Tofo Death on the Beach… A beach landing in the surf is something you never take for granted. So doing it the hard way with no engine requires a combination of skill and strength…

Watching the tiny fishing boat get through surf to the safety of Tofo beach was quite something. The crew of three rowed furiously, but seemed unfazed by it all – clearly something they had done many times. 

The southern end of Tofo beach is where the fishing boats are dragged up on the sand. It’s a hive of activity early morning as the fishermen return from their trips to the offshore reefs. All the activity caught my attention as I looked for some last photo-opportunities to round out my trip.

An early morning walk when traveling is often the best time to feel the pulse of a location. And it’s certainly a great way to end two weeks diving in Southern Mozambique with the area’s famous mega fauna.

Tofo Death on the Beach – The Dark Underbelly…

Cliches about freshly caught fish for the local market were on the tip of my tongue. And the very last thing I was expecting to see was a vignette in to the ugly underbelly of the seemingly insatiable Chinese demand for shark fins.

In the boat, underneath the piled up fishing nets was a barely alive but fully mature mobula ray. Which was quickly pulled out on to the beach and slaughtered in front of me as I struggled to capture the scene.

Then I realized that one of the fishermen had a shark fin in a plastic bag. Obviously the victim had been thrown over the side after being parted from its prized appendage.

It was a totally shocking scene and one that was made even worse by the realization that similar events had probably taken place everyday that I had been in Tofo had I actually looked for them.

While it is very easy to self-righteously tell the Tofo fishermen that they should not do such things. The fact was that my stomach was full from a pleasant breakfast at my guesthouse.

While the fishermen need to earn money to do the same for themselves and their families.

With very few employment options available, fishing is a logical and reasonably sustainable way to do that.

Tofo Death on the Beach – Chinese Businessmen…

However the lure of easy money is understandable and local Chinese “businessmen” have established a lucrative trade in shark fins.

Fetching up to US$700 a kg in Hong Kong, shark fins are procured locally at a fraction of that from the local fishermen who think they are doing well from the deal…

Not only is the trade severely impacting the local shark population. The methods used by the the fishermen create significant damage to the greater marine population. Such as the mobula ray.

The Chinese have moved into Africa on a grand scale as they seek control of the resources and raw materials the second biggest economy in the world needs to keep growing. The merits of their investments in the continent are beyond the scope of this post, but there is no doubt that some of the activities of Chinese entrepreneurs who set up businesses are beyond the pale!

The Marine Mega Fauna Foundation in Tofo are trying to establish a Marine Park in the critical 200 km Tofo corridor. Something that will achieve the dual objectives of protecting the area’s mega fauna while allowing the local population to benefit – not just the hotel and dive shop owners…

Let’s hope they are successful…