Protecting Zanzibar Guitarfish: Community Monitoring and Bycatch Reduction in Kilwa

Action For Ocean is working to protect the Critically Endangered Zanzibar guitarfish in the Kilwa Seascape, one of the species’ last remaining strongholds. Through a community-led approach, the project will train local fishers and youth as citizen scientists to monitor guitarfish catches, map critical habitats, and identify bycatch hotspots within the NYAMANJISOPOJA Collaborative Fisheries Management Area. By working directly with six Beach Management Units, the project will develop practical measures such as safe release protocols and improved reporting to reduce fishing-related mortality. Combining local knowledge, science, and fisheries governance, this project will generate the first site-specific data on this endemic species and create a scalable model for conserving threatened sharks and rays in Tanzania.