:Misali Island

{{Short description|Island in the Zanzibar Archipelago, Tanzania}}

Misali Island is a small, ecologically rich island located off the west coast of Pemba Island, in the Zanzibar Archipelago, Tanzania. It is known for its rich marine biodiversity, coral reefs, and its cultural and religious significance.

Cultural and religious significance

Misali Island holds cultural and religious importance for local communities, particularly among the Muslim population of Zanzibar. According to local tradition, the island derives its name from a legend involving Prophet Hadhara. According to legend, Hadhara is said to have appeared on the island and requested a prayer mat. When none was available, he declared that the teardrop-shaped island itself would serve as his prayer mat, as its northern beach faces Mecca. The island derives its name from the Swahili word misali which translates to "prayer mat."De Bode, Lisa. The Muslims Who Want to Save Octopuses. The Atlantic, March 3, 2018. https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/03/muslim-octopus-zanzibar/554273/

Many locals consider Misali a holy island. Its sacred status has played a role in shaping environmental and conservation practices. Some fishermen have historically refrained from using destructive fishing methods, citing religious and ethical beliefs about environmental stewardship (khalifa), a concept that encourages the protection of nature as a divine responsibility. In the 1990s, conservationists partnered with Muslim clerics to reinforce sustainable fishing practices using Islamic teachings. This effort, led by NGOs such as CARE International, is regarded as one of the first documented collaborations between a secular conservation organization and religious leaders to promote ecological preservation. A 2013 PBS documentary highlighted how local imams used Quranic verses like 'Allah does not love the wasters' (7:31) to promote conservation.{{Cite episode |title=The Sacred Island |series=Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina |network=PBS |date=2013 |url=https://chedd-angier.com/savingtheocean/Season1/Episode9.html |via=Chedd-Angier Production Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930054654/https://www.pbs.org/show/saving-the-ocean/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 |time=14:58–15:18 }}

A 2005 BBC report documented how fishermen initially resisted conservation efforts until religious leaders framed environmental protection as a Quranic duty, with one fisherman stating: "It's easy to ignore the government, but no-one can break God's law."{{Cite news |last=Dickinson |first=Daniel |date=February 17, 2005 |title=Eco-Islam hits Zanzibar fishermen |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4271519.stm |access-date=March 31, 2025 |work=BBC News }}

= Religious environmental education program =

The conservation program under the project incorporated Islamic teachings through:

Friday sermon guides for imams linking Quranic verses to reef protection
School programs where children perform skits about sustainable fishing
A Swahili-language Quranic conservation guide distributed to 34 villages{{Cite episode |title=The Sacred Island |series=Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina |url=https://chedd-angier.com/savingtheocean/Season1/Episode9.html |network=PBS |date=2013 |time=21:45–22:30 |via=Chedd-Angier Production Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930054654/https://www.pbs.org/show/saving-the-ocean/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 }}

The project was led by Fazlun Khalid founder of Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Science (IFEES).{{Cite web |title=The application of Islamic environmental ethics to promote marine conservation in Zanzibar |url=https://www.ifees.org.uk/projects/islam-biodiversity/zanzibar/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=The Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (IFEES) |language=en-GB}} British conservationist Falak Jaffer noted: "When we began workshops on the Quran and ecology, even local Muslims were surprised by the depth of environmental stewardship verses."{{Cite episode |title=The Sacred Island |series=Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina |network=PBS |date=2013 |url=https://chedd-angier.com/savingtheocean/Season1/Episode9.html |time=13:55–14:15 |via=Chedd-Angier Production Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930054654/https://www.pbs.org/show/saving-the-ocean/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 }}

= The Misali Ethics Project =

In 2000, at a ceremony in Kathmandu, Nepal, the Misali Ethics Project was accepted as a "Sacred Gift for a Living Planet," one of only 26 projects world wide to be so recognized.{{Cite web |title=ARC Projects - Islamic fishing laws |url=http://www.arcworld.org/projectsab7f.html?projectID=170 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=The Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC)}}{{Cite web |title=ARC Projects - Sacred Gifts |url=http://www.arcworld.org/projects390b.html?projectID=49 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=The Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC)}} The Sacred Gift program was organized by WWF and the Alliance of Religions and Conservation.

