South West Indian Ocean Tuna Forum -Swiotuna

A big thank you to everyone who participated in today’s webinar in collaboration with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Your engagement and insights made the session truly valuable.

We hope the information shared will be useful in your ongoing efforts toward sustainable tuna fisheries. We look forward to continuing this important conversation and working together to promote sustainability in our marine environments.

Stay tuned for more updates and future events!

SWIOTUNA recently participated in a regional workshop aimed at setting up a Marine Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) learning network to build coastal community capacity at scale. The workshop was held in Diani, Kwale County, Kenya from the 16th to 19th July 2024 and brought together conservation practioners and relevant training institutions from different countries in the SWIO. SWIOTUNA volunteered to be part of the the steering team, be a lead organization in reaching out and connecting the network with communities as well as identifying their capacity needs.

Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), CORDIO East Africa, Maliasili zetu, WWF Madagascar

The Global Small Scale Fisheries summit 2024 held in Rome, Italy from the 5th to 7th July gathered over 300 stakeholders working with small scale fisheries around the world.
This critical event provided a platform for SSF actors to engage, coordinate, facilitate and inform the integration of small scale fishers views in relevant policy process at the global, regional and national level. During the 3 days the participants celebrated the 10 year anniversary of the SSF guidelines and discussed on collectively working towards the implementation of the guidelines.
SWIOTUNA was proudly represented by its member organization Community Action for Nature Conservation

SWIOTUNA extends warm congratulations to all the representatives of the Small scale fisheries organizations, NGOs, CSOs, academia, governments and organizers for the wonderful and key event of the year to celebrate and recognize the small scale fishers in the world🌍🌟


Global Network for Small-Scale FisheriesFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)Tuna Fisheries Alliance of Kenya

The Africa Regional Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) Summit, held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from the 5th-7th June 2024 concluded with commitments to amplify SSF voices, integrate global guidelines locally, and foster inclusive blue economy strategies for sustainable development.
Held ahead of the Global SSF Summit in Rome, Italy, this summit focused on integrating African perspectives into global agendas, emphasizing policy frameworks, sustainable practices, and economic empowerment.
With over 350 participants from more than 30 African countries, the summit united stakeholders to tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities facing SSF communities.

"There is a need to set up sector policies to address Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities that are putting at risk sustainable economic growth and undermining coastal community livelihoods and threatening food security"
Read about this exciting article on "Fast-tracking blue economy policy to burn tide against illegal fishing"
Community Action for Nature Conservation Tuna Fisheries Alliance of Kenya

People Daily People Daily - Tuesday, June 18, 2024 Issue No. - 08081

Join the conversation on breaking barriers in Kenya's fisheries entrepreneurship! 🌊🐟

Leading the Tide: Mercy Mghanga Breaking Barriers in Kenya's Fisheries' Entrepreneurship By Mercy Mumbua Fishing has long been considered a male-centric industry, with many considering it unfriendly to women. Fishing is a multi-billio...

SWIOTUNA team participated in the 28th Session of the IOTC held in Bangkok from 13th -17th May 2024. 11 conservation and management measures were adopted by the Commission.
It's disappointing to note that the proposal regarding yellowfin tuna was not adopted,
The highlight of the meeting was a cocktail event that was hosted by SWIOTUNA on IUU fisheries. It was well attended by heads of delegations, the Executive Secretary, fellow observers, and other distinguished guests. The cocktail provided an opportunity for interaction and networking among the delegates and raised the profile of the network.
WWF-Kenya WWF-Tanzania Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature Grants Programme - OCEAN Fisheries Transparency Initiative Coalition Nationale de Plaidoyer Environnemental - Madagascar Tuna Fisheries Alliance of Kenya - TuFAK Ourbluefuture Nairobi Convention

📢📢 Call for Consultancy.

We are looking for a Consultant to develop communication policy for SWIOTUNA.

🔗 Application Link: https://swiotuuna.org/home/careers

CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITY❗️📢
SWIOTUNA is looking for a expert with the requisite skills that include a strong understanding and experience of the work of NGOs and processes and resource mobilization and fundraising processes.
The consultant will play a vital role in developing a short, medium, and long-term roadmap and strategies for SWIOTUNA to secure diverse sources of funding at local, national, and global levels. 🌍

If you have the skills and experience to undertake this task please apply through this link: https://swiotuuna.org/home/careers

Learn about Madagascar's crucial steps towards improving Fisheries Transparency.
https://news.mongabay.com/2024/03/madagascar-takes-key-step-toward-improving-transparency-of-its-fisheries/
MAHATANTE Tsimanaoraty Paubert Fisheries Transparency Initiative

Madagascar takes key step toward improving transparency of its fisheries ANTANANARIVO — Madagascar recently released its first fisheries transparency report, part of an effort to open up, democratize, and improve the sustainability of its fisheries sector. The report is a key step in a process defined by the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI), a Seychelles-based ...

