ASSESSMENT OF BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF COASTAL MARINE WATERS IN FISH LANDING SITES IN URBAN DISTRICT, ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA

Pollution of Zanzibar beaches and coastal marine waters through dumping of domestic wastes, fish processing and disposal of untreated wastewater from local toilets and municipal drainage systems highlights a great health safety concern that may also harm the marine water ecosystem. This study assessed levels of bacterial contamination by evaluating the log cfu/100ml of E. coli, Salmonella and Vibrio spp in coastal marine waters of the four major fish landing sites in the Zanzibar Urban district; Maruhubi, Malindi, Kizingo and Mazizini. The study also investigated the seasonal variability of contamination of the three types of pathogens. Contamination levels of E. coli was highest at Malindi and Kizingo (58%). Malindi also showed highest contamination of Salmonella spp. (46%) whereas Mazizini had highest contamination of Vibrio spp. (44%). The log cfu/100ml levels varied between 1.8 at Mazizini and 3.2 at Malindi for total coliforms and between 0.28 and 0.45 for fecal coliforms.…