Nairobi Convention Marine and Coastal News Round-up (14 August 2020)

Welcome, Nairobi Convention Member States, partners, and friends, to this installment of the Weekly News Round-up! Please keep reading to find out what’s new in efforts to protect, conserve and develop the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. We look forward to continuing our work with you to create a prosperous WIO region with healthy rivers, coasts, and oceans. Do you have any events, research, or scientific publications on the Western Indian Ocean that you would like to be included in the round-up? Write to [email protected]!

News

Mauritius: MW Wakashio Oil Spill – Flash Update

More than 1,000 tons of fuel have reportedly already leaked from the bulk carrier vessel, MW Wakashio, which ran aground on the reef of Point d’Esny on the south-east coast of Mauritius on 25 July 2020. The Government of Mauritius is leading the response and has established coordination mechanisms. The response is underway and thousands of community volunteers have mobilized in support.

Review of nine African ‘blue economy’ projects shows what works and what doesn’t

Nine case studies of blue economy projects across the continent were reviewed in order to extract findings from both successful and unsuccessful projects. Three of the case studies were from Kenya, while one cut across five countries. The study concludes that, to achieve blue economy goals, coastal states must reconsider their strategies.

Mombasa: Stepping stones to a climate-resilient future?

This policy insight illustrates the challenges faced by many coastal cities in tackling the interwoven issues of demographic growth, climate change and waste management. With a focus on Mombasa, Kenya, it looks at how the priority climate hazards of flooding and sea-level rise interact with water and solid waste and focuses on the potential for nature based solutions

UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) Implementation Plan

The Implementation Plan provides a framework for transformational action that will build on existing achievements and deliver action across geographies, sectors, disciplines, and generations. It is a non-prescriptive document and will evolve with time reflecting new possibilities, opportunities, and challenges.

Fisheries Subsidies Reform Could Reduce Overfishing and Illegal Fishing

Three new case studies provide the first practical evidence of how curbing subsidy-driven overfishing would improve fishery sustainability and benefit local fishers, their families, and their communities. The studies found that reforming harmful fisheries subsidies could lead to higher yields for local fishers, which in turn could help provide more stable jobs,.

Populations of Freshwater Migratory Fish Have Plummeted in Last 50 Years

The Living Planet Index (LPI) for Migratory Freshwater Fish is the first comprehensive global report on the conservation status of these species. The report reveals an alarming 76 per cent average decline in populations for the period of 1970 to 2016. Habitat degradation, alteration, and loss account for approximately half of the threats to migratory fish.

Personal connections key to climate adaptation

Connections with friends and family are key to helping communities adapt to the devastating impact of climate change on their homes and livelihoods. The research found people are more empowered to deal with the impact of encroaching sea-levels and dwindling fish stocks when they see others doing the same.

Ocean warming threatens coral reefs and soon could make it harder to restore them

The goal of outplanting is to aid coral reefs’ natural recovery process by growing new corals and moving them to the damaged areas. This study shows that climate change has raised sea surface temperatures close to a point that will make it very hard for outplanted corals to survive.

Sharks contaminated with plastic are ‘cause for concern’

A new study investigated microplastic ingestion in four species of demersal sharks in the North Atlantic Ocean and found that 67% of sampled sharks contained plastic particles and fibers, pointing toward the pervasiveness of plastic in the marine environment.

Global Fund for Coral Reefs: Request for Information Now Open

To protect these ecosystems and unleash their potential, the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR or the Fund) will serve as a blended finance vehicle leveraging grants, debt and other financial instruments to facilitate private return-based investments for coral reef conservation and resilience.

News

Author: Nairobi Convention

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