Menai Bay Conservation Area, Marine conservation area in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Menai Bay Conservation Area covers 470 square kilometres of Menai Bay off southwest Unguja Island, Zanzibar, making it the largest marine protected area in Zanzibar. Its 61 km coastline takes in six islets, including Ukombe, Kwale, Sume, Miwi, Niamembe and Pungume, with fringe coral reefs, sea grass beds and mangrove forests on the shores of Uzi, Nyamanzi and Nga'mbwa. Average water depth is about 10 m at high tide.

Protection was established in 1997 following decades of damage from destructive fishing methods that depleted marine life. This marked a turning point when local people and authorities recognized the need to restore and safeguard the ecosystem.

Mangrove wood is traditionally harvested around the bay, with women taking the wood for domestic fuel and men using it for construction and charcoal. Ten mangrove species grow here, and villagers also cut them for boat building. Seaweed farming of Eucheuma spinosum was introduced in one village after a fisheries subcommission was set up in 1978, and local women also weave coconut husk.

You can spot dolphins and snorkel around coral formations with guidance from local trained operators. These guides help you navigate different water zones safely and show you what to look for beneath the surface.

Local fishermen shifted from hunting dolphins for food to guiding tourists to watch them. This change reflects how communities adapted their livelihoods in a way that honors both their practical knowledge and wildlife protection.