Western Indian Ocean Marine Protected Areas Management Network - WIOMPAN

10/04/2026

Looking to elevate your Marine Protected Area from designation to lasting impact?

The Reef Resilience Network has officially launched its new "Management Effectiveness for MPAs" online course. Available in 5 languages, this is a vital tool for all marine managers. Enroll today! 📚🔬

Find out more on: https://blog.wiomsa.net/2026/03/26/new-course-available-in-five-languages-management-effectiveness-for-marine-protected-areas/

07/04/2026

The Hifadhi Blu Programme is convening its next Systems Workshop from April 22–24, 2026!

We look forward to gathering representatives from newly selected sites across the WIO region to refine site-level interventions through a systems-informed approach. 🌍🌊

Read more on: https://blog.wiomsa.net/2026/03/27/hifadhi-blu-programme-update-upcoming-systems-workshop/

Minderoo Foundation

03/04/2026

The Reef Resilience Network is offering a fully funded, in-person training opportunity—"Strengthening Reef Resilience: Skills & Strategies for Marine Managers"—for marine managers working in coral reef ecosystems.

Held in Auckland, New Zealand, from July 19–24, 2026, in conjunction with the 2026 International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS), this competitive program will equip participants with practical skills in climate-smart management and strategic communication, as well as providing access to cutting-edge science and engagement with global experts.

Travel, lodging, meals, and ICRS registration will be covered for selected individuals. Applications close on 12th April 2026. For more information, visit: https://reefresilience.org/reef-resilience-network-training-announcement-icrs-2026/

Photo: Renata Romeo/Ocean Image Bank

24/02/2026

Insights from the first Hifadhi Blu Cohort 🌍

Last year, the inaugural Hifadhi Blu cohort convened in Mombasa, drawing teams from four marine protected area (MPA) initiatives from countries across the Western Indian Ocean.

Listen in as they share their key takeaways from the program, highlighting the importance of regional knowledge exchange and collaboration in enhancing impactful protected area conservation.

Minderoo Foundation Advanced Conservation Strategies SPGA - Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority Kenya Wildlife Service South African National Parks Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA)

19/02/2026

Nominations for the 2026 Tusk Conservation Awards are officially open through April 26, 2026.🏆

This prestigious program honors the dedicated individuals protecting Africa’s biodiversity and offers grant funding to advance the winners' on-the-ground initiatives.

Notably, the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award is now accepting nominations for entire ranger teams alongside individual rangers.

Learn more about the criteria and how to nominate a peer or team here: https://www.tuskawards.com/nominations/

10/02/2026

🧬 Opportunity for WIO MPAs: Enhance Your Monitoring with environmental DNA (eDNA)

The Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) is recruiting 25 marine sites globally for the eDNA Expeditions Project 2026–2028.

This is a unique opportunity to develop local knowledge on biomolecular sampling, engage with your community, and unlock biomolecular knowledge on marine species at your site.

🗓️Applications close on 15th February 2026.

Find out more on: https://ednaexpeditions.org/

Minderoo Foundation Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO

26/01/2026

📌 WIO-COMPAS assessments applications are open.

The Western Indian Ocean Marine Protected Areas Professional Certification Program (WIO-COMPAS) is accepting applications for Level 1 and Level 2 certification assessments in French. The assessment event, organised by WIOMSA and Varuna Biodiversité, will take place on 11th-15th May 2026 in Madagascar.

Who can apply?

🌊 Level 1: Marine Protected Area professionals (MPA) rangers or marine field operators

🌊Level 2: MPA professionals from the WIO region who are responsible for management, supervisory and administrative tasks within MPAs (MPA manager, assistant manager, site manager, warden or section ranger)

Applications close on 27th February 2026.

To find out more, visit: https://blog.wiomsa.net/2026/01/26/wio-compas-lancement-de-lappel-a-certifications-2026/

Photo credit: José Paula

Western Indian Ocean Marine Protected Areas Management Network - WIOMPAN Varuna Biodiversité SPGA - Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority Réseau Mihari - Mihari Network

21/01/2026

Building on the resounding success of Marine Protected Areas Day 2025, Open Communications for the Ocean (OCTO) is set to kick off the new year with a special global webinar, "MPA Day 2026: Uniting a Global Community for Ocean Protection."

Save the date for February 10th, 2026, at 5 PM SAST (4 PM EAT), and join in celebrating and advancing the vital work of MPAs.

This virtual session will guide attendees through the evolution of MPA Day, exploring how the movement has expanded from its origins to become a worldwide platform for ocean health.

Featured speakers include Judy Mann-Lang, Founder of MPA Day, who will discuss the communication principles that underpin effective public engagement, and Katja Laingui, European Coordinator, who will outline the strategic steps taken to foster connections across Europe and beyond. Together, they will offer practical insights on how organizations and individuals can collaborate to increase the initiative's reach in 2026.

Find out more about the webinar on: https://blog.wiomsa.net/2026/01/21/join-the-mpa-day-2026-webinar-uniting-a-global-community-for-ocean-protection/

Photo credit: Stefan Andrews/Ocean Image bank

Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA)

13/01/2026

WIOMSA is excited to release the “Western Indian Ocean WIO- COMPAS Support Toolkit for Ocean Conservation Areas” to advance the effective management and planning of marine protected areas (MPAs) across the WIO.

This self paced and free to use practical guide is tailored for staff at the supervisory or site manager level (WIO-COMPAS Level 2), and focuses on building competencies that directly translate into stronger, more resilient management of coastal and marine ecosystems.

“More than a manual—this toolkit is an invitation to strengthen leadership, foster collaboration, and accelerate action toward thriving marine protected areas in the WIO and beyond.”

To find out more about the toolkit, visit:
https://www.wiomsa.org/publications/introducing-the-western-indian-ocean-wio-compas-support-toolkit/

Western Indian Ocean Marine Protected Areas Management Network - WIOMPAN Nairobi Convention SPGA - Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority JNCC Réseau Mihari - Mihari Network Marine Parks and Reserves Unit Kenya Wildlife Service

27/11/2025

Seahorses are iconic flagship species for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) worldwide. 🌍

However, despite their status, there is surprisingly little data available on how seahorse populations actually respond to protection measures.

To address this knowledge gap, Project Seahorse in collaboration with the IUCN and the Species Survival Commission is undertaking a global meta-analysis seeking seahorse observations and information collected from sites both inside and outside MPAs, spanning various time periods.

Interested MPA managers, researchers, and practitioners are invited to contribute.

For more information, visit 🔗 https://blog.wiomsa.net/2025/11/26/sea-horses-and-mpas-a-call-to-action/

Photo by: Liang Fu/Ocean Image Bank

Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) IUCN Protected and Conserved Areas

27/11/2025