The sixth session of the United Nations Environmental Assembly has officially kicked off today at Nairobi, Kenya. It is the World’s highest level decision making body for matters related to environment. will focus on using multilateralism to help tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution and waste.
SWIOTUNA looks forward to participating in a number of side events that are providing a unique opportunity to share experiences, find solutions and inspire partnerships towards tackling climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

UN Environment Programme

Consultancy Opportunity ❗️

We have extended our deadlines for applications to February 29th, 2024. To submit your application, please click on the following link:
https://swiotuuna.org/home/careers to access the terms of reference.

www.swiotuna.org

CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITY❗️,

We are looking for an organization development expert to assess our effectiveness, strengths, weaknesses, processes and procedures. The consultant will deliver actionable recommendations to enhance our performance.

Click the link to apply: https://swiotuuna.org/home/careers

www.swiotuna.org

🌊 Dive into this feature article recently published in the peoples daily newspaper, shedding light on the SWIOTUNA training workshop held from December 4th to 6th, 2023, in Mombasa, Kenya! The event focused on boosting awareness and capacity among Non-State Actors within the Blue Economy sector in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. . 🐟✨

Enhancing awareness, capacity for fisheries non-State actors Enhancing awareness, capacity for fisheries non-State actors

SWIOTUNA conducted a training workshop titled "Enhancing Awareness and Capacity for Non-State Actors in Regional and International Instruments for the Blue Economy Sector in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) Region." The workshop was held at the Bliss Resort Hotel in Mombasa, Kenya from December 4th to 6th, 2023.
The primary goal of the workshop was to increase the knowledge, awareness, and capabilities of non-state actors concerning regional and international instruments governing the sustainable blue economy sector, encompassing fisheries within the West Indian Ocean
The workshop was attended by 46 participants, including the private sector actors, civil society organizations (CSOs), fishers and fish traders drawn from Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles and Comoros*; two experts/consultants , one representative from the Government of Kenya and one representative from Jumuia Ya Pwani (Coastal Counties Blue Economy Federation). The experts delivered technical insights and expertise on various facets pertinent to to the topics and themes of regional and international policy instruments.
At the end of the workshop participants increased their understanding and knowledge on the relevant regional and international legal and policy instruments and how this instruments can be impactful in bringing about improved ocean governance and accelerating the transition to inclusive sustainable blue economy in the SWIO region.
Tuna Fisheries Alliance of Kenya Tuna Fisheries Alliance of Kenya - TuFAK Fpaoi Pêcheurs Artisans Community Action for Nature Conservation

"Happy ! Today, we celebrate the small-scale fishers for their crucial role in our communities and their sustainable practices that nourish us while safeguarding our oceans. 🎣🌊

SWIOTUNA recently participated in the 2023 , from 7th -9th November at the Ramada Resort Hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The overarching theme of the conference was "Navigating Ocean Sustainability in the WIO and Beyond." The three-day conference provided an invaluable platform for leading scientists, decision-makers, and stakeholders to convene and foster informal exchanges. The primary objective was to catalyze the transformation of ocean governance through regional actions and initiatives, ultimately aiming to develop innovative solutions for sustainable ocean governance.
The Marine Regions Forum 2023 addressed specific issues through plenary and workshop sessions, brought together by three daily themes – Inclusivity, Innovation, and Implementation.
During the forum, SWIOTUNA had the honor of co-chairing a session alongside Dominic Stucker from the Collective Leadership Institute. The session focused on the critical topic of inclusivity within regional ocean governance, particularly within the Regional Ocean Governance Systems (ROGS). Participants engaged in sharing their experiences concerning stakeholder engagement and reflected deeply on strategies to ensure the active inclusion of underrepresented groups, such as local communities, women, youth, and small-scale fishers, in advancing the implementation of ROGS.
This collaboration and dialogue aimed to pave the way for more inclusive and effective strategies in ocean governance, acknowledging the importance of diverse perspectives and participation for sustainable and equitable outcomes.
SWIOTUNA remains committed to advancing these critical discussions and contributing to the development of inclusive and comprehensive ocean governance frameworks.

Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) WWF Madagascar WWF South Africa Ourbluefuture Nairobi Convention Western Indian Ocean Marine Protected Areas Management Network - WIOMPAN UN Ocean Decade

SWIOTUNA was invited by WWF Mozambique to participate in an Environmental and Social Safeguards training workshop held from the 17th to the 19th of October 2023 at Lugar dor Mar Hotel in Macaneta, Mozambique. The primary goal of this training was to develop ESSF focal points across the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO) region. The training covered on the following topics, including introductions to safeguards, the different types of safeguards, stakeholder analysis and engagement, mitigation planning and risk analysis, grievance mechanisms, monitoring and evaluation.

