A regional meeting on Marine Pollution Emergency Response in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) is currently being hosted from January 19 to 25, 2026, in Zanzibar, Tanzania, held by the Nairobi Convention Secretariat, in partnership with the UK’s Ocean Country Partnership Programme and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC).
The event, which brings together experts, emergency responders, and policymakers from ten countries across the region to strengthen coordination and regional preparedness, focuses on protecting the livelihoods of fishers and coastal communities by advancing a practical regional framework for preventing and responding to marine pollution emergencies.
The growing threat of pollution risks in seas and oceans continues to rise, driven by more frequent extreme weather events, expanding global trade, evolving maritime fuels, and posed by record-breaking container ship capacities.
During the opening ceremony, Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries Captain Hamad Bakar Hamad underscored the need for solidarity across borders, stating that “regional collaboration is essential to protect the marine environment and our coastal islands, particularly through the sharing of practical experience and lessons learned on the ground.”
Echoing this message, the Officer-in-Charge of the Indian Ocean Commission, Raj Mohabeer, emphasised the value of partnerships, noting that “working together with all organisations, and especially sharing good practices across the region, is critical to building an effective and sustainable response to marine pollution.”
While the Senior Programme Manager at the Nairobi Convention Secretariat, Timothy Andrew, has reaffirmed the Convention’s role in supporting countries, explaining that “strengthening and operationalising the emergency protocol of the Nairobi Convention is central to ensuring timely, coordinated, and effective responses to marine pollution incidents in the Western Indian Ocean.”
The event will provide fodder to participants on ways and means to strengthen collaboration in prevention, preparedness, communication, and response to marine pollution. They are expected to work toward finalising and discussing the implementation of a strategic framework designed to guide coordinated responses to large-scale incidents such as oil spills.
The Regional Contingency Plan for Preparedness and Response to Marine Pollution Incidents will subsequently be presented at the Nairobi Convention’s 12th Conference of Parties in 2026, the key forum where WIO countries take decisions on protecting their shared marine environment.
The meeting will also lay the foundation for a multi-year roadmap, sustainable funding opportunities, and inclusive contingency planning that values scientific evidence, gender equality, social inclusion, and local community knowledge.
It also represents a pivotal milestone toward the adoption of the Regional Contingency Plan and toward reinforcing regional capacity and expertise. By fostering a coordinated approach within an existing regional framework, it reaffirms the Western Indian Ocean region’s commitment to protecting marine ecosystems, safeguarding coastal livelihoods, and ensuring a healthier ocean for future generations.
