DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA has made major strides in marine and coastal environmental governance since assuming the chairmanship of the Nairobi Convention in 2024.
The country has spearheaded the development of frameworks to protect marine biodiversity and tackle pollution across the Western Indian Ocean.
This was said yesterday by the Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office (Union and Environment), Engineer Hamad Masauni, when opening the 12th Conference of Parties (COP 12) to the Nairobi Convention in Dar es Salaam.
Eng Masauni said that during Tanzania’s leadership of the Convention’s Bureau, the country had contributed to the finalisation and adoption of the protocol on marine and coastal biodiversity protected areas, a regional contingency plan and a regional plastic and associated chemicals strategy.
He said some of the strategic frameworks will be considered for adoption during COP 12.
“During its leadership of the bureau, Tanzania has overseen major policy milestones mandated by the parties, including the finalisation and adoption of the protocol on marine and coastal biodiversity protected areas, the finalisation and validation of a regional contingency plan, the completion of a regional plastic and associated chemicals strategy and the launch of the development of a regional blue economy implementation framework, among other achievements,” he said.
He said the achievements built on four decades of regional cooperation under the Convention, which had facilitated the establishment of marine protected areas, regional action plans on pollution and biodiversity, strengthened scientific capacity and created a shared vision for a healthy and productive ocean.
Eng Masauni said Tanzania ratified the Nairobi Convention in 1996 and had continued contributing to efforts to strengthen marine and coastal conservation in the Western Indian Ocean.
He said the country’s contribution included the work of the Marine Parks and Reserves Unit, established in 1996, which oversaw the gazettement of the Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park in 2000 and Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park in 2009.
He said the progress made over the past 40 years should, however, be matched with stronger action as marine and coastal ecosystems faced increasingly complex threats.
“Climate change is warming and acidifying our waters, threatening coral reefs and fisheries, the livelihoods of coastal communities and even national economies,” he said.
He also identified marine plastic pollution, unsustainable resource use, depletion of fish stocks and degradation of critical habitats as growing pressures on the Western Indian Ocean.
The minister called on delegates to ensure that decisions emerging from COP 12 were evidence-based, focused and capable of being implemented at national and regional levels.
He said the value of the Nairobi Convention should ultimately be measured by results achieved across the region’s coasts and seas rather than by the number of meetings held or decisions adopted.
Eng Masauni further urged countries to adopt an integrated approach to marine environmental challenges, linking ecosystem restoration with livelihoods, food security, resilient infrastructure and responsible economic activity.
He called for coastal communities, women and young people to be actively involved in shaping policies and investments affecting their lives, saying they should be regarded as agents of change rather than merely beneficiaries.
The minister also stressed the importance of combining scientific and traditional knowledge in decision-making, alongside stronger cooperation among public, private and community institutions.
Tanzania assumed the chairmanship from Madagascar in 2024 during the 11th Conference of the Parties and has served in the position for two years. It is now expected to hand over the chairmanship to another member of the Convention.
The COP 12 has brought together representatives from 10 contracting parties and various stakeholders to agree on joint action to address marine pollution, illegal fishing, climate change and degradation of coastal ecosystems.
The conference is being held under the theme: “Towards a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Western Indian Ocean for People and Nature: A 40-Year Journey.”
