Page 44 - Research & Innovation Report 2020

SCIENCE

Strategy to address fisheries

multi-crimes and piracy

In 2020, the secretariat of United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) approached Prof Lombard to
write a regional marine spatial planning strategy for
the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region – along the
east coast of Africa – as part of a team from Mandela
University and universities in Australia and the UK.
Ten African countries are signatories to the Nairobi
Convention – a partnership between governments,
civil society and the private sector, working towards
creating a prosperous WIO region, with healthy rivers,
coasts and oceans. The signatories are Comoros,
France (Réunion), Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa and
Tanzania.
The strategy took the team a year to develop, and
recommends an ecosystem approach – as opposed to
an industry-driven approach – to develop an enabling
policy environment for marine spatial planning. This
approach would be based on collaboration across
geopolitical boundaries, particularly important in
dealing with fisheries multi-crimes and piracy, which
have a considerable economic impact on countries
in this region. Ecosystems first is considered the
best practice globally, as the sustainability of the
ecosystems is non-negotiable to maintain healthy
oceans, healthy communities and sustainable
economies.

In November this year, the team’s recommendations,
based on consultations with all member countries, will
be presented to the Nairobi Convention Conference
of Parties for endorsement.

From top: 2019 annual Introduction Day tour of the
Research Vessel RV Angra Pequen; Lorien Pichegru, Mandy
Lombard and Gwen Penry and powder blue surgeon fish.

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