This archive report was first published on 13 December 2021.
December 13, 2021, Nairobi — The Marine Conservation Institute has honored Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve with a gold level Blue Park Award for achieving the highest science-based standards for marine life protection and management.
Located off the coast of Kenya, Kisite-Mpunguti is the first Blue Park in Kenya, a country with a significant coastal area that supports a vast array of marine biodiversity.
Managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kisite-Mpunguti joins a network of 21 Blue Parks worldwide, designed to protect and regenerate oceans' biodiversity.
Paul Wambi, the Parks Warden, celebrated the news, saying it serves as motivation towards a sustainable marine protected area (MPA) that benefits both nature and humanity.
"We are delighted that Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve has been designated a Blue Park. As Kenya Wildlife Service, we would like to thank all of our dedicated staff, local community, and partners for making Kisite-Mpunguti a beacon of hope for marine conservation," said Wambi.
Established by the Kenyan government in 1978, Kisite-Mpunguti combines two contiguous areas surrounding two nearby islands in the Indian Ocean. The park is home to a diverse range of ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs, which shelter a rich biodiversity of marine mammals, fish, seabirds, and sea turtles.
Among the marine mammal species found in these waters are dugongs, whale sharks, and sperm whales, all considered vulnerable or endangered species. Five vulnerable, endangered, and critically endangered sea turtle species also forage and breed in the park.
