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

The document examines the governance of marine and coastal resources in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), emphasizing the need for integrated coastal management (ICM) and coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP) to balance economic growth with biodiversity conservation. It highlights the role of marine protected areas (MPAs) and locally managed marine areas (LMMAs) in securing ecosystem services and supporting livelihoods. The author argues that for the 'Blue Economy' to be sustainable, conservation must be integrated into development agendas through economic valuations of natural capital and inclusive, community-based management to avoid 'ocean grabbing' and ensure equitable benefit-sharing.

• The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region's natural capital is under significant 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 essential tools for the WIO to avoid resource conflicts and ensure that biodiversity objectives are integrated into Blue Economy decision-making.
• While many WIO countries have established MPAs, overall effectiveness is low; only 29.6% of reef-related MPAs in the region are considered effective, and many are 'paper parks' lacking management plans or enforcement.
• Economic evidence suggests that expanding MPA networks is viable, with an estimated economic rate of return as high as 24% and the potential for net benefits between $490 billion and $920 billion from 2015 to 2050.
• Locally managed marine areas (LMMAs) and community conservation areas (CCAs) are often more socially responsive than state-led MPAs, as they are embedded in local socio-cultural contexts and promote local ownership.
• The region faces significant data gaps regarding ecosystem productivity, nutrient distribution, and artisanal fisheries, which hinder the implementation of transboundary ecosystem-based management.
• Offshore gas and oil discoveries in the WIO, including significant finds in Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, present economic opportunities but risk causing environmental damage and social impacts if not managed by rigorous fiscal and regulatory regimes.
• To be effective, MPAs must be designed as multi-zoned areas that include small no-take zones within larger management frames to distribute socio-economic costs equitably and avoid 'ocean grabbing'.

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} }