By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

Indicator 14.1.1 is the “(a) index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density” in the UN SDG framework.

WIOMSA partnered with the Sustainable Seas Trust (SST) and its African Marine Waste Network (AMWN) programme to initiate an observation and monitoring system for marine litter in Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa and Tanzania.

The programme run from 2018-2022 and focused on developing monitoring programmes mainly from land-based sources of litter.

The primary goals of the programme were to:

• determine litter baselines;
• identify litter sources and problem items;
• to develop litter management strategies; and to
• monitor the efficacy of interventions by monitoring litter over time.

Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

Indicator 14.3.1: Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

WIOMSA, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, the IAEA Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre and the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON) and country partners implemented ocean acidification monitoring projects in Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa and Tanzania whose main objective was to establish baseline data for the carbonate system in the Western Indian Ocean and to document the ongoing ocean acidification along the coast in an effort to support SDG 14.3. The research provides a baseline that will foster the development of an integrated science strategy for ocean.

By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

Indicator 14.4.1: Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

WIOMSA in partnership with the Blue Nature Alliance initiated a fact-finding study to improve understanding and regional awareness of IUU fishing in Small Scale Fisheries (SSFs) and to improve MPA management in the Western Indian Ocean region. The study developed an IUU index that was applied in Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Tanzania to gather perceptions from various fisheries professionals on the management of up to four fisheries (octopus, small-pelagic, reef and shrimp) and make recommendations to reduce IUU and to develop instruments aiming to combat IUU in SSFs.

By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

Indicator 14.5.1: Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

The Nairobi Convention and WIOMSA partnered to produce the region’s first MPA Outlook for the western Indian Ocean. The publication examines the current and future status of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) at a regional level to address efforts made by countries of the WIO to attain target 14.5. At the time of publication, the region had declared 143 marine and coastal areas as protected, representing 7% of the total Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).