When I think about what made the 13th Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association Scientific Symposium (WIOMSA) different from most conferences was the ease with which participants discussed the often-complex intersections between science, local knowledge and traditions, and ocean management. Given BCF’s commitment to collaborative, community-driven research and engagement, I felt right at home at WIOMSA.
In North America, we sometimes find ourselves having to persuade people about the value of supporting collaborative research that engages the communities it’s meant to serve. But here, how such activities foster co-management between decision-makers and local communities is an already accepted priority.
“One Ocean, One Future: Connecting People, Policy, and Science for a Thriving Western Indian Ocean”
This year’s symposium brought Program Director, Sarah Close, and I to Mombasa, Kenya. The theme was focused on collaborating to sustain ocean health alongside a thriving blue economy. There was a wonderful camaraderie among participants – many of whom have been working together for years and view WIOMSA as a kind of reunion.
One element I found fascinating was learning about the history of how co-management came about. Many of the countries have emerged from a long history of colonialism where management was very top down and they have been reshaping their governance in ways that are more aligned with their own priorities and needs This has included efforts to reinstitute and reinvigorate the role of their own cultures, traditions, and knowledge base in the approaches they implement. The potential behind this is immense: when we bring scientific research together with local knowledge and expertise, we can paint a much richer picture of our oceans and create our best chance at more equitable decisions.
I learned there are several strong legal frameworks for achieving this vision of a sustainable ocean and blue economies through stronger co-management in Africa. And while countries have experienced challenges in implementation due to limited resources and capacity, the continent and region are making promising steps toward integrating these frameworks. For examples, I encourage you to check out the Ocean Decade Africa Roadmap and Nairobi Convention.
Co-management and Small-Scale Fisheries
Small-scale fisheries (SSF) are great examples for understanding the opportunities and challenges related to co-management. They are models, for SSFs not only make up a lot of the production in the region, but SSFs also demonstrate how to bring fishing communities to the table alongside local and national level decision-makers. In Kenya itself, Beach Management Units and Locally Managed Marine Areas are places to look to. This is because it’s about both spatial areas as well as all the uses in such areas. This means decisions can be less siloed, and the community is able to try to figure out how best to balance their many resource needs with protecting ecosystem health.
None of these are perfect, of course. Collaborative management efforts can be resource intensive. But in a world where climate change is increasingly impacting ocean systems, we have no choice but to try. While political leadership at the highest levels is necessary to move things forward, top-down decision-making often runs the risk of not reflecting communities’ values, needs, and sense of identity, which can spark conflicts. That is true in Africa and it’s true here in the U.S.
Informing Our Climate Resilient Fisheries Program
Sarah and I left WIOMSA with a much deeper appreciation of approaches, tools, and ideas from this region that are aligned with our Climate Resilient Fisheries program. The presentations we saw, the conversations we had, and the new connections we made greatly expanded our network, creating the chance to better connect the work we fund with audiences around the world. To get the latest, you can sign up for our program email distribution here.
There is a growing appetite to get this right – fisheries represent livelihoods, food security, and culture for so many. They are part of the ties that bind us all together. We must be talking to each other, learning from each other, and equipping communities with the knowledge and data they need to unlock their own solutions. The countries in the Western Indian Ocean region are working to do just that.