Mauritius Joins COP12 Nairobi Convention Talks in Tanzania

Mauritius is participating in a landmark regional ocean governance summit this week, with Junior Minister Fabrice David leading the national delegation to the 12th Conference of the Parties (COP12) of the Nairobi Convention, held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from 6 to 9 October. **What is the Nairobi Convention?** The Nairobi Convention — formally known as the Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Western Indian Ocean — is a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) regional treaty that brings together ten coastal nations of the south-western Indian Ocean. Member states include Mauritius, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, Somalia, and France (on behalf of its Indian Ocean territories). The convention serves as the primary legal and policy framework for protecting shared marine ecosystems, managing coastal resources, and combating pollution across the region. **Why COP12 is significant** This year's conference carries special weight: it marks the 40th anniversary of the Nairobi Convention, a milestone reflected in the summit's theme — *"Towards Sustainable Blue Economy in the Western Indian Ocean Region for People and Nature: A Journey of Forty Years."* Delegates are gathering to review progress made under the convention, address emerging threats to the region's oceans, and set new priorities for sustainable blue economy development. Fabrice David, who holds the portfolio of Junior Minister for Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy, and Fisheries, is representing Mauritius at the highest level for this gathering. The conference was officially opened by Hamad M. Y. Masauni, Tanzania's Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President (Union and Environment). A key address was also delivered by Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, UN Under-Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of UNEP, who urged delegates to strengthen their collective commitment to sustainable ocean management. **What this means for Mauritius** As a small island state whose economy, fisheries sector, and tourism industry are deeply tied to the health of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius has a direct stake in the outcomes of this summit. The blue economy — encompassing fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport, and ocean-based tourism — is a growing pillar of Mauritius's economic strategy, and agreements reached at COP12 could shape national policy on marine conservation, fishing regulations, and coastal development for years to come. The presence of a ministerial-level delegate signals Mauritius's commitment to playing an active role in shaping the region's ocean governance agenda as the convention enters its fifth decade. Source: ION News