Blog

Have you read our latest Newbrief? it’s full of exciting news and information on range of topics including election of Board officials, Board’s decisions, the New MASMA Programme, different workshops held recently, summaries of MARG I reports, election of Country Coordinators and job advertisements. You may access the online version HERE. If you have news...Read More

The University of Rhode Island, Coastal Resources Center, is recruiting applicants for the positions of Capacity Development Specialist and Marine Policy Specialist to participate in a USAID-funded project, the Hay Tao (Enhancing Enabling Conditions for Biodiversity Conservation) Program led by Pact to improve the enabling environment for effective community-based management and protection of terrestrial and...Read More

The Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) invites applications from suitably qualified and experienced individuals for the position of Accountant. The Accountant will be responsible for the accounting for all costs of operations, directly related to MASMA Programme and associated projects. In accordance with the Zanzibar’s labour laws, this position is open to Tanzanians...Read More

The South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Governance and Shared Growth Program (SWIOFish) is inviting expression of interest to undertake consultancy services for the preparation (2) and revision (3) of general management plan for marine conservation areas (MCAs) in Zanzibar, together with design of MCS strategies for each MCA. Preparation of a demarcation plan and establishment...Read More

The Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) seeks applications from suitably qualified and experienced individuals for the position of Cities and Coasts Project Manager. The Manager will be responsible for the coordination, supervision, monitoring and implementation of all the activities related to a new WIOMSA’s Cities and Coasts Project. Applicants are requested to submit...Read More

Supporting students conducting fieldwork with ‘community-engagement‘ VERBI Software supports you in using professional research software from the very beginning. MAXQDA Research Grants seek to help students unlock their research potential as well as facilitate the creation of international networks for research collaboration, thereby encouraging accountable data collection and self-reflective work products. The #ResearchforChange Grant gives...Read More

WIOMSA is calling for submission of proposals for its Marine Research Grant (MARG) Program. The MARG programme provides young and upcoming scientists with a reliable and flexible mechanism to turn their ideas into research projects and also offers opportunity for presentation of research results at various regional and international fora. What is new MASMA Programme?...Read More

The Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) seeks applications from suitably qualified and experienced individuals for the position of Communication and Engagement Coordinator. The Communication and Engagement Coordinator will be responsible for all activities related to communication, dissemination, engagement, outreach and advocacy. Interested candidates should send CVs and page motivation as to how they...Read More

The Development and Knowledge Sociology Work Group, ZMT is pleased to announce a fully-funded doctoral position at the Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) through its Fiction Meets Science project and within the sub-project ‘Narrating Sealevel Change in Singapore’. More information on the Development and Knowledge Sociology Working Group at ZMT can be found ...Read More

The U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) U.S. Global Development Lab is pleased to announce an open solicitation for human and institutional capacity building collaborations between higher education institutions (HEIs) in the United States and those in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) under the Science, Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (STIP) Annual Program Statement (APS). This...Read More

It´s official! Sida and WIOMSA have signed an agreement on the next 5 years of support to WIOMSA. The MASMA Programme “Generating the Scientific and Policy Relevant Knowledge for achieving SDG 14 and Facilitating Implementation of the Paris Agreement in the WIO Region” will run from 2018-2022. The agreement was signed by the Sida Senior...Read More

University of Florida in partnership with the African Billfish Foundation and Pwani University are organizing a Regional Training Course on Practical Tools in Quantitative Fisheries Assessment. The training sessions will be held at Pwani University, Kilifi Kenya, from 16th – 26th July 2018. Interested applicants should complete the online application form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/quantitative_fisheries_kenya or thr attached...Read More

Three fact sheets to communicate the economic and social importance of coral reefs at a country and regional level have been released. Data is provided for more than 50 coral reef countries in 3 regions. Each factsheet provides easy to read economic and social data for the three main ecosystems services provided by coral reefs:...Read More

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is an equal opportunity employer and seeks Marine Conservationists to implement field-based marine conservation projects in Tanzania. WCS is a leading actor in marine research and conservation globally. In Tanzania www.wcstanzania.org WCS is working in 5 land/seascapes across the country. We are looking to further develop our marine conservation with...Read More

Nominations open for The MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity 2018 The MIDORI Prize, a biennial international prize co-organized by the AEON Environmental Foundation and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), honors three individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. We would like you to nominate candidates...Read More

The Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) program is happy to announce a new initiative aimed at supporting the career development of women in science: the Women in Science Mentoring Program. This program is designed in response to established studies showing that women are underrepresented in higher education and academia, in part due to...Read More

The Seychelles has created protected areas “the size of Great Britain” in the Indian Ocean. In exchange for getting some of its national debt paid off, the island nation has agreed to protect 210,000 sq km (81,000 sq miles) of ocean. The reserves will limit tourism and fishing activities in the Seychelles to halt further...Read More

Timothy McClanahan and Nyawira Muthiga, founders of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s coral reef program, won the first Award for Conservation Excellence, or ACE. The award carries a cash prize of $100,000, as well as a $5,000 Cabela’s gift certificate.               @Kimberly Fletcher Read the full article. Share this:Click to...Read More

Dr. Jacqueline Uku has been elected by the WIOMSA Board of Trustees to continue serving as WIOMSA President. The board elected Dr. Ranjeet Bhagooli as Vice President and Prof. Yunus Mgaya as Treasurer. The officials were elected during the 38th meeting of the WIOMSA Board of Trustees that was held in Nairobi, Kenya on the...Read More

Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships are for PhD candidates from low and middle income Commonwealth countries, to spend up to 12 months at a UK university as part of their doctoral studies in their home country. Details here: http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/split-site-scholarships-low-middle-income-countries/ Students from Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania are eligible to apply. All applications, with full transcripts detailing all your higher...Read More

In memory of Danielle de St. Jorre, applications and nominations are invited for a scholarship to help fund the participation of a woman from a Small Island Developing State in IOI’s training programme on Ocean Governance: Policy, Law and Management, to be held from 23rd May to 20th July 2018 at Dalhousie University in Halifax,...Read More

The Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI) is seeking an enthusiastic and self-motivated South African candidate to join our multidisciplinary coral reef programme. This position is for two years on a full-time basis commencing in March 2018. Applications should be sent to Dr Sean Porter (sporter@ori.org.za) and Prof. Michael Schleyer (schleyer@ori.org.za). The successful applicant will be based...Read More

The Alfred Wegner Institute is delighted to announce its 5th year hosting the Nippon Foundation-POGO Centre of Excellence (NF-POGO CofE); providing world class education, training and career development programmes in oceanography. The 10 month training programme will take place on the offshore island of Helgoland and the UNESCO reserve Wadden Sea island of Sylt, Germany....Read More

Duty Station: Nairobi Deadline: 27 January 2018 UN Environment’s Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The Nairobi Convention is a partnership between governments, civil society and...Read More

The Ministry of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping has been set up in line with Government vision to making the ocean economy an important industry to sustain economic diversification, job creation and wealth generation. The main objective of the Ocean Economy Unit is to formulate and implement policies and strategies for the development...Read More

The Government of Kenya through the the World Bank-funded Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socioeconomic Development Project (KEMFSED) is requesting expression of interest to undertake a ‘Scoping Study to Develop Strategic Approach for Enterprise Development in Coastal Fishing Communities in Kenya’ Complete Expressions of Interest along with other relevant documents should be delivered by email (to:...Read More

Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science has just published its latest issue, Vol 16, No 1 (2017), at https://www.ajol.info/index.php/wiojms. This issue contains the following articles: i) Salum S. Hamed, Narriman S. Jiddawi, Philip. O.J. Bwathondi – Effects of blood meal as a substitute for fish meal in the culture of juvenile Silver Pompano Trachinotus blochii (Lacepède,...Read More

The first Building research capacity to address challenges of food security in Western Indian Ocean countries (SOLSTICE) newsletter is out. These quarterly newsletters will focus on reviews of activities, achievements and upcoming events across the Consortium. The first one is mainly an introduction to the project and the successful launch during our Kick-Off in Tanzania....Read More

The IOI-SA Course in Ocean Governance for Africa will run from the 3rd to the 28th September 2018 in Cape Town. Please save these dates for your 2018 planning. Applications will open on the 8th January, 2018 and close on the 30th April 2018. Download the brochure for the course. For more information and to...Read More

The Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, is seeking to recruit an enthusiastic and competent researcher to contribute to the Rising from the Depths Project. Read the full announcement. Closing date for applications: Sunday, January 14, 2018 – midnight GMT   Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on...Read More

If current trends continue and countries fail to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nearly all of the world’s coral reefs will suffer severe bleaching on an annual basis, according to a new United Nations environment agency study. Bleaching has a hugely negative effect on the health of a coral reef which, in turn, is vital to...Read More

The latest issue of the WIOMSA Newsbrief is out. This is a combined issue of September and December issues and contains several interesting articles most of which related to the 10th WIOMSA Symposium and associated activities/events. Symposium photo gallery is also included. Thanks for all the support in 2017. We wish you all Merry Christmas...Read More

The Government of Kenya is inviting expression of interest to undertake a consultancy to provide direct input into the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socioeconomic Development Project (KEMFSED) project preparation, generating for each targeted priority fishery recommendations for a coherent portfolio of interventions that will support a significant increase in the value redeemed for target beneficiaries...Read More

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FROM EARLY CAREER SCIENTISTS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND RESEARCHERS FOR FULLY FUNDED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SEYCHELLES Find out more about the training and how to apply by visiting our webpage. Join the Coral Reef Conservation Team We are looking for experienced divers to join world-renowned coral reef conservation specialists in Curieuse Marine National...Read More

The Nairobi Convention is part of the Regional Seas Programme of the United Nations Environment, Ecosystems Division. The United Nations Environment’s Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in...Read More

Following the elections for the new WIOMSA Board of Trustees during the 6th General Assembly held on the 3rd November 2017, WIOMSA is pleased to announce the following new Board members: Prof. Yunus Mgaya who has been elected in the category of host country member, Prof. Ranjeet Bhagooli and Dr. Dominique Ponton representing the Island...Read More

Course materials from the recently held WIOMSA introduction to R workshop can now be found online at: https://github.com/WIORWorkshop/WIO-R-WORKSHOP-2017. Those interested may also subscribe to our email list for questions and discussions on R and general quantitative advise on this link: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/wiorquantitativeadvise/join. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook...Read More

The Sixth WIOMSA General Assembly will be held on 3 November 2017 will start at 9:00. One of the main agenda of the General Assembly is the ‘Future of the WIOMSA Symposium’. We are urging members and non-members to provide inputs and comments on the paper. All participants (members and non-members) are encouraged to attend...Read More

