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By Abigael Sum
Marine experts and stakeholders have urged countries to embrace a holistic approach to managing the Indian Ocean, ensuring it continues to safeguard vital benefits for both communities and nature. Mombasa, Kenya, 3 October 2025.
The call was made during a special session on Blue Values at the 13th Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) Scientific Symposium, held in Mombasa, Kenya, from September 28 to October 3, 2025. The symposium is the region’s largest open scientific conference dedicated to advancing sustainable ocean management.
The ocean offers a lifeline to millions of people by providing food security, supporting livelihoods, regulating climate, protecting coastlines, and sustaining cultural heritage. But these benefits are under growing threat from climate change, overfishing, pollution, and habitat loss. To effectively address these challenges, experts are calling for the adoption of a holistic Blue Values framework that recognizes the full spectrum of marine ecosystem services beyond fisheries and tourism.
According to 2017 statistics from the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF), the annual Gross Marine Product of the Western Indian Ocean region, equivalent to a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is at least US$20.8 billion, making it one of the largest ocean-based economies. The region covers ten countries: Comoros, France (Réunion and Mayotte), Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, and Tanzania.
Experts at the session, co-organized by the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), World Agroforestry and the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR-ICRAF), the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), and GRID Arendal, emphasized that sustainable ocean governance must capture ecological, social, cultural, and climate benefits, not only economic outputs.
“The ocean is more than a source of fish or tourism revenue. It is also crucial for regulating climate, protecting coastlines, sustaining biodiversity, and preserving cultural identity. These values need to be captured in national planning and policy processes to enable countries to make better decisions about investments, restoration, and governance,” noted James Kairo, Chief Scientist at KMFRI.
Building on this, the Kenya Forest Service stressed the vital role of mangroves in maintaining ocean health.
“Mangroves are the frontline defenders of the Indian Ocean. They shield our coastlines from erosion, serve as nurseries for fisheries, and store vast amounts of carbon. At Kenya Forest Service, we are committed to restoring and protecting mangrove forests because their health directly determines the resilience of both our marine ecosystems and the coastal communities that depend on them,” said James Mburu, Coast Regional Forest Conservator, KFS.
Together, these perspectives capture the essence of the holistic Blue Values approach: balancing economic use, environmental care, and community well-being. The framework highlights ocean benefits that cannot always be measured in money, such as biodiversity, cultural heritage, and coastal protection, while ensuring that ocean-based activities both generate income and restore ecosystems.
“This means that investments should be directed towards activities that restore and enhance ocean health rather than just minimizing harm,” explained Ivy Amugune, Research and Development Specialist at CIFOR-ICRAF.
A key aspect of the approach is using data and science-based decision-making to anticipate the long-term effects of human activities.
“We are committed to enabling regional mapping, data, and spatial analysis so that decision-makers can see the unseen; the invisible benefits of coastal ecosystems that often go unrecognised in planning,” said Josphat Nguu, Ecosystem Ecology Specialist at RCMRD.
Through the EU-funded Regional Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity, Forests and Seascape Ecosystems Management in Eastern and Southern Africa (RCOE-ESA), CIFOR-ICRAF, and RCMRD are working with governments to expand access to credible data sources, such as the seascapes geoportal, that support evidence-based ocean governance.
The framework also places coastal communities at the centre of sustainable ocean management. By involving them directly in restoration, conservation, and nature-based livelihoods, the holistic Blue Values approach helps protect food security while creating opportunities that enhance dignity and resilience.
“To sustainably manage the Indian Ocean ecosystems, it is vital to meaningfully involve communities living along the coastline who depend on these resources for their survival. Their voices, knowledge, and leadership are essential to shaping solutions that are not only effective but also just and enduring,” said Lorna Nyaga, Researcher and Community Engagement Specialist at CIFOR-ICRAF.
Conserving oceans empowers people, fosters resilience, and creates opportunities that uphold dignity for generations. Thriving marine ecosystems go hand in hand with thriving communities.
Experts concluded that embedding Blue Values into national and regional policies is critical for long-term prosperity.
“Policies must go beyond short-term gains and recognize the ocean as a foundation for long-term prosperity. By mainstreaming Blue Values into marine spatial planning, fisheries regulations, climate strategies, and coastal development policies, countries in the Western Indian Ocean can safeguard livelihoods, enhance resilience, and unlock sustainable economic opportunities,” said Jacklin Karimi, Policy Engagement Specialist at RCMRD.
