Tanzania
Zanzibar
Taboos, customs hold key to managing Tanzania's reefs
The Coral Reef Targeted Research
A proper recognition of indigenous knowledge in
& Capacity Building for Management

Program (CRTR) is a leading
coastal management is a key step towards preserving the

international coral reef research
marine resources of the East African nation, Tanzania.

initiative that provides a coordinated

approach to credible, factual and
These natural resources, including coral reefs, are in

scientifical y-proven knowledge for

improved coral reef management.
decline, as demand for fish stocks increases due to a
growing population and a boost in tourism to the region.
The CRTR Program is a proactive

research and capacity building
But recognising local knowledge, including taboos,
partnership that aims to lay the
foundation in fil ing crucial knowledge
customs and beliefs, in the development of future

gaps in the core research areas of
Coral Bleaching, Connectivity, Coral
policies and strategies for coastal management could
Diseases, Coral Restoration and
turn this around.
Remediation, Remote Sensing and
Modeling and Decision Support.
Fishing is an important coastal occupation in Tanzania,
Each of these research areas are
with most people relying on marine resources, or more
facilitated by Working Groups
specifical y, fish, for their subsistence and their income.

underpinned by the skil s of many
of the world's leading coral reef
These resources are obtained from a variety of habitats,
researchers.The CRTR also supports
Key Points
including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, and
four Centres of Excel ence in priority
regions, serving as important regional
estuaries along the 850-kilometre stretch of the coastline
· Indigenousknowledgeencompassesthe
centres for building confidence
and around the islands.
and skil s in research, training and
wisdom,knowledge,customs,taboos,beliefs,
capacity building.
Smal -scale fisheries which employ a variety of fishing
teachingsandpracticesoflocalvil agers.
The CRTR Program is a partnership
techniques to target a large number of species supply

between the Global Environment
· Thelossofindigenousknowledgeincoastal

Facility, the World Bank,
about 95% of the total marine catch. Typical y, these use
managementishavinganegativeimpactonthe
The University of Queensland
traditional vessels and gear. With the growth in Tanzania's
(Australia), the United States
healthofthemarineenvironmentinEastAfrica.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
population and the development of its tourism industry,
Administration (NOAA) and
fishing pressure has increased and the use of gear and
· Localcustoms,taboosandbeliefs,whenused

approximately 50 research institutes
& other third parties around the world.
techniques destructive to fishing habitats has spread.
inconjunctionwithscientifical y-developedand
October 2009
Today, overfishing, though difficult to document, appears
improvedtechnology,promisetohelpprotect
to be a major threat as more fishers use techniques without
andsustainfishstocksandcoastalhabitat.
any regulation and fishers are reluctant to observe limited
Product code: CRTR 011/2009.
access criteria unless it is effectively enforced. As a result,
fishing habits are degraded and fish stocks are declining.

