The journey has started: Towards a Regional Ocean Governance Strategy for the Western Indian Ocean “The African ocean territories are of strategic importance on the continent, as they provide opportunities to fisheries, aquaculture, and blue economy activities,” Ms. Olushola Olayide, from the African Union proclaimed in her opening remarks at the virtual meeting of Regional…
The risk of major oil spills, while significantly reduced over the last number of decades, continues to pose a significant threat to the fragile ecosystems and coastlines of states around the world. Such incidents, whether caused by offshore oil rigs, pipelines, damaged tankers or transport ship, often result in environmental damage that can last for…
The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region ranks as one of the most biodiverse marine areas in the world, boasting an array of marine and coastal ecosystems. Madagascar, a party to the Nairobi Convention, is no exception in this regard. One of the largest islands in the world, Madagascar is home to 5,000 km of coastline…
Nairobi Convention Contracting Parties each appoint a Focal Point in order to help coordinateefforts to protect, manage, and use the Western Indian Ocean at the national level. In practicalterms, this means the Focal Point is responsible for liaising between the Nairobi ConventionSecretariat, other Contracting Parties, and national bodies; coordinating national-level activitiesthat involve multiple stakeholders and…
On 25-27 June 2019, parties to the Nairobi Convention held their third Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting for the Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the protection of the Western Indian Ocean from land-based sources and activities (WIOSAP) project. The WIOSAP project aims at reducing land-based stresses on the Western Indian Ocean through the sustainable…
On 25-27 June 2019, Focal Points for the Western Indian Ocean Large Marine EcosystemStrategic Action Programme Policy Harmonization and Institutional Reforms (SAPPHIRE) projectmet for the first-ever Project Steering Committee (PSC) Meeting in Durban, South Africa. TheGEF-funded SAPPHIRE project, executed by the Nairobi Convention and implemented by UNDP,is designed to promote ocean governance by supporting necessary policy…
Across the continent, (RECs) and Commissions have been recognized as key partners in the protection of marine and coastal environments. The African Union, for example, has appointed RECs to be the Focal Points for development initiatives under Agenda 2063 (a 2015 framework that has the Blue Economy contributing to continental transformation and growth as an…
On 28 to 29 March 2019, the Nairobi Convention Secretariat gathered representatives from the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) and other states, NGOs, and academics in Tanzania to take stock of the progress made in the region in the adoption of MSP at both policy and on-ground implementation for enhanced sustainable management of coastal and marine…