On 29 February 2008, the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (IFEES) launched the Misali Ethics Teachers Guide, the world’s first Islamic conservation guide on Pemba Island, Tanzania. The guide uses lessons from the Qur’an to show how vital fishing sources can be protected.{{Cite web |title=Publications, manuals & resources to help understand the environment through an Islamic perspective |url=https://www.ifees.org.uk/resources/publications/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=The Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (IFEES) |language=en-GB}}

= Community resistance to tourism development =

Fishermen and conservationists mobilized in 1993 against an Italian resort development, arguing the island was vital to their livelihoods. After a five-year campaign involving eight conservation groups and local leaders, the government revoked the lease.{{Cite episode |title=The Sacred Island |series=Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina |network=PBS |date=2013 |url=https://chedd-angier.com/savingtheocean/Season1/Episode9.html |via=Chedd-Angier Production Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930054654/https://www.pbs.org/show/saving-the-ocean/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 |time=07:48–08:20 }}

Geography

{{Location map|Tanzania|width=200|float=right|lat=-5.233|long=39.683|caption=Location near Pemba Island}}

Misali Island is situated in the Pemba Channel, approximately 10 km west of Chake Chake, the capital of Pemba Island. The island covers an area of about 1 square kilometer and is surrounded by a coral reef ecosystem.

Ecology and conservation

= Biodiversity =

Misali Island hosts a rich variety of terrestrial and marine species, including:

Endangered terrestrial species: Pemba flying fox, vervet monkeys, and coconut crabs
Marine life: More than 300 fish species and 40 coral species documented in its reefs{{Cite episode |title=The Sacred Island |series=Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina |network=PBS |date=2013 |url=https://chedd-angier.com/savingtheocean/Season1/Episode9.html |time=06:06–06:25 |via=Chedd-Angier Production Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930054654/https://www.pbs.org/show/saving-the-ocean/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 }}
Key nesting site for green and hawksbill turtles{{Cite magazine |last=Robinson |first=Simon |date=April 2, 2001 |title=Preserving Paradise |url=https://time.com/archive/6671778/preserving-paradise-2/ |access-date=April 2, 2025 |magazine=TIME}}

= Conservation program =

Originally established in 1998 as the Misali Island Marine Conservation Area, and later incorporated into the Pemba Channel Conservation Area (PECCA) (a legally protected marine reserve under Zanzibari law), the Misali conservation initiative focuses on:

Protection efforts:

Daily ranger patrols monitoring coral reefs
Community enforcement against illegal fishing (dynamite fishing, spear guns)
Visitor fee system ($10/day) funding conservation{{Cite episode |title=The Sacred Island |series=Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina |network=PBS |date=2013 |url=https://chedd-angier.com/savingtheocean/Season1/Episode9.html |time=06:55–07:03 |via=Chedd-Angier Production Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930054654/https://www.pbs.org/show/saving-the-ocean/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 }}

Habitat management:

Coral reef restoration projects
Mangrove replanting along village shores
Protected no-fishing zones covering 1/3 of reefs{{Cite episode |title=The Sacred Island |series=Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina |network=PBS |date=2013 |url=https://chedd-angier.com/savingtheocean/Season1/Episode9.html |time=05:53–06:12 |via=Chedd-Angier Production Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930054654/https://www.pbs.org/show/saving-the-ocean/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 }}

Community engagement:

Islamic environmental education programs
Alternative livelihood training (beekeeping, ecotourism)
Village conservation committees with reporting systems{{Cite episode |title=The Sacred Island |series=Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina |network=PBS |date=2013 |url=https://chedd-angier.com/savingtheocean/Season1/Episode9.html |time=15:42–16:05 |via=Chedd-Angier Production Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930054654/https://www.pbs.org/show/saving-the-ocean/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 }}

= Habitat restoration =

Since 2000, the Misali conservation program has included mangrove replanting initiatives along village shores. These efforts, funded by visitor fees, serve dual purposes: creating fish nursery habitats to support fisheries and preventing coastal erosion. Local women's groups lead the planting efforts, with more than 10,000 mangroves established by 2013.{{Cite episode |title=The Sacred Island |series=Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina |url=https://chedd-angier.com/savingtheocean/Season1/Episode9.html |network=PBS |date=2013 |time=23:24–23:45 |via=Chedd-Angier Production Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930054654/https://www.pbs.org/show/saving-the-ocean/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 }}

