Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA)

In a historic milestone for the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, Kenya and Tanzania have convened in Zanzibar this week to lead the first Red List of Ecosystems (RLE) assessments for mangroves in Eastern Africa.

Organized by the IUCN ReSea Project, WIOMSA, and Western Indian Ocean Mangrove Network, this hands-on workshop is focused on building local capacity for RLE Criteria C & D, evaluating ecosystem indicators, and finalising national reports.

With technical expertise provided by South African National Biodiversity Institute and CORDIO East Africa, the resulting reports will inform future assessments across the broader WIO region and contribute to ongoing global mangrove evaluations.

In parallel, The Regional Coordination Meeting for the Seagrass RLE Assessment is concurrently advancing the preparation of the Red List chapter for the WIO Seagrass Status Report.

Turning Seagrass Science into Policy Action 🌊🌿

Seagrass conservation requires a unified, regional approach. Join the upcoming LaSMMI: Seagrass Science into Action webinar, which will explore how the Large-Scale Seagrass Mapping and Management Initiative is advancing marine conservation across the Western Indian Ocean (WIO).

Through a shared methodology, LaSMMI is producing the region's first field-verified seagrass maps and blue carbon assessments. Hear directly from country teams and regional experts on how this collaborative science is bridging knowledge gaps to directly inform marine spatial planning, climate commitments, and evidence-based policymaking.

Event Details:

📅 Date: 10th September 2026
⏰ Time: 14:00 – 16:00 HRS (EAT)
📍 Location: Online via Zoom

For more information, visit 🔗https://blog.wiomsa.net/2026/08/19/save-the-date-lasmmi-webinar-seagrass-science-into-action/

Applications are now open for the Young Conservationist Scholarships, offered by the Wetland Learning Hub to support attendance in its Foundation Course on Wetland Ecosystems Conservation and Sustainable Management.

Tailored for students, early-career conservationists, and practitioners, the initiative delivers impact-focused skills and grows a global professional network. Emerging professionals throughout the Western Indian Ocean who are committed to sustainable wetland stewardship are encouraged to apply.

📅 Application Deadline: 7 September 2026

Read more on: https://blog.wiomsa.net/2026/08/19/calling-young-conservation-leaders-wetland-scholarship-applications-open/

Ifremer and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) are offering two on-board deep-sea research training placements for candidates from developing States.

Running from August to October 2027 in the Pacific Ocean, these hydrographic cruises provide critical hands-on training in Multibeam Echo Sounder surveys and geological data interpretation.

Western Indian Ocean marine professionals are highly encouraged to apply. To champion inclusive ocean science, 50% of the placements are reserved for qualified women applicants. Applications close on 7th October 2026.

Read more on: https://blog.wiomsa.net/2026/08/18/unique-on-board-training-opportunity-with-ifremer/

Community-led marine governance in Madagascar is reaching new milestones as the Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) certification process accelerates.

Spearheaded by the Réseau Mihari - Mihari Network, with support from WIOMSA and Madagascar National Parks, this initiative is driving standardized and highly effective coastal management across the nation.

To support this rollout, five specialized training modules have been developed for 10 community trainers, who are now equipped to guide 50 pilot LMMAs. Concurrently, 15 fully trained assessors are utilizing a unified framework to evaluate site performance.

Following recent mid-2026 evaluation phases, the initiative is now rapidly advancing toward an ambitious target: certifying 60 LMMAs by 2027.

More than a third of global sharks, rays, skates, and chimaeras face the threat of extinction with a wide gap in the tropical and island nations where conventional monitoring is hardest to sustain. To address this, Frontiers in Fish Science has launched a new Research Topic: “Innovative Conservation Strategies for Elasmobranchs in Data-Poor Regions.”

This collection brings together practical approaches and novel research to advance the management of elasmobranchs in data-scarce environments.

Researchers across the Western Indian Ocean and beyond are invited to contribute their findings to help bridge this critical knowledge gap.

📅 Manuscript Summary Deadline: 8th October 2026
📅 Full Manuscript Deadline: 26th February 2027

For more details, visit: https://blog.wiomsa.net/2026/08/18/call-for-submissions-innovative-conservation-strategies-for-elasmobranchs-in-data-poor-regions/

The Carbon to Sea Initiative has announced its 2026 Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) Research Call for Proposals, offering $6M in funding to advance ocean-based climate solutions.

Global marine researchers, innovators and multidisciplinary teams are invited to explore two grant streams: a $5M track for a Global OAE Field Research Network, and $1M for Targeted Research & Innovation.

Pre-proposals are due on 30th September2026. Read more about the opportunity on: https://blog.wiomsa.net/2026/08/12/2026-carbon-to-sea-oae-research-call-for-proposals/

WIOMSA joins the marine science community in mourning the loss of one of Tanzania’s most outstanding marine ecologists, Dr. Christopher Muhando, who passed away in July 2026.

Dr. Muhando leaves behind a monumental legacy in coral reef ecology, biodiversity, climate change, and coastal ecosystem management.

During his decades-long career, primarily based at IMS-UDSM, he was a driving force behind monumental advancements in the region, including:

🔹 Expanding Tanzania's marine parks and reserves to cover 6.6% of its territorial waters.
🔹 Developing the Tanzania Sensitivity Atlas (TanSEA) for critical environmental management and oil spill contingency planning.
🔹 Helping transform IMS into a regional center of excellence for Coral Reef Targeted Research (CRTR).
🔹 Authoring over 60 impactful scientific publications on coral bleaching, reef restoration, and sustainable management.

His expertise and passionate dedication have significantly shaped marine conservation in the Western Indian Ocean region.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Read our full tribute to his life and work on the WIOMSA blog: https://blog.wiomsa.net/2026/08/07/tribute-to-the-late-dr-christopher-muhando/

CliMPA, a WIOMSA-SCALABLE project, is making strides in equipping marine protected areas (MPAs) in integrating climate data into daily management.

Working to develop a framework tailored to help MPA managers turn complex climate data into actionable management strategies, the initiative recently held a Findings Dissemination Workshop at Mafia Island Marine Park (MIMP). The event brought local park managers together to review the project's initial outcomes and provide vital, ground-level feedback on the framework’s real-world application.

While successfully piloted at MIMP, the CliMPA framework’s greatest asset lies in its broad scalability. Moving forward, it will serve as a replicable blueprint, designed for adaptation and implementation by MPAs across the entire Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region to build broader marine climate resilience.

Marine Parks and Reserves Unit

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the Nairobi Convention invites young people from across the Western Indian Ocean to pitch their bold concepts for a more resilient and healthier ocean environment.

The upcoming 12th Conference of the Parties (COP12) to the Nairobi Convention, which will be hosted by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, offers a distinct forum for youth to present their views to regional decision-makers and ocean advocates.

This presents an incredible opportunity for rising environmental leaders to display their creativity, address the key priority areas of COP12, and actively help direct the future course of our blue economy.

Furthermore, the top three winners of the competition will earn a fully sponsored trip to participate in COP12 in Tanzania, where they will showcase their creative solutions on a regional stage.

Read more about the competition here: https://www.nairobiconvention.org/about/cop-decisions/cop-12/youth-essay-competition

UNEP-Nairobi Convention ECOP_Programme UN Ocean Decade