INTEGRATED MARINE AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT IN THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE OCEANS ECONOMY

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the governance of marine and coastal resources in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. It advocates for the adoption of integrated spatial planning, ecosystem-based management, and inclusive, community-led conservation models to support a sustainable 'Blue Economy'. The author emphasizes that marine conservation must be integrated with socio-economic development agendas to ensure the resilience of biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal populations.

• The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region possesses high biodiversity and significant natural capital, but these resources are under severe pressure from population growth, habitat degradation, and resource exploitation, including oil and gas extraction, commercial fishing, and tourism.
• Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP) and Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) are presented as essential tools for the WIO to balance economic growth with ecological preservation. CMSP allows for the allocation of human activities to avoid conflict and safeguard ecosystems, while ICM aims to maximize compatibilities between nature and human activity.
• Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are critical for stock replenishment and food security, but many in the WIO are ineffective 'paper parks' due to a lack of management plans, weak regulations, and insufficient enforcement capacity.
• To be effective, MPAs should be designed based on five key features: they must be no-take, well enforced, old (over 10 years), large (greater than 100 km2), and isolated by deep water or sand.
• There is a significant gap between the WIO's current MPA coverage and the UN's CBD Aichi Target 11, which aims for 10% of coastal and marine areas to be conserved by 2020. The document states that overall compliance in the WIO has only reached 2% thus far.
• Economic valuation of ecosystem services is necessary to justify conservation to policymakers and communities. For example, the annual economic value of mangroves is estimated between $2,000 and $9,000 per hectare.
• Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) and Community Conservation Areas (CCAs) are identified as more socially responsive governance structures than state-led MPAs, as they foster local ownership and are embedded in socio-cultural contexts.
• The region faces significant data gaps regarding ecosystem productivity, nutrient distribution, and artisanal fisheries, which hinder the implementation of transboundary ecosystem-based management for Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) like the Somali Current and Agulhas Current.
• Sustainable financing for MPAs remains a challenge, particularly for areas not viable for large-scale ecotourism. The author suggests exploring private investment, carbon offset markets (e.g., blue carbon), and payment for ecosystem services.

APA

CHEVALLIER, R. (2017). INTEGRATED MARINE AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT IN THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE OCEANS ECONOMY. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Occasional-Paper-258.pdf

Chicago

CHEVALLIER, ROMY. INTEGRATED MARINE AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT IN THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE OCEANS ECONOMY. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2017. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Occasional-Paper-258.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=CHEVALLIER |first1=ROMY |title=INTEGRATED MARINE AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT IN THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE OCEANS ECONOMY |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=May 2017 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Occasional-Paper-258.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{chevallier2017integrated, author = {CHEVALLIER, ROMY}, title = {{INTEGRATED MARINE AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT IN THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE OCEANS ECONOMY}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2017}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Occasional-Paper-258.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }