On 14 November 2023, a team of researchers and field workers gathered in Dar es Salaam to get ready for an important job: studying what lives on the seabed along Tanzania's southern coast.
Why this work matters
Tanzania's southern coast - from Kibiti down to Lindi - supports thousands of fishers and their families. To take care of it well, decision-makers need to know what is actually on the seafloor: the corals, sea grass, sand and other habitats that hold the sea's life together.
That is the job of the seabed survey (called the Benthic Ecological Survey, or BES for short). It is part of the USAID Heshimu Bahari programme, and ASUTA is leading the southern leg with the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI).
Who opened the workshop
The project coordinator, Mr. Barakael Matulu, welcomed everyone and invited the guest of honour, Dr. Simon Kangwe, Centre Director of TAFIRI Dar es Salaam, to address the room.
Dr. Kangwe's message was simple. Good decisions about the sea need good information, and good information starts with people who know what they are doing in the field. He urged the team to take the work seriously and wished everyone a productive two days. The workshop was declared officially open at 10:00 AM.
What comes next
The first day would be spent in the classroom learning the routine. The second day would be at sea, putting that routine into practice. By the end of the two days, the team would be ready to head south and start collecting real data.