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IOC finalises marine environment strategies |29 January 2016

 

Local stakeholders have given their inputs on the Draft Marine Environment Strategy, better known as WIOMER, and the Seychelles National Coral Reef Network and status of coral reef report initiated by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC).

They did so in a workshop held at the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) training room on Wednesday.

Conducted by environment consultant Jude Bijoux, the workshop was also attended by the principal secretary in the environment department of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Alain Decommarmond and other high officials of the ministry and of SFA.

The overall aim of the WIOMER is to preserve the marine ecosystem and fisheries in the western Indian Ocean region. Inputs from that consultative workshop will assist the IOC in finalising the strategy and its action plan and start supporting its implementation under the IOC Biodiversity Programme.

Benefitting countries are Seychelles, the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania and Kenya. Reunion island is taking part under its own resources.

The WIOMER study was concluded in 2010 from which the IOC was to develop a strategic framework to guide its regional programmes. The document was presented to the permanent liaison officer in 2013 and countries were recommended to undertake more national consultations taking into account the various actions and initiatives in the region before its adoption by the Council of Ministers of the IOC.

The IOC Biodiversity Programme’s initial agreement was signed in January 2013 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here in Seychelles but the block started implementing it in April 2014.

Presenting the WIOMER strategy and its background, Comorian Said Amadah, who is presently living in Mauritius and is from the Biodiversity Monitoring programme of the IOC, said the purpose of the project is to allow countries involved to better manage and use sustainably the resources of biodiversity available in their region.

In his presentation on recently completed, on-going or planned national projects in line with the WIOMER, Mr Bijoux spoke about eight main strategies that are currently being implemented or planned.

These strategies consist of organising collection of data on marine eco-systems, marine resources and their uses; sharing and making use of such data through regional observatory; sharing knowledge with stakeholders and local community by providing and promoting decision-support tools; training of stakeholders; supporting the implementation of IOC strategy on fisheries management to promote co-ordinated, responsible and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture; strengthening the sustainable management of marine protected areas and creating a regional network of MPAs; implementing actions to conserve migratory species and/or wide ranging species in accordance with the relevant conventions; supporting the implementation of the regional strategy for adaptation to climate change to contribute to greater resilience and reduced vulnerability of marine ecosystem and developing a responsible concerted approach to the exploitation of non-removable resources (gas, oil, renewable energy, minerals and biomolecules).

The second part of the workshop focused on the Indian Ocean Coral Reef Network Member Charter where delegates were updated on the coral reef monitoring through discussions and consultations.

 

 

 

 

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