---

Continuedfrompage1
Taboos and beliefs
Government actions, such as the enforced closures of fishing grounds,
Fourteen forms of taboos and beliefs that inadvertently protect fish
are helping to better manage fishery resources and fishing habitats,
stocks and consequently protect fishing habitats have been identified
yet these actions overlook the powerful possibilities of incorporating
in Tanzania.
local indigenous knowledge. Indigenous knowledge ­ the culture,
wisdom and skil s of local people ­ when used in conjunction with
1.Dietaryrestrictions
scientifical y-developed and improved technology, promises to provide
Taboos against eating certain marine species because of religious
useful ideas and procedures for restoring environmental resilience in
influence or beliefs exist among coastal vil agers in Tanzania.
the developing world.
These taboos, which include fears of poisoning, impotence, spots on
the skin and il -effects on unborn children, unintentional y limit fishing.
Its benefits are wel -documented, with a number of traditional
management strategies serving to indirectly protect coral reefs and
2.Restrictionsonfishingbeforebathingafterhavingsex
the marine environment for years.
For coastal fishers, whether married or not, it is a taboo not to have a
Indigenous management strategies of fisheries in Tanzania include:
bath after having sex before fishing. This is due to a belief that having
· Customary marine tenure
intercourse dirties the body. The ocean is the home of evil spirits
· Taboos and beliefs
and, according to beliefs, they dislike meeting with an impure person.
· Magical power
This taboo is strictly adhered to avoid misfortune during fishing
· Technical inadequacies
activities. This taboo again involuntarily limits fishing in the study areas.
· Closures for octopus fishery
· Restrictions of destructive fishing gear.
3.Restrictionsonfishingformenstruatingwomen
This paper specifical y covers taboos and beliefs which include
According to Islamic religion, a menstruating woman is considered
restricted access to the reef at particular times; closed season with
impure. She is not al owed to fast, pray or read the Koran. Additional y,
elders responsible for dictating the times and punishing offenders;
to avoid misfortune it is a taboo for a menstruating woman to go fishing.
and restrictions on fishing gear.
This taboo involuntarily protects fishing habitats on the near shore reefs.
But this knowledge, developed outside the formal education system
4.Restrictionsonfishingduringstrongwindsandheavyrains
over many years and passed down oral y from generation-to-
It is taboo for the artisanal fishers to fish when there are heavy rains
generation, is quickly disappearing as young people spend more time
and strong winds. This is due to the nature of the fishing vessels ­
at school, and older people die without their knowledge being
most fishers stil use traditional fishing vessels and gear which can not
transferred or documented. This poses a knowledge transmission
withstand strong winds. Heavy rains during fishing may result in poor
chal enge. One option for conserving this knowledge is to make
visibility and loss of direction. In most places fishing activities are
concerted efforts to research and document more of this knowledge
general y reduced during the strong winds (southern monsoon winds)
and transmit to young people by incorporating it into both formal
and heavy rains. This unintentional y al ows some marine fish species
schooling curriculum and informal education.
to breed and grow.
Colonialism, which brought outsiders with different beliefs, also led to
the abandonment of many of these indigenous management
5.Lostfishersduringfishing
strategies that once protected reefs and other fishing habitats.
In early times when fishers were lost while fishing, other fishers would
This breakdown and the advent of improved fishing gear and vessels,
not continue fishing but rather search for the lost fishers until they were
has led to the degradation of local coral reefs and the marine
found. This taboo unknowingly limited pressure on marine habitats in
environment more general y.
the study areas. Nowadays, this is not common in some areas, but in
Yet, at a time when coastal populations continue to grow and place
other places like Kizimkazi and Mkokotoni vil ages, the practice still
increasing demand on limited resources indigenous knowledge does
exists although it is not as strongly adhered to as it was in early times.
not provide the complete solution. There is a symbiosis between
6.Deathevents
traditional knowledge and modern science. Each informs the other.
Formal science can clarify the significance of myths and customs and it
In early times when there was a death at the vil age, no fishing activities
can also benefit from the stronger base of technical information which
could take place until the body was buried. According to this taboo,
is created with the addition of indigenous knowledge.
misfortune would occur if you went out to fish while others were
involved in burial activities. This taboo involuntarily helped to limit
Consequently, a stronger nexus between traditional knowledge and
pressure on marine habitats. Nowadays some people continue with
modern science promises to assist policy-makers and coastal
fishing activities even if there is a death in their vil age.
managers with the development of improved management strategies
for fish stocks and habitats, particularly coral reefs.
7.Mentioningnamesofterrestrialanimals
In some fishing communities, for example Mangapwani vil age, fishers
Whatisindigenousknowledge?
cancel fishing activities if one among them inadvertently mentions a
Indigenous knowledge, traditional knowledge and local knowledge
name of a terrestrial animal. This is considered to be a sign of bad luck.
general y refer to the knowledge, innovations and practices of
indigenous and local vil agers. Such knowledge encompasses the
8.Alcoholconsumption
wisdom, knowledge and teachings of these indigenous communities,
It is a taboo for coastal fishers to drink alcohol when going out to fish.
and is developed from experience gained over the centuries and
This taboo is connected with the Islamic religion which says that
adapted to the local culture and environment. It is transmitted oral y
consuming alcohol makes the body impure. If a fisher is identified by
from generation to generation and is not often recorded in writing.
others as having consumed alcohol, he is dropped off to avoid
Some forms of Indigenous knowledge are expressed through stories,
misfortune and other dangers during fishing. This taboo, too, decreases
songs, myths, proverbs, cultural values, beliefs, rituals, community laws
pressure on marine habitats and reduces the destruction of the coral reef.
and local language.

---

Taboos and beliefs
9.Festivalsandspecialdays
13.Fabricationanddeploymentoffishingvessels
It is a taboo for Muslim fishers to go out to fish during the Islamic
It is a taboo for another carpenter to take up unfinished fabrication
religion ceremonies. This inadvertently protects fish stocks and
work on a vessel without prior approval of the initial carpenter.
protects coral reef habitats. Most coastal fishers are Muslims
It is believed that both the vessels and the new carpenter wil be
and accordingly it is a taboo for them to fish on Fridays. This day is
accompanied by bad omens. The vessel may not be able to catch
regarded as a special holy day for them to rest at home and conduct
fish and may cause accidents during fishing. This controls the
the Friday pray. However, some fishers, because of poverty and lack
number of fishing vessels and thus reduces fishing pressure.
of alternative livelihood, continue to fish on Friday night.
It is also a taboo for Muslim fishers, who have been fasting,
to dive for octopus during the holy Ramadhani month. Similarly,
it is a taboo for some fishers to fish during `mwaka-kogwa',
wedding ceremonies, election days and during neap tides.
Furthermore, in early times, there was a one-day ceremony during
male circumcision during which there was no fishing.
10.Meetingwithoneperson
Some fishers cancel fishing activities if, when going out to fish or
check nets/traps, they meet with one person. This is believed as a
bad omen on that day as nothing wil be caught. On the contrary,
it is considered a lucky sign to meet with two or more people when
a fisher goes out fishing.
11.Fishingwithoutsuccess
14.Impurityoffishingvesselsandgears
If a handline fisher goes out fishing and spends some time without
any success, they do not continue but rather return home because it
Fishing vessels and gears must be free from impurity of any kind.
is a sign that something is wrong at home. For example, their wives
For instance, in most places it is believed that nothing wil be
might be having sex with another man, or there may be a death in
caught if a goat urinates on the basket traps. It is also a taboo for
the family. Handline fishers also cancel fishing activities if they hook
fishers to defecate or urinate
a bottle, which is a bad sign.
inside or nearby the fishing vessels
in the belief that nothing wil be
12.Receivingpaymentforfishinadvance
caught on that day. This
Most fishers believe that it is a taboo to receive payment for fish in
inadvertently reduces fishing
advance. If this happens, some fishers don't accept the payment
pressure. For many fishers it is a
and cancel the fishing activities on that day. To some extent it
taboo for a woman to touch
reduces fishing pressure on the coral reef environment.
basket traps (madema) and nets
during their fabrication and
deployment. If they do, the basket
traps and nets won't catch fish.
Even magical power has
a role, too
Fisheries in coastal communities have long been associated
with innumerable magical practices. Some fishers believe that,
in order to catch more fish, a talisman must be tied to the
fishing gear or vessels, and/or a prayer must be said in order
to give fishermen confidence in the face of a wide range of
hazards and threats.
A traditional healer should be consulted to find the best time
and day to leave home and the best direction for fishing and
camping. In addition, some fishers believe that a big tree found
along the coast is a home of evil spirits, so a special prayer must
be said before cutting down the tree for vessel construction to
avoid misfortune. In the absence of traditional healers the
number of fishing vessels is greatly reduced and thus fishing
pressure is reduced and fishing habitats are protected.

