The Western Indian Ocean is renowned for the richness of its marine biodiversity, especially that associated with the region’s widespread coral reef systems. This rich marine biodiversity supports burgeoning coastal populations both directly, through the provision of a variety of marine resources and vital ecosystem services such as coastal protection, and indirectly, through the opportunities it provides for economic growth through sectors such as fisheries, tourism, infrastructure development and others. However, the marine resources are coming under increasing pressure.
The Western Indian Ocean Marine Protected Areas Outlook examines the current and future status of marine protected areas (MPSa) at a regional level. Its reviews the commitment by governments to achieve 10% protection of important marine and coastal areas through effectively and equitably managed MPAs and other effective area-based management measures. It also takes into account the formulation of the Convention of Biological Diverty's post-2020 biodiversity framework, which proposes, among other goals, a zero net biodiversity loss by 2030, as well as providing a baseline for the post-2020 framework.