30 th anniversary of Nairobi Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Western Indian Ocean

8th Conference of Parties Meeting for the Nairobi Convention

22-24 June 2015, Mahe, Seychelles

Theme: “Conserving the Marine and Coastal Environment for the Western Indian Ocean for the next 30 Years.” 

 Nairobi Convention's 30th anniversary: Western Indian Ocean remains largely unpolluted due to regional 'foresight'

In 1985, the Western Indian Ocean was one of the cleanest oceanic regions on the planet. 30 years later, despite rapid population growth and urbanization up and down its African shoreline, it still is. This is in no small part due to the foresight of East Africa’s coastal countries, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Madagascar. When they convened to sign the Nairobi Convention three decades ago, they recognized that their future prosperity relied on the sustainable, intelligent development of the great swath of blue lapping at their shores. It still does.And what potential there still is. From fisheries to tourism to energy, oceans support approximately 350 million jobs worldwide. When about half of the population of African countries along the Western Indian Ocean will live in the coastal zone by 2020, this region has the capacity to drive employment and economic growth for countries up and down and off the coast.- Read more 

Seychelles Summit Puts Marine Wildlife In The Spotlight

A report on the potential of the world's oceans estimates that they can generate at least US$2.5 trillion a year in what is described as a Gross Marine Product, the equivalent of a country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). If the oceans were a country this makes the oceans the 7th largest "economy" in the world. Africa's ocean or blue economy is estimated at three times the size of its landmass, but African governments are yet to fully embrace that potential.

Delegates meeting in Seychelles this week for the 8th Conference of Parties Meeting for the Nairobi Convention from June 22 to 24 are seeking ways to sustainably harness that potential. – Read more

UNEP strongly supports Seychelles' Blue Economy, says Executive Director

The Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Mr. Achim Steiner paid a courtesy call on Seychelles President James Michel at State House on 23 June, 2015. The President welcomed Mr. Steiner to Seychelles, who is here for the Conference of Parties (COP 8) of the Nairobi Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Eastern Africa region. The President and Mr. Steiner discussed issues of mutual interest and areas of cooperation in renewable energy and the Blue Economy concept. Mr. Steiner also briefed the President on the objectives of the Convention. President Michel thanked Mr. Steiner for all the support UNEP has given to Seychelles, especially in promoting the Blue Economy concept and soliciting funding for small projects. Speaking to the national media, Mr. Steiner said that UNEP is ready to collaborate and help the Seychelles government in developing the Blue Economy concept in all its aspects.- Read more

Seizing the Blue Economy Approach in the Western Indian Ocean Region. Achim Steiner Speech to Nairobi Convention COP8 

The beautiful WIO region is one of the least ecologically disturbed areas of global ocean. It hosts thousands of species of fish, marine turtles, sharks, birds and corals, and diverse coastal forests, mangrove forests and sea grass beds.  - Read more

Seychelles reforms its marine sectors to capitalize on Blue Economy

The marine related sectors of Seychelles such as fisheries and marine tourism, despite being financially successful for their specific operators may be under-performing in terms of delivering national benefits. Experts say there is probably a wide gap between the potential and actual net financial benefits from these sectors. Improvements in governance are seen as necessary to mop up financial leakages and to reduce environmental and resource degradation. The Seychelles’ approach to the Blue Economy is pushing it to re-look at benefits and opportunities from the existing marine related sectors. In two key moves in May, the Government announced  it would be reviewing and revising policy and  tax laws governing the burgeoning yachting industry as well as its intention to set up a Fisheries Economic Intelligence Unit (FEIU) which will be dedicated to the monitoring and analysis of the fisheries sector’s economic performance. – Read more

Click here to Download the Regional State of the Coast Report - Western Indian Ocean launched during the COP8

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