A task force of the WWF Mozambique’s Marine program carried out, from March 30 to May 10, 2010, a number of activities in the Quirimbas National Park, a conservation area where the WWF supports various projects.

From the activities carried out, emphasis goes for the “Quilaléa lodges” diving course for the technical staff involved in the monitoring of sanctuaries in the park, the disclosure of the results of the studies on the Monitoring of Sanctuaries and assessment of the artisanal fishing stocks, for the communities living in the park, an environmental education program also for the park’s community, and monitoring work in sanctuaries in the Ibo, Matemo, and Quirimba Islands.

Apart from the WWF team, the technical staff of the Quirimbas National Park was also involved in the activities, including rangers, seamen, advisors, deep-sea fishermen, apart from the park communities, including students, community and religious leaders, government entities, and local law enforcement officials.

According to the WWF Biologist involved in the works, Lara Muaves, the main problems raised in the working sites are related to the poor fiscalization in the sanctuaries, lack of incentives for rangers and deficiencies in the communication channels, related to the activity of the rangers, when these report cases of violation in the site, and in the treatment of cases reported to the park Management. According to Muaves, the rangers complained of difficulties in following up the cases reported.

In order to minimize these problems, the rangers advanced as a measure the introduction of incentives or salaries for community rangers as well as the increase in their numbers, and the introduction of more environmental education programs.

With regard to the monitoring work in the sanctuaries, Muaves revealed the appearance of Diagramma pictum in the Ibo Island, an unusual species in that region, as well as records of the same diversity compared to previous samples. In Matemo, there was the largest specific diversity compared to other sanctuaries and, as for the Quirimbas Island, there were records of an increased quantity and size of individuals in the sanctuary as compared to previous samples.

During this period, the team also went to the Angoche Island to mark the Sangage Sanctuary and make a preliminary study to determine the methodology for the monitoring of the sanctuary.