Pungume Island

Pungume Island

Pungume Island
Geography
Location	Zanzibar Channel
Coordinates	06°25′31″S39°20′12″E / 6.42528°S 39.33667°E / -6.42528; 39.33667
Archipelago	Zanzibar Archipelago
Adjacent to	Indian Ocean
Length	2.5 km (1.55 mi)
Width	0.96 km (0.597 mi)
Administration
Tanzania
Region	Mjini Magharibi Region
District	Mjini
Ward	Fumba
Demographics
Languages	Swahili
Ethnic groups	Hadimu

Pungume Island (Kisiwa cha Pungume, in Swahili) is a protected island located in Fumba ward of Mjini District in Mjini Magharibi Region, Tanzania. The largest of the Menai Bay islands, the island is composed of limestone and is a part of the Menai Bay Marine Conservation Area. ^[1] The island was close to the location of the 2012 capsized ship MV Sagit. ^[2]

The island boasts some of the best fishing in the archipelago. In one study it was found that roughly 27% of respondents thought Pungume Island was the best location for seasonal closure for fish stock recovery, while almost one-third thought the islets of Nyemembe and Miwi were the best options. ^[3]

References

1. Kotarba-Morley, Anna M., et al. "Coastal landscape changes at Unguja Ukuu, Zanzibar: Contextualizing the archaeology of an early Islamic port of trade." The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology 19.1 (2024): 57-91.
2. Zzziwa, N. Margaret. "EALA condoles with HE President Jakaya Kikwete and the Citizens of the United Republic of Tanzania." (2012).
3. Omar, Ramla T., J. S. Mbwambo, and Islam SS Mchenga. "Indigenous knowledge values for marine conservation in Unguja Island, Zanzibar." (2018).