Nairobi Convention Marine and Coastal News Round-up - 23 Aug, 2021

Welcome, Nairobi Convention Member States, partners, and friends, to this issue of the Weekly News Round-up!

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]!

Southern Ocean seal species increasingly straying into South African waters

Marine experts are still trying to find out why there has been an increase in the number of species of seals on South African shores over the past two years. This comes as yet another antarctic fur seal was spotted. Over the past two years, there have been several sightings of antarctic fur seals, crabeater seals and leopard seals on the country’s coast — the most recent was the spotting and rescuing of an antarctic fur seal on 10 August. Antarctic fur seals are found on the islands of the Southern Ocean between South Africa and Antarctica.

WIOGEN Ocean Governance Conference October 27 – 29, 2021 – Registration Open

WIOGEN aims to bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and policy makers to exchange and share their experiences and research results on all aspects of Ocean Governance in the Western Indian Ocean. It will provide an interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners and educators to meaningfully network and present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in ocean governance under eight broad themes.

Protecting the Paradise of Praslin Island, Seychelles

The Plaine Hollandaise-Pasquière wetlands, which cover a combined 7 hectares, have been steadily degrading due to human activities. Erosion has allowed invasive species to grow, threatening the biodiversity of the wetlands, it has also prevented the wetlands from performing natural functions like flood prevention. A project by TRASS, supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aims to rehabilitate the wetland, starting with restoring the degraded foothills with anti-erosion measures.

Nairobi Convention Partners’ Meeting

This Partners’ meeting seeks to chart a way for strengthened and targeted approach towards partnerships for regional protection of the coastal and marine environment, management and development. It is organized pursuant to the Ninth Conference of Parties to the Nairobi Convention Decision CP.9/13, and will focus on Partners’ efforts in addressing existing and emerging regional issues in the WIO region, implementation of projects, activities and initiatives.

Towards a Bluer Economy: Assessing Kenya’s potential

In order to unlock the potential of a successful Blue Economy in Kenya, a better understanding of maritime sectors’ current contributions, value, and potential is necessary. The University of Nairobi Maritime Center, supported by the SAPPHIRE and SWIOFC/Nairobi Convention Partnership projects, created a series of sector reports and a draft Synthesis report. Drafts and findings on maritime sectors were discussed at a writers’ workshop on 2-4 August.

Call for Applications – Strengthening Ocean Protection in Comoros

WILD OCEANS and CORDIO, in collaboration with National Parks of Comoros, the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Comoros, IRD, AIDE and UMAMA, are pleased to invite applications for positions in a project, funded by Oceans 5, which is aimed at improved management and planning for existing marine protected areas (MPAs) and supporting goals for expansion of the MPA network in Comoros.

application calls >>

Vacancy: Programme Manager, Coastal and Ocean Resilience

The IUCN Tanzania office seeks to hire a Programme Manager, Coastal and Ocean Resilience (COR). Key functions include: 1) Multi-year project design and development 2) Project activity management; 3) Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting; 4) Broad level policy level engagement across the broad-spectrum of marine and coastal natural resources management sector and 5) staff management including supervision

Reasons for Hope: Issue 13 of the WIOMSA magazine

Issue 13 of the WIOMSA Magazine: People and the Environment , focusing on “WIO Marine Conservation: people, progress, prospects” , has been inspired by the Western Indian Ocean Marine Protected Areas Management Network (WIOMPAN). The recently launched WIO Marine Protected Area Outlook Report 2021 is highlighted, along with updates on progress toward SDG 14.5 and the potential to accelerate progress toward post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework targets.

Want to learn more about issues critical to ocean protection? Miss any of our recent virtual webinars?

Watch now!

Author: A.P.

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