The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) marine and coastal ecosystems, biodiversity and resources of the are under pressure from anthropogenic activities such as coastal development, overfishing, sand mining, dredging and pollution from land-based sources and activities, which are compounded by climate change and a rapidly increasing coastal population, combined with a lack of effective resource management strategies, poverty and inequality.
Maintaining and restoring the WIO ecosystems and fishery resources requires the implementation of an ecosystem approach to ocean governance and sustainable Blue Economy, with strong coordination between fisheries and environmental management and policy, simultaneously between regional bodies, between national agencies and ministries, and on the community level. Countries in the WIO region have committed to cooperate towards sustainable coastal and marine fisheries through the SWIOFC and environment through the Nairobi Convention. A partnership between these two regional frameworks creates conditions for working towards a more integrated management of fisheries and the coastal and marine environment for the region.
The SWIOFC Nairobi Convention Partnership project “SWIOFC Nairobi Convention Partnership for Resilient Marine and Coastal Ecosystems and Livelihoods” (SWIOFC NC PP 2, ref. GCP/SFS/006/SWE) is the second phase under the MoU between SWIOFC and Nairobi Convention, having received financial support also from Sweden. The project will implement national activities at local sites in Kenya, Mozambique and the United Republic of Tanzania over the period 2023-2027. The project will promote regional capacity development, coordination and collaboration for sustainable coastal and marine environment and fisheries governance at national level and which can be upscaled in the wider Western Indian Ocean region.
The project is expected to contribute to strengthening the implementation of the ecosystem approach in national and local management of coastal environment and fisheries, where measures for sustainable use, protection and restoration of coastal and marine habitats and resources, combined with livelihood interventions, will be developed together with local communities. In the long run, the project is expected to improve resilience of coastal ecosystems, food security and livelihoods, protect biodiversity and reinforce participation in the management of natural resources, for youth, women and men in coastal fishing communities.
The project is being jointly implemented by SWIOFC/FAO and Nairobi Convention/UNEP in partnership with the governments of Kenya, Mozambique and the United Republic of Tanzania, for sharing of best practices and lessons learnt regionally with the other member countries of SWIOFC and Nairobi Convention.