transplanting and attachment by strings had
significant positive impacts on the increase of coral cover, while site and interactions between factors had no significant impacts. The cover of soft corals and hard corals other than A. formosa also increased markedly in the
experimental plots in comparison with control plots.
In 1998, Wagner et al. 1999, in cooperation with fishermen from Kunduchi Fishing Village, transplanted about 500 coral fragments in 2 dynamited sites on the northwestern side of Mbudya Island and 3 dynamited sites on the
southwestern side. These sites were monitored by Allen 1998 and Wagner et al. 2000a who, approximately 3 months after transplanting, were able to re-locate 342 coral fragments in order to record their survival rateshealth
status and baseline measurements. Galaxea sp. showed very significantly greater survival 100 complete survival than Porites sp. 55.7 complete survival, 13.9 partial survival
χ
2
= 37.010, p 0.001, but there was no significant difference between Acropora sp. and Montipora sp. survival
χ
2
= 2.200, 0.50 p 0.25. There was significantly greater survival in dynamited sites located at depths greater than 1 m during low tide
than in shallow sites χ
2
= 41.024, p 0.001. After another 5 months i.e., 8 months after transplanting, survival rates were nearly the same. Heights of coral fragments of all species had increased significantly except for
Acropora sp. whose slight increase was not statistically significant. Again, 14-16 months after the first baseline
measurements had been taken, the heights of all species were found to have increased significantly. In many sites, heights had more than doubled two-sample t test values were significant, with probabilities ranging from p =
0.0242 to p 0.0001 Wagner et al., 2000b.
In November 1999 i.e., 15 months after the first transplanting session, Hansen 1999, also working with Kunduchi fishermen, transplanted an additional 587 fragments of Acropora, Porites, and Galaxea in 5 dynamited
sites on the northwestern and southwestern sides of Mbudya. These have not yet been monitored.
4.8 Scientific and management recommendations
In the papers reviewed, there were virtually no recommendations given purely for scientific purposes, except those that recommended further research given in Section 8. Recommendations given have generally been for
management purposes, i.e., science for management. Therefore, in this section, recommendations are presented and discussed according to management issues and the various threats against coral reefs.
4.8.1 Socio-economic Issues
Unfortunately, tourism in Tanzania has almost entirely been for the benefit of a few wealthy hotel owners and dive operators. Very few residents of village communities gain any benefit from tourism. With the aim of
determining how local communities could benefit by taking tourists to nearby ecosystems such as coral reefs and mangrove forests, Wagner et al. 2000a conducted investigations on the potential for ecotourism in the Kunduchi
and Mbweni areas. Tourists and residents of beach hotels in Kunduchi were interviewed, of whom, 92 said they would be interested in sailing to Mbudya on a traditional dhow with local fishermen and 15 would be interested
in watching andor learning coral transplantation. Of the villagers interviewed, 100 in Mbweni and most of those in Kunduchi said they were interested in participating in ecotourism. These findings indicate a good
potential for community-based ecotourism in the area. Wagner et al. 2000b found high interest in ecotourism amongst tourists, foreigners visiting on business, and Dar es Salaam residents who were employed at embassies.
In order to effectively and sustainably manage the marine environment, the basic underlying socio-economic issues must be addressed and addressing these will mitigate many of the threats to coral reefs at the same time.
Steps to alleviate poverty could go far towards eliminating destructive fishing practices and coral mining as well as reducing pollution. Likewise, raising the level of both general education and environmental awareness would
greatly facilitate conservation of the marine environment. Strengthening the enforcement of laws related to destructive fishing methods is absolutely essential.
117
4.8.2 Eliminating Destructive Fishing Methods and Overfishing
The problem of dynamite fishing should be given highest priority by government, law enforcers and management programmes. Otherwise, all types of restoration work will be useless. It is imperative that strong action be taken
immediately to eliminate dynamite fishing as well as other destructive fishing practices. This needs the efforts and cooperation of policy makers, appropriate government departments, marine police, construction companies and
industries that make use of dynamite and, most of all, the villagers themselves. Guard and Masaiganah 1997 recommended that an effective strategy be developed to confront the problem of dynamite fishing which should
encompass a wide range of actions, such as continuous patrolling, police enforcement, improved legislation, increased fines, confiscation of vessels and jail sentences. In the long term, the local communities themselves
must be educated and empowered to combat and stop dynamite fishing.
In addition, in order for fishermen to survive in the wake of eliminating destructive fishing practices, either they need to be empowered to engage in appropriate fishing techniques or they and their families must be directed
towards alternative or supplementary income-generating activities.
Kalombo and Horrill 1998 reported recommendations, that actually came from the local fishing communities in Tanga, as follows: restrict illegal fishing techniques, close selected areas to fishing, provide appropriate gear to
fishermen, and develop alternative sources of income.
McClanahan 1998 recommended the protection of important keystone species such as the red-lined triggerfish which controls sea urchin populations.
4.8.3 Managing TourismEcotourism
