[IIOE2-EP56] A Regional Marine Spatial Plan for the Western Indian Ocean (WIO MSP)
Lead Investigator :
- Amanda Lombard, Nelson Mandela University, Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Ocean Sciences Campus, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape , South Africa
mandy[dot]lombard[at]mandela[dot]ac[dot]za, mandylombard2[at]gmail[dot]com
Other Key participants:
- Jai Kumar Clifford-Holmes, System Dynamics Modelling (SDM), Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, South Africa
jai.clifford[dot]holmes[at]gmail.com - Kaylee Smit, Biological mapping and data, stakeholder engagement, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
kayles[dot]smit[at]gmail[dot]com - Hannah Truter,Systematic conservation planning, stakeholder engagement, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
Hannah[dot]Truter[at]mandela[dot]ac[dot]za, hannahtrut3r[at]gmail[dot]com
Period of Project: Jan 2025 - December 2026
Brief description of the Project:
In response to regional challenges to the management of human activities and marine resources in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), as well as the fast tracking of marine spatial planning (MSP) and blue economy initiatives globally, parties to the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Nairobi Convention* requested in March 2019 that a regional MSP strategy be developed for the WIO. This request was also in line with major outcomes of the Strategic Action Programme Policy Harmonization and Institutional Reforms (SAPPHIRE) and Western Indian Ocean Strategic Action Programme (WIO-SAP) Projects and recognizes that a regional MSP strategy is vital to harmonize the different marine and coastal management and spatial planning initiatives in the countries of the WIO region. During 2020-2021, this regional MSP strategy was developed with input from the MSP Technical Working Groups of the 10 member countries and wider stakeholders (invited through a public participation process). In keeping with global best practice, the strategy adopts an ecosystem-based approach to MSP, and based on eight guiding principles, defines a vision, a goal and 11 objectives. Nine strategic priorities are identified, to be addressed with a systems thinking approach (similarly proposed by the UN in 2014 for green economy policymaking). This approach is currently novel in MSP strategies and holds promise for regional decision-making for healthy oceans and people. Ten enabling mechanisms for implementation are provided. The strategy is currently being used to guide the development of a MSP vision and roadmap for the Northern Mozambique Channel, and at the recent Conference of the Parties (CoP 11) meeting of the Nairobi Convention member countries, members voted for a regional marine spatial plan to be developed for the WIO countries in line with the strategy. Here we propose to work with member countries and other interested partners and stakeholders to develop this regional marine spatial plan, by focusing on regional aspects that cannot be dealt with effectively by single countries acting alone (for example, shared fisheries resources, connectivity in marine protected areas, and protection of biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ)). Although the Nairobi Convention does not include all the countries of the Indian Ocean, the 10 western countries (including island states) are included.
*The Nairobi Convention is part of UNEP’s Regional Seas Programme. It aims to address the accelerating degradation of the world’s oceans and coastal areas through the sustainable management and use of the marine and coastal environment. It does this by engaging countries that share the Western Indian Ocean in actions to protect their shared marine environment.
Region(s) of study:
The region of study is the Western Indian Ocean, specifically the ten member countries of the Nairobi Convention. These countries span the east African coast from Somalia to South Africa and include the Western Indian Ocean islands: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion (France) and the French territories, and Seychelles. The ABNJ area between the Kenya-Somalia EEZs and Comoros-Seychelles EEZs is included.