Institute of Marine Sciences

On our last day in Zanzibar, we met with Dr. Narriman Jiddawi, senior lecturer at the Institute of Marine Sciences.  She was a remarkable hostess, touring us through the facilities at the IMS and speaking with us about her coral reef research.  Dr. Jiddawi has conducted extensive work in marine and coastal areas of East Africa, especially Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania.  Her work has enhanced local people’s knowledge of daily life in relationship to coastal and marine ecosystems.  She established the Zanzibar Turtle Committee, whose role is to work with local communities to ensure that turtles are protected (see “Sea Turtles & Community Conservation” post).  Furthermore, together with her colleagues at IMS, she is working with local fish industries to reduce pressure on the reefs from fishing and compensate for declining fish landings.  One of her projects, which she showed us in depth, is in collaboration with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute on Cape Cod to address this necessary work.  After our time at the institute, we toured historic Stone Town before heading to the airport to embark upon the next leg of our trip – Honeyguide Foundation, Arusha, Tanzania!