Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA)

26/11/2025

Likhulu Foundation’s Inter-Institutional Technical Retreat Week focusing on strengthening national coordination on mangrove and seagrass management is currently underway in Maputo, Mozambique.

Bringing together government institutions, academic partners, and conservation experts, the discussion’s priority themes include Mozambique’s National Coastal Ecosystem Data Management System and mangrove and seagrass management.

WIOMSA, represented by Dr. Damboia Cossa, contributed to today’s session by presenting key regional seagrass initiatives and their relevance to Mozambique’s national priorities. Dr. Cossa highlighted:

-The Large-Scale Seagrass Mapping and Management Initiative (LaSMMI) and its relevance for national mapping, monitoring, and capacity development.
-The regional synthesis of seagrass ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), which integrates ecological, socio-economic, and governance information relevant to Mozambique.
-Progress on the WIO Seagrass Red List of Ecosystems (RLE) and how this can help strengthen national assessments and policy frameworks.
-Progress toward a unified Regional Seagrass Strategy under the Nairobi Convention, and its potential to guide national planning, reporting, and policy development.

These discussions provide an important foundation for Mozambique as it begins shaping a National Seagrass Conservation Strategy. The retreat has also helped identify key national stakeholders involved in seagrass conservation and has supported the creation of an informal coordination group to guide next steps and sustain collaboration.

25/11/2025

WIOMSA South African Country Coordinator, Dr Nina Rivers, represented WIOMSA at the annual Wildtrust Ocean Stewards 2025 Science Session (24 and 25 November, 2025).

Wildtrust’s Ocean Stewards Project is a capacity building initiative that creates a network of informed and passionate stewards for our ocean who will support a sustainable blue economy in South Africa well into the future.

The Science Session brought together students, ocean stewards, researchers, and ocean governance officials to share knowledge and discuss sustainable and equitable solutions to coastal and ocean challenges. Dr Rivers presented on various avenues for students to get involved in research in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region.

Wildoceanssa Network of Women in Marine Science

19/11/2025

Celebrating 10 Years of SeyCCAT- A Decade of Ocean Leadership in Seychelles🌊

This week, the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT) marks its 10th anniversary, bringing together partners, grantees, researchers, community leaders, and international collaborators to celebrate a decade of impact and chart the course for the next ten years.

Since 2015, SeyCCAT has invested in marine conservation, climate adaptation, blue carbon science, sustainable fisheries, and community-driven innovation—strengthening Seychelles’ role as a global leader in ocean stewardship.

The anniversary has been celebrated through a series of inspiring events that highlighted the individuals, researchers, organisations, and initiatives that have shaped SeyCCAT’s journey. These include exhibitions, a symposium, and a forum focused on collaboration, financing innovation, and scaling community impact.

WIOMSA President, Marie-May Jeremie (Seychelles Minister for Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources and former CEO of SeyCCAT) has been in attendance together with WIOMSA’s Science-Policy Programme Coordinator, Dr. Obakeng Molelu.

WIOMSA celebrates SeyCCAT’s noteworthy contributions to ocean conservation in the WIO region and beyond.

18/11/2025

New PhD and Post-Doc Opportunities 📌

Lancaster University, United Kingdom is welcoming applications for one PhD and two Senior Research Associate Post-doc positions for 2026. The PhD project will investigate the changing ecological role of coral reef marine protected areas (MPAs), with applications due by January 9th 2026.

The two three-year Post-doc positions are available under Project ENTERPRISE, focusing on the scaling up of tropical marine ecosystem restoration and quantifying corporate environmental initiatives ideally starting in April 2026.

To find out more visit: https://blog.wiomsa.net/2025/11/17/phd-and-post-doc-opportunities-at-lancaster-university/

Photo by: Grant Thomas/Ocean Image Bank

17/11/2025

The CNRS Regional Office in Nairobi will be hosting its inaugural lecture of the “Basic Research from African Perspectives” series on 20th November 2025 from 4:00 PM EAT at the African Academy of Sciences office, 8 Miotoni Lane, Karen, Nairobi.

This session will feature insightful presentations by Dr. Aurélien Mounier and Dr. Frederik Kyalo Manthi from the Trans-Evol project. Interested attendees are invited to RSVP by 17th November 2025.

For more information, visit: https://blog.wiomsa.net/2025/11/17/basic-research-from-african-perspectives-lecture-series/

14/11/2025

14/11/2025

📢 Calling ocean experts based in the Western Indian Ocean: the Hifadhi Blu Programme is inviting applications from organisations working to strengthen the management effectiveness of Marine and Coastal Conservation Areas in Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Réunion, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, and Tanzania!

