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.
News:
New webpages for the SAPPHIRE and WIOSAP Projects now live
Learn more about the Nairobi Convention’s WIOSAP and SAPPHIRE projects here, where you can find project backgrounds, progress, and documents all in one place!
The Indispensable Role of Women in Sustainable Ocean Governance
The SAPPHIRE project is featured in this article in the IWLearn newsletter, which focuses on building leadership among women in the Western Indian Ocean….read more
Scientists described 71 new species in 2019 including goblin spiders, sea slugs and a fish called Wakanda
Dozens of new branches on Earth’s tree of life were discovered this year thanks to a team of researchers that scoured the globe for new species. Among the finds was a bright purple fish dubbed Cirrhilabrus wakanda — a nod to the Marvel comic and hit movie, Black Panther. The colorful species is found in “Twilight Zone” reefs in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Tanzania, about 260 feet below the surface……….read more
Research article on Cirrhilabrus wakanda, a new species of fairy wrasse from mesophotic ecosystems of Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa
Cirrhilabrus wakanda sp. nov. is described on the basis of the holotype and four paratypes collected between 50 and 80m depth over low-complexity reef and rubble bottoms at the east coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa. The new species belongs to a group of fairy wrasses from the western Indian Ocean, sharing a combination of characters…………read more
The Expected Impacts of Climate Change on the Ocean Economy
The High-Level Panel on the Sustainable Ocean Economy (HLP) has released a blue paper that analyzes the expected impacts of climate change on the ocean economy, with a focus on marine fisheries, aquaculture and tourism. The paper confirms the central importance of the ocean economy to global health and wealth and assesses how industries must adapt to climate induced changes to oceanic conditions. The HLP is an initiative of 14 serving heads of government committed to catalyzing bold, pragmatic solutions for ocean health and wealth in support of the SDGs and a better future for people and the planet……………..read more
Marine Life, Fisheries Increasingly Threatened as The Ocean Loses Oxygen
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has released a report that finds ocean areas are increasingly experiencing low levels of oxygen, which threatens marine ecosystems and fish species that are already impacted by ocean warming and acidification. The report examines the causes, impacts and potential solutions to ocean deoxygenation. Climate change and nutrient pollution are the main drivers of ocean oxygen loss, and ocean oxygen loss is “closely related to ocean warming and acidification” caused by anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions and biogeochemical consequences related to anthropogenic fertilization of the ocean…………read more
Read the full-length report
Women and the Ocean: Changemakers Challenge
Women play a significant role in the blue economy, yet their input rarely receives the support, recognition and publicity it deserves. In light of their crucial work in areas such as conservation, scientific discovery and technological development, why are women so often overlooked? The World Ocean Initiative has launched the Women and the ocean: Changemakers challenge. This competition, sponsored by The Nature Conservancy, aims to showcase leading female changemakers working to develop business solutions to achieve ocean-related sustainability. The goal is to ensure that women are visible across the ocean supply chain and that their contribution is recognized and elevated……..read more
MASMA Programme 2020 calls: For research and for Training Courses/Workshops & Publication of Books/Manuals
WIOMSA, through the MASMA programme, is pleased to announce two calls: i) A call for research proposals ii) A call for proposals to support organizations of training courses/workshops and Publications of books/manuals. Please read the instructions carefully and prepare your proposals accordingly. The deadline for submission of proposals is 28 February 2020………read more
