| Ulenge Island | |
|---|---|
  location in Tanzania | |
| Location |  Tanzania,Tanga Region, Tanga District |
| Nearest city | Tanga |
| Coordinates | 5°0′28″S39°9′42″E / 5.00778°S 39.16167°E /-5.00778; 39.16167 |
| Length | 1.0 km (0.62 mi) |
| Width | 0.2 km (0.12 mi) |
| Established | 2010 |
| Governing body | Marine Parks & Reserves Authority (Tanzania) |
| Website | Tanga Marine Reserves System |
Ulenge Island officially,Ulenge Island Marine Reserve (Kisiwa cha Hifadhi Akiba cha Ulenge, inSwahili) is a protected, seasonally inhabited island in theTanga Bay ofPemba Channel under theTanga Marine Reserves (TMRS) with theIUCN category II located withinTanga City Council ofTanga Region inTanzania.Kwale Island and Ulenge Island are the only islands in the marine reserve that are seasonally inhabited. Of Tanga's whole marine reserves system, Ulenge Island is the mostdegraded. Ulenge'sreefs had the lowest fish numbers and the lowestcoral cover and species diversity (5-7%, 16 coral genera). This is mostly becauseTanga Bay andTanga City Council are nearby, which has a greater negative human impact. Ulenge Island is nicknamed by English speakers asBird Island due to its importance as a seabird sanctuary.[1][2]
TheSwahili people from the north, led by Chief Mwinyi Ulenge, are said to have been the initial inhabitants of Ulenge Island. They were compelled to travel to the mainland due to a water deficit on the island. The majority of them relocated toChongoleani ward of Tanga city.[3] The island is also the location of two of Tanga's most famous lighthouses; theUlenge Island Front Range Lighthouse and theUlenge Island Rear Range Lighthouse.[4]
The primarybiotope at Ulenge Island Marine Reserve ismangrove vegetation. Despite the presence of all mangrove species, species with robust root systems, such asRhizophora mucronata andSonneratia alba, predominate. Numerous plant (trees and grass) and animal (unstudied) populations can be found on Ulenge Island. Daily tidal wash through in the mangrove ecosystem on Ulenge results in a relatively thin layer of silt buildup.[5]
According toBirdlife International, the Ulenge and Kwale Island Marine Reserves are located in IBM 35, an important bird region. This bird area contains a diverse range of bird species, includingGreater Sand Plover,Curlew Sandpiper,Crab Plover, migrating waders, and many more. Despite being threatened by human activity and climate change-related reasons, mangroves and coral reefs are not actually in danger.[6]
On the west and south of Ulenge Island, theintertidal zone is longer (up to 800 m), while it is shorter (50–350 m) on the seaward side. North of Ulenge Island, the intertidal is rock, with large algae mats in the lower intertidal zones. On the lower intertidal zone on the seaward side, algae mats were also discovered. Along the Ulenge-Kwale channel, beyond the algal mats, to the south and south-west of Ulenge (in Tanga Bay), and in the lower intertidal zones of Kwale Bay, one can seeseagrass beds.[7]
Turbidity and bottom sediment type, which are regulated by rainfall/river discharge patterns and oceanic conditions, determine the amount and distribution of seagrass. On the seaward side,coral reefs are few. The results of themanta tow and swimmingbenthic cover surveys showed a relatively small area of patchy coral reefs that were stressed by sediments from Tanga Bay and nearbyrivers. In most of the Ulenge Island waters, there was less than 10% coral cover.[8]