Mafia Island and its chain of small islets in southern Tanzania, offshore from the eastern extent of the Rufiji River, one of the largest delta systems in Africa. To the east of Mafia Island is the Indian Ocean. The main island of Mafia is about 48 km long and 17 km wide at its widest point. It is thus about half the size of Unguja Island, and, like Zanzibar, is a raised portion of the continental shelf, not a coral island. The soil of Mafia Island is mostly sandy and the terrain very flat. There is a ridge forming a backbone to the northern end but at its highest point it does not exceed 200 feet above sea level. Along this ridge there is firm and fertile clay soil and cultivation of annual crops. Several smaller islands and islets are scattered to the west and south of the Mafia Islands.
Mafia Island is the site of Tanzania’s first marine park, Mafia Island Marine Park (MIMP), which was established in 1995. MIMP covers the Southern half of the island and part of the Northeast. Mafia Island Marine Park covers an area of 822 km2 and is located between S 07 45’07” and E 39 54’01” and S 08 09′ 40″ and E 39 30’00. The park covers the southern part of Mafia Island and includes the inhabited islands of Chole, Juani Jibondo and Bwejuu and several uninhabited islets and the associated waters. The area included within the boundaries of MIMP is one of the most important marine habitats in the world. However, while its importance has increasingly been recognized, so too have its problems, particularly over-fishing, and destructive and unsustainable fishing methods deviating the Mafia Island wildlife.
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Mafia Island Wildlife
The sea around Mafia Island hosts an outstanding mosaic of tropical marine habitat including coral reefs, sea grass beds, mangroves, intertidal flats reef flats, lagoons and coastal forest. These are nesting sites for Green and Hawksbill turtles while Leatherback, Olive Ridley and Loggerhead also occur in Mafia. Sharks, barracuda, grouper, needlefish, moray eels and triggerfish are also prominent in these waters. Also Torpedo-shaped and robust yellow-fin tuna, cobia manta rays and sting rays, swordfish, black marlins and wahoo are Mafia Island wildlife seen in the Marine Park.
