Lamu Marine Conservation Trust

LAMCOT started as the Turtle Project and the heart and backbone of LAMCOT is still the Turtle Project.

All other projects came from the Turtle Project and today its main areas are tag and release of turtles caught in fishing nets, turtle nest protection and beach patrol.

The Education & Awareness program covers four primary schools on a weekly basis: Shella, Ama, Kipungani and Matondoni.

Educational efforts focus not only on marine turtles, but also on the archipelago’s unique ecosystem and health issues.

The Education project also includes excursions for the schools to the turtle nests and a yearly beach cleanup.

The Green Belt Movement engages school children in the process of nursing and planting trees in the Lamu Archipelago.

Currently trees have been planted along the path to Manda Airstrip.

Sailing Doctors are based in Lamu Town and sail to the other islands in the Lamu Archipelago to provide basic health care on site. If further treatment is needed the dhow will offer transportation to the Lamu Hospital.

The bee project consists of six hives. At the moment a location is to be found.

To protect one of the last coral reefs in the Archipelago – Manda Toto Island – bouys have been put in the snorkeling area to prevent breaking of coral. As it is a breeding area a fishing ban has been put in place using Paté and Shanga villages as the protectors.

Camels were once the main transport on the island and now they are being introduced again as a tourist attraction and as a means of transport for the more remote villages on Lamu Island.