From July 21 to 27, 2025, COMRED hosted seventeen individuals from Madagascar working in marine conservation. This delegation included “Ocean Defenders” – fishermen and women actively preserving ecosystems within their communities – and representatives from NGOs such as Natiora Defenders, Blue Ventures, the Velondriake Association, and WCS. They visited the Beach Management Units (BMUs) of Mkwiro, Mkunguni, Kibuyuni, Vanga, and Majoreni on Kenya’s south coast, recognised as unique models of integrated community governance.
This visit, part of the Indian Ocean Commission’s RECOS project Peer-to-peer exchange program, allowed the Malagasy participants to discover a unique community governance model in the region that fosters sustainable economic activities. Through field visits and discussions with community representatives from the various BMUs, several key themes were explored in depth.
Participants gained valuable insights into the development of beekeeping in mangroves, the processing, monitoring, and enhancement of fishery products, and the valuation of blue carbon from mangroves and seagrass beds. This regional operation provided a key opportunity to support the successful implementation of the RECOS project’s pilot sites in Madagascar with participants from WCS MaMaBay, and Blue Ventures planning to replicate certain approaches and best practices. Beyond capacity building, this visit strengthened ties between stakeholders in the southwest Indian Ocean region regarding the sustainable management of marine resources.