Zanzibar, Tanzania

Reef & Roots: Restoring coral reefs, while strengthening communities

Reef & Roots is a joint initiative by ReefSystems Foundation and Under The Wave to restore degraded coral reefs and strengthen coastal communities in Zanzibar. Together with local fishers, women, and youth, we build a community-run workshop that produces and installs modular artificial reefs, grows heat-resistant corals, and creates a 27-hectare marine restoration area around Zanzibar. The new reefs boost biodiversity, increase fish populations, support sustainable livelihoods through training, fair employment, and eco-tourism opportunities. By combining science, innovation, and local ownership, Reef & Roots creates a regenerative model where healthy oceans and thriving communities grow side by side, ready to be scaled across Zanzibar!

Together with Under The Wave Foundation, the following preparations have been executed:

  1. Strong local partnerships have been established in Matemwe, Zanzibar.
  2. The ocean restoration site has been selected
  3. The location for the artificial reef workshop has been approved (at Sunshine Hotel)
  4. Coral nurseries have been set up to cultivate new, heat-resistant corals

 

Working together with the local government, we will be able turn the reef area into a 'no-take zone'. Fish populations will increase and due to the spill-over effect, marine life will expand beyond the no-take zone. This creates a sustainable food system, where fisherman will be able to catch fish for the community.

Current status of the project

1. Local partnerships established

Yong-Mi, founder of Under the Wave, has established the right relationships on Zanzibar for this project. She has lived on the island for 15 year and is locally embedded to ensure operations on site will run effectively.

2. ReefSystems meets Under the Wave 

In september 2025 Jesse de Bont and Max Dijkstra from ReefSystems (the Netherlands) invited Yong Mi from Under the Wave (Zanzibar) to discuss the next steps for a collaboration to start scaling up the impact in Zanzibar

3. Workshop location assigned

The Sunshine Marina Lodge has donated land to our initiative to set up the artificial reef production workshop. Here we want to transform a 20ft container into a workshop, where the local community will receive the training to produce and install the reefs. This location is perfect, since the reef-blocks can be carried by hand to the boat, which reduces transportation costs. 

4. Ocean restoration site selected

The reef restoration site has been assigned by the local government and is located 3,5km from the workshop location. This Marine Protected Area (MPA) ensures that no fishing activities will take place on the reefs. Only outside of the MPA fishing is allowed. The reefs will increase marine biodiversity and the 'spill-over' effect to outside of the MPA will create a regenerative, sustainable food supply.

5. Running local restoration activities

Within the MPA the local organization Under the Wave has set up coral cultivation tables. 'Corals of opportunity' are gathered and placed on these tables. 5-7 months after placement, the corals are grown, where after they can be transplanted onto artificial MOSES-reefs.

6. Active coral nurseries

To cultivate new corals, specific inter-tidal corals are being collected. These corals are heat-resistant, since shallower water is warmer already. With the cultivation of heat-resistant corals it is possible to create healthy coral reefs that are more resilient to rising water temperatures. 

Local partners

Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy
Government authority responsible for issuing permits for marine protected areas and artificial reef installations, overseeing compliance, and officially supporting the project.

Sunshine Hotel
Provides a location where the reef workshop and facilities can be built, and supports local logistics and collaboration.

Dive Point
Local dive school partnering in the installation of the reefs and the development of tourism-based revenue models.

Wageningen University & Research (WUR)
Provides expertise, students, and support for monitoring coral restoration and marine ecology.

Plymouth University
Contributes expertise and support in the research and monitoring of marine ecosystems.

Local schools in Zanzibar
Involved in marine education and raising awareness among children.

Fishermen Committee Matemwe / local fishers' associations
Engaged in sustainable fisheries management and reef monitoring.

LindaBahari
Local partner with experience in coral restoration and coral transplantation.

Blue Ventures Foundation
Supports marine restoration efforts and engages the local community in conservation activities.

Next steps

Funding required: €165.000

Once funding is received, a 20ft. container with workshop equipment will be shipped from Holland to Zanzibar. Once on site, the following will happen:

  1. Together with the community, the container will be transformed into a local workshop (see example here at stage 2)
  2. Local fishermen, youth, and women will receive reef production training
  3. Coral nurseries will be scaled up
  4. Local community members will receive diver training for installation of reefs and coral transplantation
  5. Restoration activities will be monitored and evaluated
  6. Touristic revenue models will be linked to the restoration activities for sustainable impact growth

More information soon!