Hello WIOMSA Family! Welcome to the 10th WIOMSA Scientific Symposium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania! We thank you all for attending and participating. The opening ceremony started with beautiful music provided by the University of Dar es Salaam Creative Arts Department Choir. We heard from our president Dr Jacqueline Uku about the expanding WIOMSA portfolio...Read More

The WIOMSA Scientific Symposium mobile app is live now and all Symposium participants are encouraged to download it. Download the instructions on how to download the app. The app is designed to help you create your personalised schedule, find your way around, network and more. Mobile and desktop versions are now available. The app will...Read More

On 30th October from 1900 hours during the first cocktail, Jocktan Makeke, an award-winning costume and body paint artist will be at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) for a body paint show. Be there! For more details about the artist, please visit, Facebook page: makeke international, Facebook account/profile: makeke and Instagram: @makeke_international Share...Read More

South Africa has taken over as chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association, as of October 2017, with the theme: “IORA – uniting the peoples of Africa, Asia, Australasia and the Middle East through enhanced cooperation for peace, stability and sustainable development”. Through this platform, South Africa has established a local chapter of the Indian...Read More

The UNESCO/IOC’s Sub Commission for Africa and the Adjacent Island States – IOCAFRICA with support from the IOGOOS Secretariat is organizing the special session on 2 November 2017 during the 10th WIOMSA Symposium, to review progress in planning and implementation of IIOE-2 activities. You are all invited to attend. Download the Session Programme. Share this:Click...Read More

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) seeks applications from suitably qualified and experienced individuals for the position of the TNC Africa Oceans Strategy Director. The Africa Oceans Strategy Director will assists in the design, development and implementation of oceans and coastal strategies across TNC Africa Region. The strategic focus will be bottom up and top down and designed to...Read More

The SA Agulhas II has embarked on the first leg of the WIO regional cruise. Below is a photo of the scientists and students taken on the main deck. Additional reporting available at the following links: 1. http://www.news24.com/Video/SouthAfrica/News/watch-uncovering-the-mysteries-of-the-indian-ocean-aboard-the-sa-agulhas-ii-20171019 2. https://youtu.be/zNVDITGmSPA 3. A picture from DEA Communications of the participants onboard. 4. http://ewn.co.za/2017/10/18/watch-ewn-boards-the-sa-agulhas-ii-ahead-of-it-s-voyage-to-tanzania Share this:Click to share on...Read More

The Nairobi Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Western Indian Ocean region through its GEF-funded project on ‘Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the protection of the Western Indian Ocean from land-based sources and activities (WIOSAP)’, which started in December 2016, is facilitating the implementation of SDG 14 with a special...Read More

Art Competition for primary and secondary school pupils in the coastal regions in Tanzania: Call for submission of artworks The Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) in collaboration of the Institute of Marine Science (IMS) and the Department of Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries (DASF) both of the University of Dar es Salaam, the Tanzania...Read More

Since its establishment 25 years ago, WIOMSA has supported over 1500 individual scientists through its grant programmes (i.e. MASMA and MARG), capacity development initiatives (i.e. WIO-COMPAS and short-term courses) and biennial Scientific Symposium. What an opportune time to hear stories from you on how WIOMSA has contributed to the development of your career! To coincide...Read More

As part of the activities planned for the Tenth WIOMSA Symposium to be held at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre, Dar es Salaam from the 30th October – 4th November 2017, WIOMSA in collaboration of the Institute of Marine Science (IMS) and the Department of Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries (DASF) both of the University...Read More

The Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) will be holding its Sixth General Assembly at Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) on 3rd November 2017. The Assembly will be preceded by the Tenth WIOMSA Scientific Symposium, which will be held at the same place from 30th October to 2nd November 2017. The General Assembly...Read More

The Special Issue of the WIO Journal of Marine Science entitled “Coral reefs of Mauritius in a changing global climate” is out. This issue comprises of some of the papers presented during the Ninth University of Mauritius Research Week (UoM RW) held from 19-23 September 2016. Download the full Issue.   Share this:Click to share...Read More

A new project focussing on Sustainable Oceans, Livelihoods and food Security Through Increased Capacity in Ecosystem research (SOLSTICE), has been approved and th Global Challenges Research Fund, Research Council UK (RCUK) and the Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC), and aims to strengthen the ability of the nine Western Indian Ocean nations to address the challenges...Read More

WWF MDCO intends to commission a national or international firm for “Consultancy on Scenarios Development in the Northern Mozambique Channel” The duration of the assignment shall not exceed 55 days. Bidders may request the terms of reference to the following email address: procurement@wwf.mg or may ask them at WWF’s office at Antsakaviro, Près Lot II...Read More

The WIOMSA Honorary and Fellow membership and WIOMSA Emerging Scientist award ceremony will be held during the Tenth WIOMSA Scientific Symposium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in October/November 2017. The awards are an integral part of building scientific capacity in the region as they are given to individuals in recognition of their exemplary/outstanding/distinguished contribution in...Read More

We are pleased to present the June 2017 WIOMSA Newsbrief which among others include the article on new WIOMSA logo. With WIOMSA celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2018, what a better way to start marking this milestone than introducing a new brand identity for the Association! The issue also includes articles on WIOMSA participation in...Read More

If you work on or study Marine Waste along the Coasts of Africa, including waste management in universities, research organisations, governments, NGOs, coastal municipalities, communities or resorts and you want to attend the African Marine Waste Conference that will take place in Port Elizabeth, South Africa from 9-13 July 2017, please apply for sponsorship. Download...Read More

