Pungume Island
Pungume Island, called Kisiwa cha Pungume in Swahili, is a protected island in Tanzania. It is in the Zanzibar Channel, within the Fumba ward of Mjini District in the Mjini Magharibi Region. The island is the largest of the Menai Bay islands and is made of limestone. It is part of the Menai Bay Marine Conservation Area.
The island is about 2.5 km long and 0.96 km wide.
People and language: Swahili is spoken there, and the Hadimu are among the local ethnic groups.
Notable facts: Pungume Island is near where the MV Sagit capsized in 2012. It is known for some of the best fishing in the archipelago.
Conservation ideas: A study found that about 27% of respondents thought Pungume Island would be the best location for seasonal closures to help fish stocks recover, while almost one-third favored the nearby islets Nyemembe and Miwi.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 01:46 (CET).