Orientated west to the east, Wasini is
blasted by the winds of the southern monsoon which bring the long
rains, and the vigour of the Kaz Kazi, the north east trade winds. The
island does not have another natural source of fresh water and this
resource is largely under utilised. Kenya's power grid does not extend
here.
The southern sand and mudflats of the island entrap large
quantities of flotsam - mainly items of plastic and rubber floating in
on the tides. Between the Island and the mainland lies a stretch of calm
water in a channel which is deep enough for a natural port and
currently the only one in this area for ocean going trading Dhows and
fishing vessels. Port immigration and customs facilities are present and
provide services for those trade Dhows and people arriving from
Tanzania, or further afield.
Fishing is a main subsistence
occupation, using trees hewn into canoes, meek refuge in rough waters of
the Pemba Channel and there are repeated fatalities using such craft in
each fishing season.
There are also several sports fishing vessels
which pass into the Pemba Channel - a fishing ground famous for Kenya,
All Africa and World IGFA fishing records. The presence of "long liner"
fishing vessels offshore, rising water levels, destructive fishing
methods using small seine nets and dynamite on reefs, have all had an
undoubted impact
