Western Indian Ocean countries urged to fund joint marine conservation

Sea turtles travel between South Africa, Mozambique and Madagascar, showing why marine conservation cannot stop at national borders.

Countries need to work together and ensure conservation funding can support efforts across the region.

About 60 million people live within 100 kilometres of the western Indian Ocean coast, where healthy marine ecosystems support food, jobs, trade, tourism and protection from storms.

Under the Nairobi Convention, governments have committed to stronger cooperation, and a regional strategy sets out the direction for ocean governance.

The shared goal is to protect 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030, which requires science, effective management, law enforcement, community involvement and investment in sustainable livelihoods.

A new international agreement on marine biodiversity beyond national waters creates further possibilities, and the region is urged to help shape how it is put into practice.

In Anjouan, Comorian women formed an association and temporarily closed part of a reef to octopus fishing, illustrating how communities can help manage shared resources.