10th – 15th October 2022
South Africa

Endorsed by:

Mini Symposia

Photo credit: WWF Madagascar

Photo credit: Lola Masse, IRD

The WIOMSA Mini-symposia are sessions that focus on presenting and discussing issues of regional importance for the purpose of developing syntheses on the current status of knowledge, furthering research and policy recommendations, and/or introducing novel perspectives and approaches.

Mini-symposia aim to establish connections with other research communities within and outside the region. This year’s sessions are aligned to the symposium theme of A New Decade of Ocean Science.

Read more about the each Mini-Symposium below.

Tuesday 11th October 2022

  1. Smart and Sustainable Port-Cities

Coastal Cities in the WIO are dealing with profound levels of urban coastal development, mega projects, and population growth. The economic benefits associated with development need to be weighed against the impact on coastal ecosystems, capacity for climate change adaptation and mitigation, waste management and socio-spatial impact. The mini-symposium presents a regional analysis on smart cities and the outcomes of port development on land-use land cover change in port-cities from a multi-disciplinary perspective.

Molelu, O., Jefwa, T.- Interaction of Port development to City Inhabitants: Measuring the Socio-spatial Scale of Mombasa
Njoroge, N.N.; Ogara, D.A.E.; Molelu, O.- Evaluating port development on sustainable port-city land-use development; case study of Mombasa port-city.
Chann, I.O.; Maina, J.M.- Understanding The Macro And Micro Determinants Of A Sustainable Port Cities And Decision Support Using A Machine Learning Model.
Kithiia, J.- Augmenting or subverting sustainable growth outcomes: External funding, policies, and community agendas in coastal cities in emerging economies.
Mutisya, J.; Wanyonyi, I. ; Jefwa, T.; Mbwana, M.- Sectoral Greenhouse gas emissions and Climate proofing within Coastal Cities
Wanyonyi, I.; Nato, G.; Jefwa, T; Kithiia, J.; Kamau, T.; Mutisya, J.; Mbwana, M.- Stakeholder placement in Institutional re-alignment to transition to sustainable coastal cities.
O’Donoghue, S.-  Durban underwater. A photo essay of the April 11th & 12th April 2022 Flooding.

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  1. Launch of the ‘WIO Symphony’ tool for regional cumulative impact assessment in the Western Indian Ocean – a transparent support for ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning

This mini-symposium launches ‘WIO Symphony’, the product of a 4-year cooperation with contributions from over 50 members from Nairobi Convention member states and international partners. WIO Symphony is a practical tool for environmental assessment in support of ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning (MSP).

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  1. Coastal Observations for under-resourced countries

This session seeks to engage with scientists and technicians from under-resourced communities to discuss current research in the coastal environment along with the key issues needing to be addressed, challenges experienced and potential solutions in trying to overcome these challenges.

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  1. Sustainable use, Development and Governance of Fisheries in the Western Indian Ocean: Recreational and Sport Fisheries in Focus

The objectives of this mini-symposium are three-fold: (1) to bring together a diverse audience to review the successes, challenges and implication of the factors associated with sustainable use, development and governance of fisheries in the WIO with a focus on marine and sport fisheries; 2) to share and operationalize existing research to recommend sustainable, socially, economically and environmentally viable strategies to benefit multiple user groups and 3) to catalyze positive community relationships, networking as well as publishing a joint paper in the conference proceedings which will improve regional knowledge and capacities.