World Fisheries University (hereinafter WFU) Graduate Program at Pukyoung National University (hereinafter PKNU) is planned to be launched in the Fall of 2017. The Graduate School is sponsored by the Korean Government, which strives to be a pioneer in the fisheries industry by enhancing the human resources of developing countries. As Korea’s first professional school dedicated...Read More

All interested are invited to submit proposals for special sessions and workshops, and abstracts for oral and poster presentations for the 2017 Symposium of Contemporary Conservation Practice. Please submit all proposals for special sessions and/or workshops for consideration by 30 June 2017 using the online submission system. Please submit all abstracts for oral and poster presentations for consideration by 4 August 2017 using the online submission...Read More

The Waitt Foundation is pleased to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a new initiative, MPAs Over the Finish Line, which aims to identify “shovel ready” MPA projects where 6 to 12 months of additional, targeted funding will result in legally-binding MPAs that have the political and social support necessary for implementation success.  The...Read More

The time for WIOMSA members to exercise their democratic right and vote for their Board of Trustees members has come. This Special Edition of the WIOMSA Newsbrief contains biographies of the eight candidates who are standing for the four categories. Information on voting procedure is also contained in this issue. MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD BY...Read More

You are all requested to vote for the video of project, “Sea PoWer” http://bit.ly/2rEbv3O and support women seaweed farmers in Zanzibar! “Sea PoWer” is a small project run by five women scientists from Tanzania, Kenya and France. Last year we won an award from the Australian Government as part of their Blue Economy Challenge to...Read More

In the light of the Ocean Conference taking place in New York this week, the embassy would like to highlight the work of one of Sweden’s partner organizations in Tanzania, the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), along with the fact that they have been invited to participate in the all-important Ocean Conference to...Read More

The African Union Commission invites proposals from interested and eligible African institutions for the implementation of the GMES & Africa Support Programme with the following specific objectives: Consolidating, extending and developing applications for the Water and Natural Resources and the Marine & Coastal Areas Services to adequately provide information to policymakers, scientists, businesses and the...Read More

Macquarie University in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society are organizing a Regional Training Course on Introduction R programming, that will be held in Dar es Salaam, Republic of Tanzania from 27-29 October 2017. Applications are invited from the qualified applicants from all the countries in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. The ‘Introduction to...Read More

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) seeks a Marine Conservationist to lead the implementation of its field-based marine conservation efforts in Tanzania. The position is based in Zanzibar (or possibly Dar -es Salaam), and will require travel throughout the Tanzanian coastline. The WCS Tanzania Marine Conservationist position is a full-time position. Interested candidates should send their...Read More

WCS coral expert finds that some reefs were less sensitive to warming water over time Eleven species became less while one species became more sensitive to temperature change Study compares extremely warm years of 1998 and 2016 Study appears in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series NEW YORK (May 2, 2017) – A new WCS...Read More

A partnership of intergovernmental, scientific and educational institutions has launched a global commitment to raise awareness for the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of our ocean. Read the full article. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new...Read More

Taking into account requests from prospective participants, the deadline for submission of abstracts has been extended to the 10th May 2017. Abstracts must be submitted online at http://abstract.wiomsa.org/index.php/wioma/10WSS. Please follow the online submission instructions. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on...Read More

POGO is pleased to announce that with support from the Nippon Foundation and in partnership with the University of Liverpool, University of Southampton and Plymouth Marine Laboratory, it is offering a NF-POGO Visiting Fellowship for training on-board the GEOTRACES North Atlantic “FRidge” cruise in 2017-18. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to visit the...Read More

We invite applications for the above full-time research opportunity at the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, a world-renowned, national Centre of Excellence (CoE) in ornithological research with a strong emphasis on postgraduate studies. The tenure of the Fellowship is for up to two years, providing there is satisfactory academic progress in the first year. –...Read More

The Master of Science in Maritime Science is an inter-university programme developed by Ghent University (UGent) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). It aims at students from diverse academic backgrounds, who have a common passion for maritime transport and already hold a Master degree. People working in the maritime sector may also benefit from the...Read More

Wetland International is implementing a 10-year Mangrove Capital Africa Programme (MCA) that charts a new approach that can upscale successful strategies and ensure their autonomous seeding and replication along East and West Africa’s coasts. In Eastern Africa, the initial focusing will be on the Rufiji Delta in Tanzania. The MCA is recruiting three experienced professionals...Read More

By Wanjohi Kabukuru [Gazi Bay, Kenya] Gazi Bay is a quiet sleepy village which lies some 55 kilometres south of Kenya’s coastal resort capital of Mombasa. It does not feature on the tourism circuit as the south-coast’s hotspots of Diani, Ukunda, Nyali, Kisite and even its direct neighbour Chale Island. And it fades into oblivion...Read More

By Wanjohi Kabukuru [Ilha da Inhaca, Mozambique] Mangroves are fascinating trees. At the breathtaking Rufiji Delta in Tanzania where the River Rufiji empties into the Indian Ocean, an interesting story is narrated by a resident Richard Mtila. “In 1987 the Tanzanian government imposed a moratorium on mangroves cutting in the Rufiji Delta to protect the...Read More

By Wanjohi Kabukuru [Chale Peninsula, Kenya] On a general talk, it appears as if the Gazi project was initiated a few years ago. However after spending a few days in this rural outpost is when one realises that the project is a culmination of years of determined study and quiet determination by a quiet researcher...Read More