Eligible applicants include government agencies, parastatals, community-based organisations, fishers’ associations, co-management structures, and other entities that hold a recognised mandate (legal or community-based) to manage a defined marine/coastal site.

The Hifadhi Blu Programme, led by partner Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) aims to enhance the management of marine conservation sites in the WIO through grants, technical support, and capacity building for site managers and conservation organisations.

Through this new funding opportunity, Hifadhi Blu will provide 16 grants of up to USD 200,000 for focused, realistic, and cost-effective projects that improve day-to-day management, strengthen governance and enforcement, build capacity, and embed equity and participation in line with the Hifadhi Blu Gender Action Plan (2025–2029).

🚨 The deadline for submission of motivation letters is 29 November 2025.
👉 Find more information and apply here: https://ow.ly/uq0u50XmBMv

13/11/2025

🌊The urgency for ocean-climate action has never been greater.

Find out how our experience of and their networks can help drive climate action through conservation partnerships at our UN Climate Change virtual event held on the 18 Nov at .

We will also explore how real-world applications using effective international collaboration networks, such as the International Partnership on MPAs, Biodiversity and Climate Change can support us to counteract the impacts of and .

Register 👇 https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nfbwsgAvQjiZh7vp_DVNxg



Office français de la biodiversité, Parks Canada, World Commission on Protected Areas - Marine, Marine Parks and Reserves Unit, Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), Coral Triangle Center, Ministry of Tourism and Environment, Maldives

12/11/2025

Launch of the WIO Critical Habitats Outlook: Advancing Marine Conservation in the Western Indian Ocean

The Outlook was launched during the Symposium. This publication, developed through the GEF-funded WIOSAP project under the Nairobi Convention, supports SDGs 14.2 and 14.5, aligns with the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and promotes innovative marine conservation approaches in the Western Indian Ocean.

It builds on previous efforts to reverse biodiversity decline and contributes to global goals like conserving at least 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030. Developed with regional partners including WIOMSA, the Outlook provides insights into key habitats, assesses current protection levels, and identifies opportunities for expanding conservation.

Read more: https://www.wiomsa.org/publications/western-indian-ocean-critical-habitats-outlook-towards-achievement-of-the-sustainable-development-goals/

12/11/2025

🌊 Introducing the Western Indian Ocean Marine Protected Area (MPA) Toolkit!

WIOMSA officially launched the "Western Indian Ocean Toolkit for Managing Marine Protected Areas" at the 13th WIOMSA Scientific Symposium.
This practical guide strengthens MPA planning & management in the WIO, focusing on seven competence areas for effective leadership and resilient coastal ecosystems. More than a manual, this toolkit is an invitation to strengthen leadership, foster collaboration, and accelerate action toward thriving marine protected areas in the WIO and beyond.
Read more: https://www.wiomsa.org/publications/introducing-the-western-indian-ocean-mpa-toolkit/

Western Indian Ocean Marine Protected Areas Management Network - WIOMPAN

11/11/2025

🚀 Join us for the first session of HUB Ocean’s “Getting Started on the Ocean Data Platform” webinar series!

Learn how to access, share, and work with geospatial ocean data using the Ocean Data Platform. This hands-on session will demo the platform’s features, from data discovery to publication.

🗓 Date: 28 November 2025
⏰ Time: 09:30 – 11:00 HRS CET

Register here: 02d53e12-e23a-4592-80bf-d13388bf492a@4532deee-c4ed-44d7-88c6-79ffa513472c" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/02d53e12-e23a-4592-80bf-d13388bf492a@4532deee-c4ed-44d7-88c6-79ffa513472c and get a preview of the platform: www.hubocean.earth/about

Open to marine scientists, data managers, and ocean practitioners interested in advancing ocean data collaboration. Learn more about the webinar series on: https://blog.wiomsa.net/2025/11/11/webinar-hub-ocean-getting-started-on-the-ocean-data-platform-marine-science-edition/

10/11/2025

WIOMSA Congratulates Marie-May Jeremie on Appointment as Minister for Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources

The Board, staff, and members of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) warmly congratulate Ms. Marie-May Jeremie, President of WIOMSA, on her appointment as Minister for Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Seychelles.

As President of WIOMSA and an accomplished conservation leader, Minister Jeremie has demonstrated outstanding commitment to advancing marine science, policy, and conservation across the Western Indian Ocean. Her appointment reflects her deep expertise in biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and science-based governance — qualities that will serve her well in this important national role.

On behalf of WIOMSA, we extend our sincere congratulations and best wishes to Minister Jeremie as she embarks on this new chapter of leadership for Seychelles and the Western Indian Ocean region. WIOMSA looks forward to continuing its collaboration under her leadership to promote a healthy, resilient, and sustainably managed ocean.