From the air the impacts become clearer.

Some things are just amazing and that is exactly what comes to mind when you fly over Mozambique’s coastline. Flying at a relatively low height, the variety of shades and hues of blues and greens of the ocean is just stunning. On the 29th November, I was treated to the opportunity to take my first ever bantam microlight flight. The plane is a small two seater, light enough that a single person can tilt the nose back and push it on its back wheels around the runway. We flew from Vilanculous to Inhambane as a trial to see how in the future we could use the microlight for surveying the coast for sea turtles. Although no nesting tracks were spotted it was clear that the microlight would be highly advantageous for monitoring fishing/poaching camps that are not often accessible by car. Fishers, boats, drift nets and sea turtle carapaces were all clearly seen from the air. We hope to ensure that the microlight will be used regularly to assist with our ongoing project to combat sea turtle poaching.

Once in the air one thing becomes very clear, the scale of the problem and the vastness of the coastline. Let the pictures below tell the story.