This is to announce the release of a new coastal adaptation language – the Coastal Hazard Wheel. The Coastal Hazard Wheel is available as a new UNEP publication, as scientific background papers and as a global coastal classification app. It is taken forward by an international partnership of leading knowledge institutions and all information can...Read More

With support from the Rita Allen Foundation, the National Academy of Sciences is pleased to offer two awards of $37,500 each to support the formation and development of collaborative science communication researcher-practitioner partnerships. These awards are intended to facilitate the efforts of science communication researchers and practitioners to plan collaborative projects that pursue shared research...Read More

We are pleased to present the March 2017 WIOMSA Newsbrief which covers an interesting array of articles including: Decisions of the WIOMSA Board of Trustees, a new MASMA funded project, ESTUARIZE, articles from recently completed PhDs from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and a MARG Grantee article. Enjoy the read. Download the full issue....Read More

Are you a student with a research project in either sustainable fishing practice or transforming the seafood market? This is your chance to be part of the 2017 MSC science scholarship program. We invite both undergraduate and postgraduate students from around the world to apply for the grant, which provides up to £4,000 towards the...Read More

 Click here for supporting documents The LEAP-agri partners are pleased to announce the launch of the LEAP-Agri joint call for pre-proposals entitled: African European Collaborative Research on Sustainable Agriculture and Aquaculture for Food and Nutrition Security. This joint transnational research and innovation call is co-funded by the following partnering African and European countries: from Africa:...Read More

The 37th issue of the SPC Beche-de-mer Information Bulletin has 23 original articles and reports on the biodiversity, fisheries, aquaculture and trade of sea cucumbers in various regions, including Papua New Guinea, Philippines, China, Brazil and Nicaragua; sea cucumber symbionts; the reproduction of some sea cucumber species; and the development of methods to better study...Read More

Abstracts for the Tenth WIOMSA Scientific Symposium can now be submitted online at http://abstract.wiomsa.org/index.php/wiomsa/10WSS. Please follow the online submission instructions as described in the attached note. Abstracts must be submitted no later than 28th April 2017. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on...Read More

The Kenya Wildlife Service will conduct an aerial census for marine mammals from March 23 to March 27. KWS spokesperson Paul Gatitu said the exercise will be launched at the Mombasa Marine National Park on March 23. “The survey will focus on dugongs in the area between Diani and Vanga in the South Coast and Ungwana...Read More

The research vessel Dr Fridtjof Nansen operates within the EAF-Nansen Project of FAO, and carries out fish resources and ecosystems surveys in the maritime waters of developing countries, particularly in Africa. The Project has produced a flyer taht announce the launch of a book on survey results planned for May this year. The book itself will,...Read More

The Biodiversity project is launching a call for expressions of interest covering a wide range of services and supplies. Details are currently available on our page: http://commissionoceanindien.org/activites/biodiversite/appel-a-manifestations-dinteret-call-for-expression-of-interest/ To see the English version, click on the flag at the top left. Le projet Biodiversité lance un appel à manifestation d’intérêt couvrant un vaste éventail de services...Read More

2017 is an election year for WIOMSA’s Board of Trustees. We are pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for elections of the WIOMSA Board of Trustees. According to procedure, only members in good standing, that is paid WIOMSA members and registered students (who are exempted from paying membership fees) are eligible to...Read More

The IOI-SA will be hosting the fourth IOI-SA Course in Ocean Governance for Africa from the 4th – 29th September in Cape Town, South Africa. The course covers a wide range of marine and maritime issues and includes lectures, exercises, discussion and field trips. For more information, please see the brochure or visit http://ioisa.org/course-in-ocean-governance/. Download the call...Read More

Nature Seychelles  has just launched the world’s first Conservation Boot Camp, a unique and exclusive immersive conservation learning program based on the beautiful Cousin Island Special Reserve, one of the world’s great conservation success stories. The application process has just opened taking only 7 participants at a time. The Conservation Boot Camp is a great...Read More

The School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg, Sweden is announcing a PhD-position at the Department within the recently granted research project on LAPSSET in Kenya. We are especially looking for a candidate from the region (experience from research in East Africa and knowledge of Kiswahili is a merit). Please share the information if you know of anybody...Read More

Through the NSF funded ‘DIPnet’ (Diversity of the Indo-Pacific Network: a collaborative research network and database for advancing marine biodiversity research; http://diversityindopacific.net/) we will be hosting a five day intensive workshop at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. The workshop is aimed at African scientists that are actively engaged in the use of molecular tools (genetics/genomics) for...Read More

The Deep Sea Fishing Authority (DSFA) is recruiting a Consultancy Services for Design Tuna Specific Research Program and Grants Mechanism, whose primary objective is to develop a 10 year research agenda that will assist in improving understanding and sustainable use as well as productive management of tuna and tuna-like species fisheries in the United Republic...Read More

Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) invites eligible and qualified consultancy firms to submit Expression of Interest to undertake Consultancy Services for end of the project evaluation of the Kenya Coastal Development Project (KCDP). The deadline for submission of Expressions of Interest is 24th February 2017 at 11.00am. Download the full announcement. Share this:Click...Read More

WWF Tanzania is inviting technical and financial proposals to develop a WWF-Tanzania Marine Programme base proposal. The primary goal of the consultancy is to support WWF Tanzania’s development of a marine programme that will meet the broader objectives to ensure marine ecosystems and associated biodiversity in two priority seascapes of Rufiji, Mafia and Kilwa (RUMAKI)...Read More

