The case of the Nairobi Convention-FAO/SWIOFC and UNEP/Nairobi Convention Partnership The South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC) and the Nairobi Convention held a workshop in Mombasa in May 2024 to map out all key stakeholders active on coastal and marine environment and fisheries in the coastal counties of Lamu and Kwale in Kenya (see…
The Eleventh Conference of Parties to the Nairobi Convention (COP 11) will be a crucial gathering, enhancing ongoing efforts to protect, manage and develop the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. It will take place between August 20-22 2024 in Antananarivo, Madagascar. As preparations intensify for the eleventh Conference of Parties to the Nairobi Convention (COP…
The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, celebrated for its rich marine biodiversity and vital ecosystems like coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves, confronts mounting threats from anthropogenic and climate change-induced phenomena. Coral bleaching, sea-level rise, and intensified extreme weather events are among the pressing challenges endangering the region’s ecological balance. Recent catastrophic events, notably Cyclone…
The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, encompassing the Northern Mozambique Channel- NMC, is rich in marine biodiversity and crucial to the livelihoods of about 10 million people. However, the region faces challenges from illegal fishing, offshore oil and gas exploration, and environmental degradation. The African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS)…
The UNEP Nairobi Convention Secretariat has achieved another milestone toward implementing the new Western Indian Ocean Strategic Action Programme in support of a sustainable regional Blue Economy, which was agreed upon by the Contracting Parties to the Nairobi Convention (NC). In partnership with Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), the Nairobi Convention conducted a six-day Regional Capacity Building Course on…
Durban, South Africa – From March 12-14, 2024, a workshop titled “Country-level Implementation of Regional Framework for Coastal & Marine Water Quality Management (C&MWQM) in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) Region” was held. Participants included representatives from five Nairobi Convention Contracting Parties: Kenya, Tanzania/Zanzibar, South Africa, Seychelles, and Madagascar. This workshop aimed to enhance the…
Protecting the Marine Environment from Land-Based Pollution in Tanzania The Nairobi Convention, through the ACP MEAs 3 programme, is supporting the Vice President’s Office (VPO), Tanzania in developing a National Source Inventory report on plastic pollution. This report will inform the development of a national marine litter management strategy and action plan to reduce plastic…
Grey to Blue Waters: Enhancing Marine Water Quality in Zanzibar The Nairobi Convention, through the ACP MEAs 3 programme, is working with the Zanzibar Fisheries Research and Marine Resources Institute (ZAFIRI) to assess the marine water quality in Zanzibar and establish a monitoring program. This monitoring is essential for the successful implementation of Zanzibar’s Blue…
Advancing Sustainable Fisheries and Ocean Governance in Kenya The Nairobi Convention and the SouthWest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC) have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the sustainable management of coastal and marine environment and fishery resources in the Western Indian Ocean region. The MoU seeks to enhance collaboration to support member countries…
Creating a regional strategy involves the active participation of various stakeholders, ranging from academic and research institutions to policymakers, businesses reliant on ocean resources, donors, and community members. This has been the case for the development of the Regional Ocean Governance Strategy (ROGS) for the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). The development of the strategy was…