Wambiji, N.; Kadagi, N.: Everett, B.; Temple, A.J.; Kiszka, J.; Kimani, E.; Berggren, P.- Combining Long-term And Contemporary Fishery Data To Protect Kenya’s Sharks.
Farthing, M; Childs A.R.;  Mann-Lang, J.; Bova, C.; Bower, S.; Pinder, A.; Winkler, A.; Butler, E.; Brownscombe, J.; Danylchuk, A.; Potts, W.- Fishing Guides As Role-models To Promote Unenforceable, Pro-environmental Catch-and-release Behaviors To Recreational Anglers.
Winkler, A.; Arkert, N.; Butler, E.; Bova, C; Childs, A; Farthing, M.; Hewett, K.; Mannheim, S.; Muller, C.; Pyle, M.; Potts, W- Working With Not Against Recreational Anglers, Using Scientific Interventions As A Tool To Endorse Pro-environmental Behaviour
Viegas, E.L; Halafo, J.; Kadagi, N.I.; Wambiji, N. – Marine Sport And Recreational Fisheries In Mozambique: A Focus On Maputo National Park (MNP)
Kinyua, D.; Kadagi, N.I.; Wambiji, N.; Sumaila, R.; Wamukota, A.- Characteristics And Socio-economic Contributions Of Artisanal Billfish Fishing In Kenya
Muendo, S.; Kadagi, N.; Sumaila, R.; Wambiji, N.; Wamukota, A.- Effects Of Subsidies On Sustainability Of Fisheries: A Focus On Artisanal Billfish Fisheries In Kenya
Mwanjali, E.; Gaspare, L.; Kadagi, N.; Wambiji, N.- Value Chain Analysis Of Small-scale Billfish Fisheries In Mainland Tanzania: Implication For Management And Sustainable Use.

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  1. Holistic water and marine management from source to sea: Lessons learned from case studies focusing on environmental flows and marine litter management

Our seas suffer serious degradation from land-based activities in basins and cities; only a holistic water and marine management from source to sea can reverse that. It is necessary to mainstream source-to-sea systems thinking in governance and management with the aim of stimulating coordination among stakeholders for the design and implementation of actions for improved environmental flows and reduced marine litter pollutions along rivers and coasts, and at sea.

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  1. Blue Carbon in the Ocean decade

This mini symposium will bring together key blue carbon stakeholders in the WIO region with the aim of building synergies, partnerships, and common approaches to sustainable management of BC in WIO in the Ocean Decade. Participants will take an active role in developing a regional network of blue carbon experts by identifying priority geographies, projects, and action plans. The goal of the session is to build synergies, partnerships, and common approaches to sustainable management of blue carbon in WIO in the changing climate.

Kairo, J.; Maina, G.; Wanjiru, C.; Mungai, F.; Owuor, M.; Nguu, J.; Landis, E-  Assessment of blue carbon ecosystems to facilitate and enhance their incorporation into Kenya’s climate commitments in the Paris Agreement

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  1. The contribution of marine science in areas beyond national jurisdiction in the Western Indian Ocean to the development of a regional ocean governance strategy

This mini symposium will highlight how advances in oceanographic research in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) can be used to inform aspects of a regional strategy for ocean governance, especially related to the conservation and management of biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions (BBNJ). It will provide information on a topic of regional importance, i.e. scientific information for Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJs) of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) riparian states, which is currently relatively limited and poorly distributed and shared.  The contribution of this information to a regional strategy aimed at enhancing ocean governance in the WIO will mainly be through ensuring that the importance of maintaining marine biological diversity in a healthy condition to provide the basis for a sustainable blue economy is highlighted and mainstreamed.

Galletti, F.; Theuri, M.; David, G.; Tessier,E.- Environmental remote Heritage: Where, why, and how ?
Marsac, F.; Guillotreau, P.; Robinson,J.; Lucas, J.; Adrienne, F.; Imzilen, T.; Kaplan, D.; Crochelet, E.; -Connectivity studies to support management strategies between Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.
Barde, J.- Towards a FAIR Management of scientific data to describe the marine environment in the ABNJs and inform multilateral strategies and actions.
Bessero, G.- Overview of a collaborative oceanic cruise: Monaco Explorations Indian Ocean Expedition.
Galletti, F.; Ternon, J.F; Marsac, F.; Roberts, M.; Bouchet, P.; Corbari, L.- Marine scientific advances on WIO investigated seamounts, banks, plateaus and structures, to be incorporated into ABNJ related arrangements and agreements?
Leroy, E.; Dulau, V.- Studying large whales in the WIO high seas.
Baronce, R; Bailly, D.; Pendelton, L.; Devillers, R.; Antha, S.- Initiating a participatory process to build a common knowledge at a regional scale of the Indian ocean oceanic basin
Waweru, Y.; Kelleher, K.; Andrew, T.; Theuri, M.- Recommendations for enhanced regional management of the ABNJ under bilateral, trilateral or multilateral arrangements within the regional ocean governance framework currently being developed under the Nairobi Convention

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