The diverse habitats around the Bazaruto Archipelago are under threat due to illegal and unsustainable fishing practices, unregulated natural resource use, and uncontrolled tourism activities. These not only threaten the biodiversity but have resulted in a considerable loss in park revenue, leading to the further impoverishment of local communities.
Bazaruto has 56 rangers, 16 of whom are women, and during 2021 they carried out 11,311 patrols (an increase of 58% over the previous year). As a result, 11 arrests were made for illegal fishing and turtle-poaching and 28 fishing boats were confiscated. Twenty-nine commercial fishing vessels were intercepted and monitored in an effort to address large-scale fishing that remains a threat to the sustainability of Bazaruto. These brave men and women dedicate their lives to safeguarding the archipelago, and their efforts have resulted in a major decrease in illegal fishing activity.
There were a number of fires on the islands of Benguerra and Bazaruto during 2020, caused by illegal brewing activities, as a result of which one person was arrested, and the trial continues. Regular joint patrols with maritime authorities were deployed over the year outside the northern boundary of the park, leading to several arrests and more than 50 turtles released from fishing nets. African Parks continues to invest in strengthening law enforcement to mitigate conservation threats.
