The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) the Mozambican Oceanographic Institute (InOM), and the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) collaborated to protect shark and ray populations in Zalala Beach. The project titled "Supporting fishing communities to safeguard their livelihoods and conserve shark and ray populations in Zalala Beach, Mozambique," implemented in 2023, involved fishing communities, local government, and academia in designing sustainable fishing practices.
Workshop in Quelimane city
This year, two significant meetings were held to share the project's outcomes with the stakeholders of Zalala Beach, promoting active participation from various local institutions. A workshop with 15 participants from seven institutions was held at the InOM office in Quelimane City on the 12th of July. Another meeting took place in the fishing community of Zalala with more than 30 people representing the president of the CCP, representatives of the sub-areas of Zalala Beach (Sopinho, Zalala, Mathimbue, Malanha, and Ilha de Idugo), InOM, SDAE, INAMAR, and PCLF on the 13th of July.
Meeting in the fishing community of Zalala
The approach, which emphasized community engagement, has shown promising outcomes. It has led to improved management practices that benefit food security and sustainability. The local fishermen have shown increased awareness of the law and the importance of conservation efforts, and they are now emphasizing sustainable fishing practices for long-term benefits.