Dugongs & Dhows - Mozambique

Dugongs and Dhows - Flying across the Bazaruto Archipelago

"For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours,

they move finished and complete, gifted with the extension of the senses we have lost or never attained,

 living by voices we shall never hear. They are not bretheren, they are not underlings; they are other nations,

caught in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of the earth"

 Henry Beston, Naturalist, 1928

The incredible natural beauty of the Bazaruto Archipelago, its pristine coral reefs and warm Indian Ocean waters are a treasure chest of marine life including the illusive and critically threatened Dugong of which only 40 are thought to remain in these waters.

The future is looking decidedly bleak for Dugongs and a host of other marine life in the Archipelago as Chinese fishermen have moved in to Mozambican waters, primarily to catch sharks for the Chinese delicacy shark fin soup. Their fixed mesh nets also trap other marine life as they move in between the shallow channels between Bazaruto’s islands.

Most worrying of all is that the Chinese are planning to build a shark factory in the nearby town of Vilanculos.

To find out more or to get involved with the Dugong Emergency Protection Project or other Marine and Coastal Programmes please visit The Endangered Wildlife Trust https://www.ewt.org.za/

Flying across the Bazaruto Archipelago is almost an assault of colour, milky white sandbanks emerge out of the emerald waters at low tide, deep water channels

provide sanctuary for Dugongand their calves

Traditional Dhows have been ploughing the east coast of Africa for centuries, here three local fishing dhows make their way across the shallows in search of the days catch.

Local fishing practices (beach seining) destroy forage areas for the Dugong,

incidental (and sometimes intentional) capture in fishing nets (Gill nets) and
collisions with ships are further effecting the survival of the Dugong

Chatting to the local fisherman about their catch

 

A local fisherman proudly holds up his days catch on the Island of Benguerra

Dugongs are listed as critical on the red data list for threatened species and it is

estimated that a mere 40 individuals still survive in the Bazaruto Archipelago. When taking these photos it was exciting to be able to observe a calf - a hope for the future!

To read more about what is threatening this unique creatures survival please read this article http://www.suite101.com/content/tourism-last-hope-for-mozambiques-mermaids-a180953

Please watch this sobering documentary called "Shiver" by Chris Scarffe and Carlos Macuacua of Sanque Bom Productions on the Mozambique shark fin trade http://www.vimeo.com/17295966

To get involved with Dugong conservation please call Karen Allen of the Endangered Wildlife Trust - the project executant of  of the Dugong Emergency Protection Project on +27 82 728 6564 or mail her at karena@ewt.org.za.

Skyhawk Photography is very excited to be partnering with the EWT in the marine conservation of the
Bazaruto Archipelago.

Updates and what this partnership will entail coming soon!