Data was collected daily in the Chwaka village fish market during three different sampling periods. This was done considering the time variability produced by the monsoon circulation dominating the whole WIO (Cederlof et al., 1995, McClanahan, 1996 and Tobisson et al., 1998). Based on that fact, the data was collected during the northeast monsoon, the dry season, and the southeast monsoon. Fish data was collected using the method specially designed to capture fishery data in the Zanzibar context (Jiddawi and Stanley,

1999 and Jiddawi et al., 2002, see Appendix I, Supplementary Information, for details). The northeast monsoon lasts roughly from November find more to March and data collection took place from November to December 2002 (this period is locally known as Kaskazi with “short irregular rains” Vuli). The dry season runs from June to August and data was gathered during June and July 2003 (Kipupwe). The southeast monsoon lasts from April to October and data collection took place during April and May 2004 (Kusi with “long heavy rains” period from March and May, Masika). All fish landings sold in the market and brought in the form of “batches” (mtungo) were analyzed. For each fishing trip,

the following was recorded: time of leaving Nutlin-3a solubility dmso for fishing (this was determined knowing that fishers start their journey more or less at the same time following the tidal cycles), time of arrival to the market, type of boat, type of gear, bait used, catch weight, final auction price, species composition (common species and others), number

of fishers per boat, and fishing habitat visited (local fishing grounds dominated by mangroves, seagrasses or corals) (see Appendix I, Supplementary Information, for data collection sheet). All data was recorded at the market and photographs were taken for back-up information. When the auction closed, the research team gathered at the local research station to check the data collection sheets to ensure that the information was legible and accurate. This market study was part of a larger effort to understand the role of seagrasses in Zanzibar and in the WIO. Other studies using interviews cAMP were done to gather information about the overall role of seagrasses for the local communities in Chwaka Bay (e.g. de la Torre-Castro and Ronnback, 2004, de la Torre-Castro, 2006 and de la Torre-Castro et al., 2008). Information from these works has been used here to broaden the understanding and discussion, but in this particular study the main focus is on the importance of seagrasses compared to adjacent ecosystems based on fish market information. Meteorological conditions occurring when data was collected were checked to rule out anomalous events (e.g. El Niño, severe storms, etc.).