By Micas Filipe Macamo, Mozambique
In November 1990 I arrived on Inhaca Island, east of Maputo, as a maritime delegate. The Island government, the Maritime Biology Station and the local population were in an open, paid war to eliminate the so-called Indian crow that had just invaded the island.The combat consisted of eliminating the crow itself, its nests and eggs, in exchange for paying some money for each result presented.
Due to the inherent functions and the value, I have always given to local natural resources for the preservation of the Island and nature-based tourism, I enthusiastically engaged in mobilising more participants in the campaign, especially sailors and fishermen.
Indian Crows constituted a threat to birds and other native species. They took and ate food from their families wherever they were, including in boiling pots or from children’s hands. Fisherman’s produce unloaded on the beach was also targeted. One day, when I went home for lunch, I found one of them in the kitchen where he had entered through the window. I took it, and I decided to apply light punishment as a way of sending a message to others that they were undesirable.
Since that day, and for a week, whenever I left the building for the day or moved from the yard to the market, store or local government headquarters, the Indian Crows flew from tree to tree around me, following me, while emitting those sounds hô hô hô..wau wau wau. They seemed to be saying: it’s him…Here he is…it’s him!
In the midst of all this I drew two conclusions: Firstly, I know that our fight was inglorious. The crows on the Island not only did not end, but they also multiplied and crossed the extensive bay of Maputo and went to populate the city with the same name.
Secondly, a gain was that the problem mobilised the awareness of academics, government officials and communities around an ecological cause. This experience strengthened the fight against harmful holothuria (sea cucumber) fishing on the Island and culminated in the government banning its fishing. In the ecosystem, holothuria contributes to the health of coral reefs. The same conscience was used in mobilising in the fight against irresponsible tourists and fishermen who violated the fishing ban in the three local coral reef reserves.
The results achieved in these instances showed how community participation and involvement were relevant in preserving natural resources.
“Journeys to the Sea” is a new series of inspiring stories that highlight the personal connections of marine professionals with the ocean. As a follow up to World Oceans Day on June 8th, WIOMSA is excited to launch a three-month-long celebration dedicated to the ocean. The series will feature 34 unique stories from across the Western Indian Ocean region. These stories will share firsthand accounts of ocean-related experiences, reflections, and narratives from participants who have been part of the Sida-funded International Training Programme on marine spatial planning, “Planning for a Sustainable Blue Future in the Western Indian Ocean”. The stories have been part of the Ocean Storytelling component of the workshop, led by Dr Mia Strand, Nelson Mandela University. Read the collection of stories here.
Feature photo: Commercial purse-sein pulling in nets surrounded by scavenging seabirds. © Peter Chadwick
