Establishment and management of the MPA has been built upon a strong biophysical and social science foundation; from preliminary baseline surveys at all levels at the start of conceptual development, through to regular monitoring and assessment to ensure an adaptive management approach. Since 1993 CHICOP has employed professional expatriate marine biologists as Conservation Coordinators, for training park rangers and overseeing all research and monitoring programs. Extensive and cross-institutional capacity building efforts have also been provided on a range of projects both within Chumbe MPA and with partner institutions and emerging coastal conservation programs across the region. CHICOP’s ranger team has captured daily monitoring and observational data in the MPA, leading to Chumbe having the most extensive monitoring data set of any MPA in Africa, possibly the world, spanning more than 20 years of operations. Results are used for decision making and are shared through a range of information materials such as scientific publications, status reports and newsletters. Furthermore, all CHICOP staff are trained in the basics of reef and forest ecology, English language skills, ecotourism and waste management practises.

Sustainable park management often means that access to traditional resources is restricted or modified for sustainable management. Such impacts therefore need to be offset by ensuring local communities and resource users directly or indirectly benefit from the MPA and are fully involved in the solution. Chumbe MPA was established through participative partnerships with local communities, and included: village meetings before and during project development; employment and training of community members for various project roles, including former fishermen as park rangers; village leader involvement in management plans and Advisory Committee meetings; and the provision of wider income opportunities for local communities (such as agricultural products for the restaurant, building materials and handicrafts, outsourcing road and boat transport and craftsmen services during maintenance). Additionally the project benefits local communities through the protection of valuable biodiversity; restocking of depleted fisheries and degraded coral reefs; promotion of environmental awareness among fishers, and provision of emergency services to local fishers in distress in the absence of a marine rescue service in Tanzania.

From 1991-1994 Chumbe Island Coral Park Limited (CHICOP) successfully negotiated with the semi-autonomous government of Zanzibar, Tanzania for the western coral reef and forest of Chumbe Island to be gazetted as an MPA, with management of the MPA entrusted to CHICOP. The company was specifically established for the purpose of developing and managing the MPA financially self-sustainably, utilizing ecotourism to generate revenue for all MPA operational costs and associated conservation, research and education activities. Through this Chumbe became the first managed marine park in Tanzania, the first privately managed MPA in the world, and to date is one of the only financially self-sustainable MPAs globally. The company objectives are not-for-profit, implementing conservation and education initiatives over more than 20 years under the framework of two management plan iterations that were developed with wide stakeholder participation (1995-2005 and 2006-2016). Ecotourism business operations follow commercial principles for maximizing revenue and promoting cost-effectiveness to ensure a sustainable revenue stream for MPA activities, exemplifying a successful business-oriented approach to sustainable and effective MPA management.

Workshops are conducted to increase local fishermen‘s capacities. These focus on conservation, sustainable fishing techniques, biosafety measures and solid waste management. Meetings with fishermen from other protected areas in the region, NGOs and research centres facilitate knowledge transfer.

Roles and responsibilities are defined for all stakeholders. To achieve the required compliance with administrative rules, stakeholders are actively involved in inspection and surveillance activities. The violation of an agreement can result in temporary denial of access to the island.

Environmental education campaigns raise awareness of issues associated with the fishing camp. Special emphasis is placed on the control of introduced species, waste management and outdoor defecation. Information is disseminated via various media.

The conservation and management programme formalizes jointly agreed regulations. It contains various sub-programmes with defined objectives, actions and guidelines to improve the state of conservation and management.

Regular meetings with relevant stakeholders, including representatives from academia, governmental agencies, national park staff and local fishermen, promote consensus regarding directives for the use and protection of natural resources.

Workshops involving representatives of government agencies, academia and local communities contribute to an increased awareness of the programme and its management practices. The feedback provided by stakeholders helps to improve adaptation measures.

Following the restoration of the hydrological flow, mangroves species able to cope with the altered hydrological conditions are planted. This increases the chances that restoration activities will be successful.