The Deep Sea Fishing Authority (DSFA) is recruiting a Consultancy Services for Design Tuna Specific Research Program and Grants Mechanism, whose primary objective is to develop a 10 year research agenda that will assist in improving understanding and sustainable use as well as productive management of tuna and tuna-like species fisheries in the United Republic...Read More

2017 is an election year for WIOMSA’s Board of Trustees. We are pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for elections of the WIOMSA Board of Trustees. According to procedure, only members in good standing, that is paid WIOMSA members and registered students (who are exempted from paying membership fees) are eligible to...Read More

WIOMSA is pleased on announce a sale on some of its Books. WIOMSA, as a knowledge organization, has over the years produced a number of publications in the form of general knowledge books, manuals and field guides. These publications cover different topics of both educational and research interest such as climate change and its impacts, mangrove...Read More

WIOMSA in partnership with the Coastal Resources Center of the University of Rhode Island (CRC), is pleased to announce the Seventh offering of Level 2 Certification for MPA Managers, Assistant Managers, Site managers, Wardens, Deputy Wardens or Section Rangers. The Certification Assessment Event will be held on the 8-12 May 2017. We are also pleased...Read More

We are pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for Year 5 of the Nippon Foundation-POGO Centre of Excellence (NF-POGO CofE) at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). The training will run from October 2017 to August 2018. The NF-POGO CofE has provided world class education and...Read More

This is to inform you that the current five-year support by Sida to the MASMA Programme ends in June 2017. Since MASMA and MARG grants are funded through the MASMA Programme, no grant application will be processed until further notice. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens...Read More

Study finds that most valuable predatory fish in reef systems can only survive with modest catch quotas Fisheries need sensible management to remain productive   Study Link: http://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(16)31325-2 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2016.10.062 Suggested Tweet: https://twitter.com/WCSNewsroom/status/819667513906753537   New York (January 12, 2017) – Fishing is fundamentally altering the food chain in coral reefs and putting dual pressures on...Read More

The World Aquaculture Society (WAS), the Aquaculture Association of Southern African Africa is hosting the annual World Aquaculture Conference in Africa for the first time June 26-30, 2017. African sponsorship and support is being provided by the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, AU-IBAR and WorldFish. In order to accommodate broader participation, the...Read More

In memory of Danielle de St. Jorre, applications and nominations are invited for a scholarship to help fund the participation of a woman from a Small Island Developing State in IOI’s training programme on Ocean Governance: Policy, Law and Management, to be held from 24th May to 21st July 2017 at Dalhousie University in Halifax,...Read More

FULLY FUNDED TRAINING OPPORTUNITY FOR EARLY CAREER SCIENTISTS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND RESEARCHERS Earthwatch will be running two Training Teams on our Coral Communities in the Seychelles Project from Team 1 18th – 29th April 2017 and Team 2 25th April – 6th May 2017. Please note that team 1 is for experienced scuba divers only and is...Read More

Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science has just published its latest issue at http://www.ajol.info/index.php/wiojms. We invite you to view the Table of Contents below and then visit our web site to access articles and items of interest. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new...Read More

The Belgian National Focal Point to the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI) are happy to inform you that the 2017 Belgian GTI external call for proposals is open! Scientists from the partner developing countries of the Belgian Development cooperation (see list below) can apply for a short-term grant to come to Belgium in 2017 for taxonomic...Read More

The fourth issue of the WIOMSA Newsbrief for 2016 is out and contains several interesting articles some of which are on the Nairobi Convention events organized jointly with WIOMSA and WIOMSA’s events such as evaluation of the MASMA Programme; MASMA Grantees meeting and the Board meeting. Also included are articles of new collaboration between WIOMSA...Read More

The Earthwatch (an international NGO based in the UK – http://eu.earthwatch.org/about ) will again be running two training teams (Teams 1 & 2) on coral reef conservation monitoring and community research programme, Coral Communities in the Seychelles Project in in April/May 2017. The exact dates are yet to be confirmed but we will be sending...Read More

The International Ocean Institute (IOI) is pleased to announce its annual Training Programme on Ocean Governance: Policy, Law and Management that will be held in Dalhousie, Canada from 24th May – 21st July, 2017. The application deadline is 1st January 2017. Download the Course Announcement and the application form. For more information about the training,...Read More

Exeter University in United Kingdom are offering up to 20 PhD scholarships for international students. See details below and in this link: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/money/fundingsearch/awarddetails/?id=2461 Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)Read More

CALL FOR AFRICA SCIENCE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME (ASLP) The call for the third round of the Africa Science Leadership Programme (ASLP) is open. The ASLP aims to train fellows in advanced leadership skills, connecting and empowering them to lead a new paradigm for African science. The inaugural and second round of the programme exceeded all our...Read More

The Internews Earth Journalism Network (EJN) has created the Biodiversity Media Grant Opportunity to support journalism networks and media organizations throughout the world in increasing the capacity of media to cover critical issues of conservation and biodiversity. The Biodiversity Media Grant Opportunity is designed to support the awareness- or capacity-building around biodiversity and conservation, network...Read More

Lately, there has been a lot of attention for development in aquaculture in East-Africa and the fisheries sector in the Great Lakes Region is flourishing. Nevertheless, there are plenty of fish in the sea. The Agricultural Counselor in Kenya and Tanzania is therefore conducting a scoping study into the possible development of marine fisheries in...Read More

The Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), the Institute of Marine Science (IMS) and the Department of Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries (DASF) [both of the University of Dar es Salaam] and the Tanzania Fisheries Institute (TAFIRI) are pleased to announce the Tenth WIOMSA Scientific Symposium which will be held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania...Read More

The publication on “Case studies on climate change and African coastal fisheries: a vulnerability analysis and recommendations for adaptation options,” is out. The publication was edited by Jim Anderson and Timothy Andrew and produced by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)–FAO Fish Programme (NFFP) Component C (FMM/GLO/003/MUL) and the FAO’s EAF-Nansen Project. The objective...Read More

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is inviting submission of applications to attend a “Assessment of Management Effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs): a workshop to identify appropriate regional approaches and methodologies, and to integrate these with ongoing initiatives to build management capacity in the Western Indian Ocean”, that will be held in Mombasa, Kenya from 5...Read More

The International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) and Ocean Teacher Global Academy (TGA) in collaboration with the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) are organizing a “OTGA-KMFRI Training Course: Repositories, Communication & Outreach and Ocean Docs” to be held in Mombasa, Kenya from 21-25 November 2016. This course will explore important repository aspects...Read More

Mangroves of the Western Indian Ocean Book Launch by Wanjiru Jacqueline and Nina Wambiji It was an honour for Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) to host the first book launch entitled ‘Mangroves of the Western Indian Ocean: Status and Management’ on 22nd September 2016. The event was spearheaded by Dr. Jared Bosire (WWF...Read More

The September edition of the quarterly WIOMSA Newsbrief is out. The issue features regional news, articles from WIOMSA’s MARG Grantees and stories from newly minted PhDs. The articles include: Managing Non-Academic Impact of Research: Capacity Building for Impact Training held in Mombasa. WIOFish Revamped Training on Scientific Cruise Planning, Oceanographic Sampling, Fisheries and Data Management....Read More

A $48 million commitment toward MPA expansion and improved management revealed at the Our Ocean conference hosted by U.S. State Department MPAs provide immense benefits for the world’s marine ecosystems — for fish and people This commitment will be used to expand and improve MPA coverage to protect 10 percent of the world’s oceans by 2020 Oceans...Read More

IOC-SmartFish programme is pleased to submit herewith its new publication: a comic strip entitled ‘The Shark Fin Soup’. The Shark Fin Soup is a project that the Seychellois artist, Peter Lalande, had in mind for a long time. He wanted to tell a story about a cruel practice which deeply shocked him. The project became...Read More

  2015 Annual Report is out! WIOMSA prepares its Annual Report each year to highlight its key activities and achievements to our members, partners and stakeholders. The report also profiles selected work from its grantees and WIOMSA’s partners. Hope you will enjoy reading it. Comments are welcome. Download the full Report.        ...Read More

Today, Members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) adopted the Hawai‘i Commitments, an innovative document that sets out the opportunities to meet key conservation challenges identified at the IUCN World Conservation Congress. The Commitments were shaped by Congress debates and deliberations and were submitted for comment to some 8,500 participants who attended the...Read More

Two new publications “Sharks and Rays : A Field Guide to Common Elasmo Branchs of East Africa” and “Mangroves of the Western Indian Ocean: Status and Management” are now available for sale online at the WIOMSA Store. Orders of the publications can be made by clicking the  following link http://www.wiomsa.org/online-payments/ and then clicking purchase of books....Read More

It is with deep sorrow and personal regret that we announce the death of Mohammed Taki Jaffer or Mr. Jaffer as he was popularly known in WIOMSA circles. Mr. Jaffer passed away after a short illness, early on Wednesday morning. Mr. Jaffer will be sorely missed by all those who knew him. He was a special,...Read More

The Blue Economy discussions have accelerated since Rio+20, the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 20-22, 2012. A “Blue Economy” approach to sustainable growth usuall… y recognizes different use and non-use values of ocean and other “blue” resources. It promotes the coordination of...Read More

The Biodiversity Project, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) is pleased to announce a call for applications for a Training of trainers in MPA law in the Western Indian Ocean. The Training will be held in two sessions: i)  In Seychelles from 26 to 30 September 2016....Read More

The June Issue of the WIOMSA Newsbrief is out, with interesting articles written by different authors. This Issue contains articles on a publication on SWIOFP results, development of mariculture in the region; sharing experiences of co-management of small-scale fisheries and description of the recently approved MASMA projects. Also included are summaries of workshops/meetings/courses organized between...Read More

The Sustainable Sea Trust (SST) in collaboration with its partners are inviting all those interested to attend the launch of the African Marine Waste Network in the evening of 25th July 2016. The launch will be held in the South Campus Auditorium at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). Download a note about the first...Read More

Countries that contain most of the world’s species biodiversity are also spending the least on a per-person basis to protect these natural assets, according to scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the University of Queensland. The authors also noted that spending appears to be associated with the country’s social and governance organization. The...Read More

Madagascar Institute of Marine Sciences (Institut Halieutique et des Sciences Marines – IH.SM) and the French Research Institute for Development  (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement – IRD) are organizing the second summer school on Vulnerability of Coral Reef Heritage to be held in Toliara (Madagascar) from 7 to 18 November 2016. The EEA VulPaRe summer school is...Read More

Researchers have discovered a handful of ‘bright spots’ among the world’s embattled coral reefs, offering the promise of a radical new approach to conservation. In one of the largest global studies of its kind, researchers conducted over 6,000 reef surveys in 46 countries across the globe, and discovered 15 ‘bright spots’ – places where, against...Read More

The Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre; www.namstct.org) is pleased to invite applications from suitable candidates for the Joint NAM S&T Centre – ZMT Bremen (Germany) Fellowship in Tropical Coastal Marine Research for the year 2016. This Fellowship scheme was initiated in January 2008 for affiliation...Read More

Kenya and Tanzania have long competed to have the most important port in East Africa and their rivalry is about to become more intense as they compete for the region’s business, writes Neil Ford. The Kenyan port of Mombasa and Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam port are the traditional competitors but the Kenyan government is now...Read More

This 12 minute documentary shows Kenya’s commitment to the 2nd International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE-2, 2015-2020). It explains the importance of the Ocean to all life on Earth. It also shows the close partnership between the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and Kenya Marine and Fishereies Research Institute (KMFRI) who jointly organized a workshop onboard the...Read More

NRF-TWAS/African Renaissance Doctoral Fellowship Call for 2017 Closing date: 29 June 2016 The National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), in partnership with The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), are pleased to announce the call for fellowship applications for 2017 in the following two categories: NRF – TWAS Doctoral Fellowships NRF...Read More

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in...Read More

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in...Read More

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in...Read More

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in...Read More

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in...Read More

Time Change: May 10, 2016 at 6:00 PM HST, May 11 at 8:00 AM SCT (UTC +4:00) In 2010, the NGO Nature Seychelles launched the USAID/UNDP-GEF- funded Reef Rescuers: Restoring Reefs in the Face of Climate Change Project. This large-scale coral restoration project seeks to repair coral bleaching damage in selected sites around Praslin and...Read More

The National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa in partnership with The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), which is based in Italy and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of South Africa are pleased to announce the call for fellowship applications for the NRF- TWAS Postdoctoral Fellowships for 2017. These fellowships are open to...Read More

The National Research Foundation (NRF) in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) are pleased to announce the call for scholarship applications for 2017 in the following categories: DST- NRF- Free-standing Postdoctoral Fellowships (local and abroad); DST- NRF- Innovation Postdoctoral Fellowships; and DST- NRF-...Read More

A book, ‘Traditional Fishing Methods of Africa’, by Prof Mike Bruton has just been published and is available from the publisher, Cambridge University Press. This book is an illustrated overview of an aspect of Africa’s cultural and technological heritage that has largely been ignored its traditional fishing methods. An astonishing variety of innovative fishing techniques...Read More

This year marks the 20th year since the rollout of the first issue of the WIOMSA Newsbrief in 1996. In these two decades, the WIOMSA Newsbrief has remained committed to ensuring that it is one of the main communication channels between the Association and its membership as well as its partners. The Newsbrief has focused...Read More

In 2016, two issues of theWIOMSA Magazine will be produced. WIOMSA is calling for articles on two themes:   Preparing for the Inevitable – Proactive initiatives to address the predicted impacts of climate change in the WIO.  In the recent past the Western Indian Ocean region has experienced a plethora of research initiatives implemented at...Read More

International Ocean Institute Southern Africa is organizing a training course on Ocean Governance tailored to meet the needs of African countries. More specifically, the goal of the course is to meet ongoing need within the African region for awareness and training in the various disciplines associated with ocean governance that will contribute to building a...Read More

The Government of United Republic pf Tanzania has received a Credit from the International Development Association (IDA) towards the cost of the SWIOFish program and intends to apply part of the proceeds for the consultancy “Institutional support and technical backstopping for priority marlne fisheries research in Tanzania The objective of the consultancy services will be...Read More

WIOMSA is calling for submission of proposals for its Marine Research Grant (MARG) Program. The MARG programme provides young and upcoming scientists with a reliable and flexible mechanism to turn their ideas into research projects and also offers opportunity for presentation of research results at various regional and international fora. Please note that, applications can...Read More

Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science (WIOJMS) is inviting all those who delivered presentations in the Ninth WIOMSA Scientific Symposium that was held in South Africa in October 2015 and are interested in publishing these to submit their manuscripts for consideration for publication. At least two Special Issues of WIOJMS consisting of the Symposium...Read More

The WIOMSA Board of Trustees has appointed Prof. José Paula of the University of Lisbon as the Acting Chief Editor of the Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science (WIOJMS). He takes over from Prof Michael Schleyer, who has been – the Chief Editor since 2010. José has authored over 100 scientific papers in referred...Read More

WIOMSA is pleased to announce a call for proposals to support organizations of training courses/workshops and Publications of books/manuals for 2016. Applications should be completed and support documents uploaded at http://proposals.wiomsa.org/masma-proposals/ The deadline for submission of proposals is 31 March 2016.  The MASMA Programme Committee will review the submitted proposals and applicants will be informed...Read More

The Tenth Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) Scientific Symposium will be held in the second half of 2017, preferably in October or November 2017. WIOMSA traditionally organizes the Symposiums in close collaboration with national institutions of the region. In all the previous Symposiums, the collaborating institutions as the host of the Symposium have...Read More

Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) together with the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), and Western Indian Ocean – Mangrove Network (WIO-MN) are pleased to announce the ‘2nd International Training Course on Mangroves of Western Indian Ocean’ that will be held at the University of Nairobi’s Centre of Marine...Read More

The Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI) in collaboration with the Training Center in Communication (TCC) of Kenya and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of South Africa, are organizing a Training Workshop on �Communicating Research to Policy Makers in the Western Indian Ocean Region�, that will be held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania...Read More