Linking marine science, traditional knowledge and cultural perceptions of the sea in the Mozambique Channel to build tomorrow’s marine management using spatial simulation tools and educational game (MOZALINK)
Key Words
Country Covered
Marine Spatial Planning, Mozambique Channel, Traditional Knowledge, Ecological Connectivity, Participatory Tools, Education, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Capacity Building, Fisheries Management
Kenya and Tanzania
Lead Institution
Project Duration
October 2013 – September 2017
Abstract
The MOZALINK 2014-2017 project aimed to develop analysis and solutions to support transparent, sustainable, and science-based marine spatial planning (MSP) practices in the Western Indian Ocean. The Mozambique Channel area includes 90 million inhabitants distributed in five countries: Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, Mayotte, and Tanzania. Geopolitical fragmentation and socio-economic heterogeneity across the region are the main challenges for regional marine spatial planning. The project explored the links existing between 1) scientific products and models describing ecosystems species and ecological connectivity and 2) anthropological surveys of traditional knowledge, social perceptions and management. MOZALINK involved eighteen senior researchers, two post-docs, two research assistants, and a dozen MSc students, thus contributing to building regional capacities. Bringing decision-makers, stakeholders and scientists to work together in teams is a challenge. We made teamwork happen in MOZALINK through the development of boundary products that required interdisciplinary collaboration. The main output of the project are 1) an on-line spatial data infrastructure (MASPAWIO) and a participatory geodesign tool (Seasketch), 2) an educational toolkit designed to play around the co-management of marine resources, personalized to the Mozambique Channel countries languages (MARECO), 3) a roadmap toward MSP in the region taking into account geopolitical issues and 4) a 52 mn documentary to share the project results with the public. MOZALINK was funded by the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association through its Marine and Coastal Science for Management programme (2014-2017, US $400.000). Each country was represented in the project by a co-investigator.
Project Objective
Project Activities
• 1) To develop a spatially explicit understanding of marine connectivity patterns, ecosystem state, and their vulnerability to drivers of change in the Mozambique Channel.
2) To study the natural and cultural marine heritage in the Mozambique Channel, i.e. marine and coastal resources, peoples’ movements, governance regimes and perceptions by different groups of actors, at local and regional levels.
3) To share knowledge and perceptions of natural and cultural marine heritage between different groups of actors, and identify harmony/discordance among these.
4) To build capacity for improved marine management through interdisciplinary collaboration, training and exchanges around spatial simulation tools and pedagogical games related to the management of the sea.
5) To foster the incorporation of perceptions of natural and cultural heritage into marine governance regimes in the Mozambique Channel at local and regional levels.
• Conducting anthropological surveys to document traditional knowledge and social perceptions related to marine ecosystems.
• Developing boundary products for interdisciplinary collaboration, including:
o An online spatial data infrastructure (MASPAWIO).
o A participatory geodesign tool (Seasketch).
o An educational toolkit (MARECO) for co-management of marine resources.
• Producing a roadmap for MSP while addressing geopolitical issues.
Creating a 52-minute documentary to share project outcomes with the public
Study Sites
Project Total Budget
$ 400,000.00