A Guide to Watamu: |
The Local Ocean Trust / Watamu Turtle Watch. 2004 |
Practical Issues |
Watamu Causes: |
Got the plot ……………Lost the plotDreams do come true even in paradise. We realized a long time ago that the future of our project would depend on having a permanent home. No home, no project! Lallie Didham's family and her friend Ann Ryan have made this possible for us. Lallie of course was our well known honorary marine warden. At the beginning of November 2004 this dream became a realization. We have wonderful plans to develop this plot, including offices, a new Turtle rehabilitation center, and lots more. We are already working on funds for this, but if anyone has any bright ideas let us know! So Got the plot! We are, however, ‘ losing the plot' with the sustainable management of Kenya 's marine resources. The monitoring and protection of Kenya 's marine resource, which is such a valuable asset, urgently needs to be revamped. A small victory, was the very welcome recent suspension of Ring netting in Malindi District by the DC, Malindi. The huge stakeholder outrage at this incredibly destructive fishery forced the decision. Unbelievably none of the following seemingly fundamental requirements are enforced or in some cases even considered by the Fisheries Department. This makes it impossible for Kenya to have a sustainable commercial fishery at this time.
It is clear that the Fisheries Dept has a major crisis on their hands and that if drastic action is not taken now, local people will suffer. We have also suggested the following:
The ring netting situation only serves to highlight many other detrimental types of commercial fishing that continue to be licenced and are seriously impacting our marine resources. Prawn trawling, unregulated lobster, octopus, beche de mere and aquarium fish collection are also destroying our coastal waters simply because they are inadequately managed and monitored. The good news is that local communities are demanding that things change. As we write a 150m net was removed from the outer reef. Steve Curtis and his divers untangled a juvenile hawksbill which would have certainly drowned….all this within Watamu's marine reserve and on a dive site. This highlights the need for the public and stakeholders to report abuses as soon as they see them to Local Ocean and KWS.
Steve Curtis and his divers rescuing a hawksbill turtle from a net in Watamu Marine Reserve. To most people Watamu's remaining undeveloped pristine beach, is one of it's best features. We were once voted one of the world's top 10 beaches and of course is why turtles nest here. The marine park extends up to the high water mark and 30m beyond and as such it should be left untouched. Sadly Mida cove has shade structures embedded in 2sq ft of concerete. If this is allowed the wonderful Watamu beach we all love is in jeopardy. We can only hope that those concerned will realize the implications of their actions. Don't destroy what you came to enjoy! On a final cheerful note, this far into 2004 WTW have protected 25 turtle nests, from which a total of 2,828 hatchlings emerged. We have released 306 turtles that have been caught up in fisherman's nets. Happy Christmas! |
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