Whilst the Mission Blue Hope Spot doesn’t hold any legal standing, it’s a huge step in LTO’s mission of getting this area established as a nationally recognised Special Reserve – a type of Marine Protected Area in Mozambique.
Establishing a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Jangamo Bay would greatly increase connectivity between existing MPAs in southern Mozambique by extending the protected corridor from Bazaruto Archipelago National Park and Pomene National Reserve, north of the Hope Spot, southwards to the MPA on the border to South Africa, Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve (Reserva Marinha Parcial) and Maputo Special Reserve. Jangamo is located in a migratory corridor for humpback whales and the Mozambique Channel serves as breeding and nursing ground for the Southwestern Indian Ocean breeding stock (breeding stock C) of humpback whales according to the IUCN. Substock C1 in Mozambique accounts for nearly 6,000 individuals, almost 10% of the world’s humpback whale population, making it one of the most significant breeding grounds in the world.
Through this Hope Spot establishment Mission Blue has partnered with Love The Oceans to provide media support and amplification of our messaging in order for us to reach our ultimate mission of establishing a Marine Protected Area in Jangamo Bay.