Special Session on Ocean Governance in the Western Indian Ocean Region

The Nairobi Convention, Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) and Institute of Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS- Potsdam) organized a Session on Ocean governance for the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region held on 05 July 2019 at the 11^th WIOMSA Symposium in Mauritius. The aim of this session was to discuss and identify the governance needs and priorities for safe, secure, clean and sustainably managed Western Indian Ocean and provide a basis and context for policy discussion on ocean governance. Additionally, the session sought to identify relevant stakeholders and discuss science-based policy approaches which will inform the development of the WIO ocean governance strategy.

In August 2018, the Ninth Conference of Parties to the Nairobi Convention adopted Decision CP.9/6 on Ocean Governance in the WIO region. The session recognizes the efforts of Contracting Parties, including those of the Governments of Seychelles, South Africa and Mauritius towards a sustainable ocean economy and the need for a robust ocean governance mechanism.

The meeting objectives were as follows:

1. To map key stakeholders for a WIO Ocean Governance strategy
2. To discuss and identify problems and priorities to be addressed in the WIO Ocean Governance strategy
3. To discuss the context of the WIO Ocean Governance Strategy (institutional set-up, ocean governance themes and emerging concerns)
4. To align the development of the WIO ocean governance strategy with the Sustainable Development Goals and targets and with the ongoing global discussions on Biological Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), the ocean dimension in the Paris Agreement, the UN Decade for Ocean Science as well as other global ocean governance initiatives
5. To discuss the mechanisms to support and promote effective ocean governance among WIO countries.