Evaluation Summary of the Project “Sustainable Management and Conservation of the Marine Environment in the Southwestern Indian Ocean”

Marine and coastal ecosystems are essential for coastal protection, pollution filtration, tourism, and food security for the poor coastal communities of the southwestern Indian Ocean, which rely heavily on fisheries for their survival. The numerous threats to the region’s marine and coastal environments result not only from direct activities affecting the ecosystems but also from activities in the watersheds. Further offshore, pressure is increasing with the large-scale development of oil and gas extraction. Threats related to the greenhouse effect and global climate change are also of great concern, as evidenced by the numerous episodes of severe coral bleaching that the region has experienced.