01-05 December 2025
INCOIS, Hyderabad, India.
| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-06-0051 |
| Title of Abstract | A Regional Marine Spatial Planning Strategy for the Western Indian Ocean: A New IIOE-2 Initiative for Sustainable Ocean Governance |
| Authors | Amanda Lombard, Kaylee Smit*, Jai Clifford-Holmes, Bernadette Snow, Victoria Goodall, Mia Strand, Hannah Truter, Vera Horigue |
| Organisation | Nelson Mandela University; South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity |
| Address | 4 Wilson Way Umhlanga, KWAZULU-NATAL, South Africa Pincode: 4051 E-mail: kayles.smit@gmail.com |
| Country | South Africa |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is intended to support sustainable ocean development and management, particularly in regions where marine ecosystems are under increasing pressure from human activities and climate change. In response to these pressures, and in alignment with new initiatives identified with the extension of the IIOE-2 program, the project to develop a regional MSP strategy for the Western Indian Ocean was endorsed in 2025. The project was initiated in 2020 after member states requested the United Nations Environment Programmeâ¿¿s (UNEP) Nairobi Convention to develop such a strategy, to support and guide their national MSP initiatives. The regional strategy represents a collective commitment by ten WIO countries to implement a harmonised, ecosystem-based approach to ocean governance in national waters and beyond in the high seas. The project emphasises regional-scale planning needs - such as shared fisheries, ecological connectivity, climate change impacts, and biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction - that transcend the capacity of individual countries. It supports knowledge integration, capacity development, and systems thinking to foster effective cross-boundary collaboration and policy coherence. This presentation outlines the process, framework, and early outcomes of the project, highlighting lessons from recent MSP pilot studies (e.g. the Northern Mozambique Channel, Algoa Bay in South Africa) and the development of technical guidelines and online training courses. By focusing on the intersection of science, policy, and regional cooperation, this project contributes to IIOE-2 Theme 1 (Human Impacts and benefits) and Theme 6 (Unique geological, physical, biogeochemical, and ecological features of the India Ocean), advancing both scientific understanding and practical mechanisms for sustainable ocean use in the WIO. |
| Are you part of IIOE-2 endorsed project | yes |
| Endorsed Project Number | IIOE2-EP56 |
| Keywords | Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), Transboundary collaboration, Ecosystem-based management, Regional ocean governance |
| For Awards | no |