DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Kenya has joined nine other countries in adopting 15 decisions aimed at tackling ocean pollution, protecting marine life and improving the management of the western Indian Ocean.
The decisions were reached during a four-day meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which marked the 40th anniversary of the Nairobi Convention, a regional agreement that brings countries together to protect the marine environment and shared coastal resources.
The participating countries are Comoros, France, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya.
Plastic pollution featured prominently in the discussions, with the countries endorsing a regional strategy to address the problem. They also adopted a plan to prepare for major marine pollution incidents originating from land-based activities.
Plastic Waste Threatens Marine Ecosystems
The western Indian Ocean faces mounting environmental pressure from maritime transport, expanding coastal settlements and waste discharged into rivers, waterways and harbours.
For decades, the ocean has served as a major shipping route for oil tankers and other vessels, while sewage and industrial waste from growing coastal cities have added to the pollution burden.
A 2013 survey highlighted the scale of marine litter in the region. Seychelles collected 4,743 pieces of plastic waste, demonstrating that even remote islands are affected by ocean pollution.
The countries also discussed the need to protect mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs, which provide habitats for marine species and support coastal communities that depend on fisheries and other ocean-based livelihoods.
Countries Seek Better Ocean Management
The meeting also examined how countries can improve the management of shared marine resources through better monitoring of marine life, information-sharing and the use of scientific research to guide decisions on activities taking place in the ocean.
Another issue was ocean acidification, which occurs when seawater absorbs carbon dioxide, lowering its pH and threatening marine organisms, including corals and shell-forming species.
The discussions also covered coordination around the High Seas Treaty, an international agreement intended to strengthen the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
The Nairobi Convention was established in 1985 under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to promote regional cooperation in addressing environmental challenges affecting the western Indian Ocean.
Maritime Security Also On Regional Agenda
The environmental discussions come amid wider efforts to strengthen maritime cooperation in the region.
Kenya and the United States recently reached an agreement to enhance military cooperation in areas including maritime security, counterterrorism and regional stability.
While maritime security and pollution control are distinct issues, both form part of broader efforts to safeguard the Indian Ocean and protect the communities and economies that depend on it.
The decisions adopted at the meeting are intended to strengthen regional cooperation in tackling pollution, conserving marine ecosystems and improving the sustainable management of the western Indian Ocean.
