In February 2021, Mission Blue – the ocean-conservation foundation led by legendary oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle – declared Jangamo Bay, in Mozambique’s Inhambane Province, a Hope Spot in recognition of Love The Oceans’ work to protect the area’s magnificent populations of cetaceans and elasmobranchs, and our efforts to create an MPA in partnership with the community and mitigate unsustainable fishing practices.
A bottom-up approach
Love The Oceans works through research, education and diving, alongside the Community Elders and local fishing community – who, through the charity’s first Sustainable Fishing Project, agreed to phase out net fishing in the bay. A Hope Spot carries no legal standing of its own, but it is a decisive step toward the charity’s real goal: a nationally recognised Special Reserve, a Mozambican Marine Protected Area protecting endangered manta rays and other species.
I applaud Francesca, the Love The Oceans team and the entire community for doing what they can to push for a marine protected area in the Jangamo Bay.
Dr Sylvia Earle, Mission Blue
What does this mean?
The Mission Blue Hope Spot is a huge step in LTO’s mission of getting this area established as a Marine Protected Area in Mozambique. The area is also recognised as an Important Shark and Ray Area and an Important Marine Mammal Area by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Establishing a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Jangamo Bay would greatly increase connectivity between existing MPAs in southern Mozambique by extending the protected corridor from Bazaruto Archipelago National Park and Pomene National Reserve, north of the Hope Spot, southwards to the MPA on the border to South Africa, Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve (Reserva Marinha Parcial) and Maputo Special Reserve. Jangamo is located in a migratory corridor for humpback whales and the Mozambique Channel serves as breeding and nursing ground for the Southwestern Indian Ocean breeding stock (breeding stock C) of humpback whales according to the IUCN. Substock C1 in Mozambique accounts for nearly 6,000 individuals, almost 10% of the world’s humpback whale population, making it one of the most significant breeding grounds in the world.
Through this Hope Spot establishment Mission Blue has partnered with Love The Oceans to provide media support and amplification of our messaging in order for us to reach our ultimate mission of establishing a Marine Protected Area in Jangamo Bay.
Becoming a Mission Blue Hope Spot is a big step toward establishing a marine protected area in the Bay, and for gaining recognition for the area as a valuable eco-tourism asset.
FRANCESCA TROTMAN, FOUNDER OF LOVE THE OCEANS AND HOPE SPOT CHAMPION