---

A roadmap to preserve customs, taboos, beliefs
PolicyRecommendations
Unless steps are taken to preserve and utilise indigenous
knowledge, there is a risk that its role in protecting fish
stocks and coastal habitats wil be further eroded.
Here are recommendations from which seek to preserve
the role of indigenous knowledge in the management of
fish stocks and coastal habitats along the Tanzanian coast.
· There is a need to build capacity among local
communities to develop, share and apply their
indigenous knowledge to monitor their resources
based on indigenous knowledge.
· There should be provision of alternative livelihood
strategies to al eviate poverty because hunger is the
Walkingatlowtide:
major driver of the erosion of tradition and customs
Hand col ection of marine animals is typical y done by women and children,
of coastal people.
who target mol uscs and crustaceans during spring tides in intertidal areas.
· There should be an urgency to col ect, disseminate
· Before the establishment of marine reserves,
and systematize indigenous knowledge, taking into
government should involve local communities,
account the specific context in which it developed
particularly elder fishers, to identify their priorities
and exists.
and incorporate them into the management plan.
Tanzania
Zanzibar
· Research and public awareness in the use of
· In each coastal vil age, it should be mandatory to
indigenous knowledge for sustainable development
have vil age regulations (bylaws) based on people's
should be conducted, and national conferences
beliefs and taboos governing the sustainable
should be prepared, in order to promote the science
utilization of marine resources.
and art of inculcating indigenous knowledge into
· To avoid disappearence, indigenous knowledge
development.
should be wel -documented and transmitted to
· Indigenous knowledge innovations should be
young generations through integration of
periodical y disseminated to development
indigenous knowledge into both formal school
practitioners and beneficiaries.
curriculum and formal education.
· In order to make indigenous knowledge in natural
The CRTR Program is working with local stakeholders
resource management sustainable, there should be
to integrate customs, taboos and beliefs with new,
national strategies to support the use of indigenous
scientifical y-based management practices.
knowledge in natural resource management.
The recording of indigenous knowledge is
This should include incorporating indigenous
strengthening the technical information base which is
knowledge system into development programs of
available to marine authorities when they prepare
government and non-governmental organizations.
strategies for coastal management.
Furtherinformation
About the Centre of Excel ence
University of Dar es Salaam Institute
of Marine Sciences
The East Africa Centre of Excel ence
The East African Centre of Excel ence, is one of four
2. To build regional capacity through:
P. O. Box 668, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Coral Reef Targeted Research & Capacity Building for
Tel: + 255 24 2230741/2232128
Fax: +255 24 2233050
Management (CRTR) Program Centres of Excel ence
· graduate scholarships;
E-mail: director@ims.udsm.ac.tz
www.ims.udsm.ac.tz
(CoEs) throughout the world.
· training workshops on regional y emerging
The CRTR Program is a partnership
The Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Dar es
issues; and
between the Global Environment
Facility, the World Bank,
Salaam, which is located in the heart of Stone Town on
· access to new expertise.
The University of Queensland
the island of Zanzibar, off the east coast of Tanzania,
(Australia), the United States
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
is a hub for coral reef studies in the region. It provides
3. To undertake regional y-relevant coral reef research
Administration (NOAA) and
approximately 50 research institutes
laboratory facilities and office space for more than
such as the impacts of coral bleaching, fisheries,
& other third parties around the world.
25 faculty and staff.
and various environmental factors (nutrients,
sedimentation, primary productivity) to coral
The aims of the East African Centre of Excel ence are:
degradation and recovery processes, and also
1. To provide technical support to CRTR Working
facilitating coral reef information outreach and
Groups' research and training activities.
uptake in the Eastern Africa region.

---