The WIO LMMA Alliance brings together communities across the Western Indian Ocean, strengthening their collective voice and creating a platform to share, learn and scale locally led marine conservation. On 16 June 2026, the Western Indian Ocean Locally Managed Marine Area (WIO LMMA) Alliance was officially launched at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, the first held on African soil.
The Alliance is a community-led platform uniting coastal communities, networks, governments, and partners to strengthen, connect, and expand LMMAs and other community-led marine management approaches. Across the region, LMMAs protect over 11,000 square kilometres of reefs, mangroves, and fishing grounds, with strong movements in Madagascar, Mozambique, Kenya, and Tanzania. A Steering Committee of LMMA and IPLC leaders will guide its foundational phase, keeping community voices central.
The launch built on years of collaboration, national consultations, and the first WIO LMMA Forum in Madagascar (2024), which produced the WIO LMMA Declaration. Its priorities include securing community rights and legal recognition, strengthening governance, unlocking sustainable finance, supporting resilient livelihoods, and expanding peer-to-peer learning. The Alliance bridges local action and regional ocean governance, inviting WIOMPAN’s managers, scientists, and practitioners to connect and help scale community-led conservation.
Find out more about the Alliance here.
