Coastal communities across the Western Indian Ocean have long played a role in managing and conserving the marine environments on which they depend. As countries work towards the global goal of conserving 30% of land and sea by 2030, recognising and supporting these existing efforts is becoming an increasingly important part of the conversation.
At the Nairobi Convention’s 12th Conference of Parties (COP12), the Western Indian Ocean Consortium (WIO-C) Working Group on Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) brought together regional practitioners and partners to discuss how marine OECMs can contribute to conservation while strengthening local stewardship and governance.
The session presented the Working Group’s regional report, Pathways for Marine OECMs in the Western Indian Ocean, and its accompanying policy brief. Country presentations illustrated the different stages of progress across the region, while participants reflected on the practical steps needed to move from growing interest in OECMs towards effective, equitable implementation.
Recognising conservation beyond MPAs
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) remain a cornerstone of ocean conservation. OECMs complement them by recognising geographically defined areas outside protected areas that are governed and managed in ways that deliver sustained, long-term biodiversity conservation outcomes, even where conservation is not the primary objective.
In the Western Indian Ocean, locally managed marine areas, fisheries co-management areas and other community-managed areas may have the potential to meet OECM criteria. Recognition is not automatic: each area needs to be assessed to determine whether it delivers the required biodiversity outcomes and meets the relevant governance and management criteria.
For the WIO-C Working Group, this is about more than increasing the area counted towards the 30×30 target. It is also an opportunity to recognise the contribution of coastal communities, strengthen their capacity to manage marine resources and ensure that conservation supports both healthy ecosystems and local livelihoods.
The Working Group was established with founding support from WWF and brings together organisations working across the region. Its priorities include building understanding of OECMs, supporting countries to identify and assess potential sites, strengthening monitoring and facilitating regional learning.
Different countries, shared challenges
The session highlighted the variety of pathways countries are taking to advance OECMs. In South Africa, work is underway to develop national guidance and strengthen coordination through an OECM task team. Potential marine and coastal management measures have been identified, with prescreening and further site assessments helping to inform the national approach. In Kenya, a working group has been established to help coordinate progress, with attention turning to assessment approaches, community engagement and potential sites. In Tanzania, participants highlighted the importance of coordination among government, civil society and community partners, as well as the need to address data and funding gaps.
Presentations from other countries showed that, although national contexts differ, many of the challenges are shared. These include building a common understanding of OECMs, clarifying institutional roles, securing sustainable finance and gathering the evidence needed to assess biodiversity outcomes.
The regional report brings these issues together and provides a foundation for countries and partners to identify priorities suited to their own circumstances.
From regional dialogue to practical support
A central message from the session was that OECM processes must be meaningful for the people who govern and manage these areas. Participants emphasised the need for early and informed engagement with communities, clarity about the implications of recognition, and support for the ongoing work of management and monitoring.
The discussion also recognised that communities should not be expected to take on additional responsibilities without appropriate capacity and resources. Local knowledge, alongside scientific evidence, can help inform assessments and guide management, but long-term support will be needed to sustain this work.
The WIO-C Working Group is developing a collaborative workplan to help align its support with national and regional priorities. This provides an opportunity to connect technical expertise and partnerships with the needs identified by countries and local practitioners.
Why this matters for WIOMPAN
For WIOMPAN, the OECM agenda connects closely with the network’s focus on effective and equitable management of ocean conservation areas. Many of the questions raised during the session—how to support local governance, monitor outcomes, build management capacity and secure long-term resources—are shared across MPAs, locally managed areas and potential OECMs.
WIOMPAN can contribute by creating opportunities for managers and practitioners to exchange experiences, share tools and learn from approaches being tested across the region. The knowledge held by community leaders, fisheries practitioners and MPA managers will be valuable as countries develop practical pathways for recognising and supporting conservation beyond protected areas.
As the region moves towards 2030, the challenge will be to turn the momentum around OECMs into action that supports the people doing the work on the water—and sustains the biodiversity outcomes on which their communities depend.