= Enforcement and patrol system =

A community-run patrol system enforces fishing rules, using licensed rangers and village committees to report violations. PBS documented how confiscated illegal gear includes spear guns and fine-mesh nets, with fishermen receiving warnings rather than fines for first offenses.{{Cite episode |title=The Sacred Island |series=Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina |network=PBS |date=2013 |url=https://chedd-angier.com/savingtheocean/Season1/Episode9.html |via=Chedd-Angier Production Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930054654/https://www.pbs.org/show/saving-the-ocean/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 |time=15:42–16:05, 17:45–18:10 }}

Tourism

Misali Island is promoted as an ecotourism destination for:

Snorkeling and scuba diving{{Cite episode |title=The Sacred Island |url=https://chedd-angier.com/savingtheocean/Season1/Episode9.html |series=Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina |network=PBS |date=2013 |time=06:53–07:10 |via=Chedd-Angier Production Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930054654/https://www.pbs.org/show/saving-the-ocean/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 }}
Nature walks and bird watching{{Cite web |title=Misali Island Illustrated Checklist |url=https://ebird.org/hotspot/L4176339/illustrated-checklist |access-date=March 31, 2025 |website=eBird |publisher=Cornell Lab of Ornithology }}
Sustainable fishing tours{{Cite episode |title=The Sacred Island |url=https://chedd-angier.com/savingtheocean/Season1/Episode9.html |series=Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina |network=PBS |date=2013 |time=24:30–25:00 |via=Chedd-Angier Production Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930054654/https://www.pbs.org/show/saving-the-ocean/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 }}

Since 1998, visitors have paid a $10 daily conservation fee, which funds patrols and village projects like mangrove restoration.{{Cite episode |title=The Sacred Island |series=Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina |network=PBS |date=2013 |url=https://chedd-angier.com/savingtheocean/Season1/Episode9.html |via=Chedd-Angier Production Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930054654/https://www.pbs.org/show/saving-the-ocean/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 |time=06:55–07:03 }}

Economy

To reduce fishing pressure, the conservation program introduced:

Beekeeping: 120 hives (as of 2013) established by 2013, producing honey for local markets
Seaweed farming: Women-run coastal plots generating $5/day income average
Ecotourism training: 45 local guides certified for snorkeling tours{{Cite episode |title=The Sacred Island |series=Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina |network=PBS |date=2013 |url=https://chedd-angier.com/savingtheocean/Season1/Episode9.html |time=24:30–25:00 |via=Chedd-Angier Production Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930054654/https://www.pbs.org/show/saving-the-ocean/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 }}

A fisherman interviewed stated: "The sea cucumbers and octopus we protect today will feed our children tomorrow."{{Cite episode |title=The Sacred Island |series=Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina |network=PBS |date=2013 |url=https://chedd-angier.com/savingtheocean/Season1/Episode9.html |time=16:45–17:00 |via=Chedd-Angier Production Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930054654/https://www.pbs.org/show/saving-the-ocean/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 }}

The same religious messaging transformed attitudes toward alternative livelihoods, as another fisherman told the BBC: "I am more dedicated to protecting the environment now and a more committed Muslim as well."{{Cite news |last=Dickinson |first=Daniel |date=February 17, 2005 |title=Eco-Islam hits Zanzibar fishermen |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4271519.stm |access-date=March 31, 2025 |work=BBC News }}

Environmental threats

Despite conservation efforts, Misali Island faces:

Illegal fishing practices, including weighted nets that damage coral reefs{{Cite episode |title=The Sacred Island |series=Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina |network=PBS |date=2013 |url=https://chedd-angier.com/savingtheocean/Season1/Episode9.html |via=Chedd-Angier Production Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930054654/https://www.pbs.org/show/saving-the-ocean/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 |time=20:22–20:45 }}
Climate change impacts on coral reefs
Pollution from tourism and nearby communities
Inappropriate tourism development

Notes

The documentary series [https://web.archive.org/web/20200930054654/https://www.pbs.org/show/saving-the-ocean/ Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina] was originally broadcast on PBS in 2013. Episodes remain available through the production company's archives. Carl Safina is a Pulitzer Prize-finalist marine conservationist whose work has been cited in peer-reviewed publications.