By Maria Pentzel, Tanzania
I grew up in the Usambara Mountains, so I had little access to the ocean when I was young. We were lucky, our grandparents lived in a city where the ocean was nearby at Tanga city. During most visits we felt like we had to go to the beach somehow, especially during celebrations and the holidays. We used to have lunch together at home, then afterwards all the grandchildren would head to the beach. It would not be a holiday without going to the sea, and during the holidays you find a lot of people at the beach in Tanzania.
I am a Nature lover, it’s not only the ocean, I love being in the forest, being in a garden, or the parks. I find myself very connected to nature. I love wild animals, flowers and insects, so I have been inspired and these aspects led me to where I am today. When I finished my advanced secondary school there was a course connected to the ocean which was introduced to me by my Aunty Dr. Felista Mahonge and I didn’t think twice before applying. I ended up doing my bachelor’s degree in fisheries and aquaculture. This really made me more connected to the ocean; I came to learn about the activities happening in the ocean and the biodiversity found in the ocean. I was employed as a fisheries officer as my first appointment by the government which led me to become even more connected to the ocean, leading me to call myself “the servant of the sea”.
Any opportunity coming out connected to the sea, I tend to grab. This is because I feel happy and at peace being close and working on issues related to the sea. The more I learn the closer I feel to the ocean. I did the bachelor’s degree and then I got an opportunity to be a fishery officer. I did a master’s in marine spatial planning, and now I work as a conservationist in the marine parks and reserves unit. I feel myself more and more connected to the ocean, and I have not thought of changing fields at any point. Being on duty by the ocean is different to when I go to the ocean for relaxation. Sometimes I’m at sea and it is intensive work, which means I am not able to concentrate on nature. When I specifically go to have my time at the beach, it’s another story and world. I feel reborn. I feel renewed.
I also want to give credit to the local coastal communities. Sometimes they feel like they are not given their freedom and support, especially during different operations related to law enforcement. But what I have come to learn is that we still need more effort in engaging each other so that we at least come to some understanding and agreements. These may not make everyone happy but at least satisfied for the sake of the environment and future generations when it comes to exploitation of natural resources. I love engaging with the community; hear how they think and talk together on how we can best protect and manage the ocean together.
It is about hearing what the communities really want, not only what we think is best or what we want them to do. The community really cooperates when you create that platform for them to meaningfully engage. Otherwise, it makes the work more difficult when you are trying to protect and manage marine areas. If you really engage and understand the community, I think things do get moving, and we will be able to manage the ocean together in a more sustainable way.
“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.
Featured photos: © Maria Pentzel