The workshop was facilitated by both national and regional experts from WWF who provided technical input and valuable insights on the various aspects related to the topics and themes of ESSF.
The workshop saw the participation of 32 individuals from WWF (Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar, South Africa) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operating in the SWIO region.

At the end of the workshop, participants expressed their sincere appreciation for the training, acknowledging that it significantly enhanced their knowledge and capacity concerning environmental and social safeguards. They also conveyed their commitment to using the knowledge gained to serve as focal points in their respective areas of work.

WWF-Kenya WWF-Tanzania WWF South Africa WWF Mozambique WWF Madagascar Coalition Nationale de Plaidoyer Environnemental - Madagascar Tuna Fisheries Alliance of Kenya - TuFAK

A lesson learning tour in Kenya was recently conducted by the South West Indian Ocean Tuna Platform (SWIOTUNA) with support from WWF and Our Blue Future.

The tour focused on inclusive sustainable blue economy solutions for managing coastal resources and ecosystems.🌴

Opportunities for scaling up a sustainable blue economy in the South West Indian Ocean (SWIO) range countries were also highlighted in the learning.🌍

Read more on 👉https://wp.me/aRl2s-Z5T

WWF-Kenya in collaboration with SWIOTUNA, undertook a training workshop on from the 26th to 28th September 2023 at the Travelers Beach Hotel Mombasa. The main objective of the training was to increase the participants understanding on the system of , envision a goal for the blue economy and access to financial resources to improve the blue economy sector.
The training was facilitated by a national expert from WWF who provided the technical input and insight on the various aspects related to the topics and themes of SBE.
The workshop was attended by 37 participants from the government, CSOs, small-scale fisherfolks, BMUs, private sector and media.
At the end of the workshop each participant left with a strengthened understanding of the Sustainable Blue economy. They mentioned that not only did the training enhance their understanding but also ignited a vision for sustainable Blue economy. They also emphasized the critical need for improved access to financial resources to boost the Blue economy sector.
They all agreed to disseminate this knowledge and insight to the grassroots communities so as to empower these communities with the tools and awareness needed to participate actively in the sustainable Blue economy journey.


Tuna Fisheries Alliance of Kenya - TuFAK, Kenya Fisheries Service K24 TV Radio Citizen FM Community Action for Nature Conservation BlueVenture TPA-TRaining

Happy to have been part of this interactive and informative workshop 🙂

WWF in collaboration with South West Indian Ocean Tuna Forum -Swiotuna conducted a Regional training workshop on Marine Fisheries and from 15th-18th August 2023 at Madinat Al Bahr Hotel in Zanzibar Tanzania. The workshop was attended by 40 participants from Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Madagascar and Comoros
The workshop provided a platform to increase our knowledge and skills on the role of CSOs in advocacy, the different advocacy strategy, techniques and tactics, build our confidence in collaborations and partnerships, and understand Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Knowledge Management systems, processes and principles.
The workshop was delivered in a unique way with members being actively engaged in group work discussions, presentations, storytelling, role playing, surveys and Q&A sessions.
At the end of the workshop the Country CSOs and Regional CSO SWIOTUNA managed to develop an advocacy template that will be used progressively to address issues of SBE and IUU in the region


Tuna Fisheries Alliance of Kenya - TuFAK WWF-Kenya WWF-Tanzania WWF Madagascar WWF Mozambique Coalition Nationale de Plaidoyer Environnemental - Madagascar

Read here✅ an article about SWIOTUNAs Learning tour on sustainable small scale fisheries and Marine conservation in the coastal area of Kenya.
https://www.thecoast.co.ke/2023/08/22/new-hope-for-tuna-fisheries-as-government-invests-in-value-addition/49/45/business-news/thecoast/5987/20/

Ourbluefuture

New Hope For Tuna Fisheries As Government Invests in Value Addition - The Coast Media Group By Mazera Ndurya  Email, [email protected] Poor fishing gear, lack of stable market, huge post-harvest losses...

A visit to the Kenya Tropical sea life limited a in Kikambala, Mombasa county that has been licensed by the Kenya government to raise and export marine species including ornamental fish, sharks and Rays in compliance with the national and international policy and legal framework.
The company deploys to culture the animals.

South West Indian Ocean Tuna Forum -Swiotuna visited the Crabs Alive at the Kenya Crab Farm, Che Shale Kilifi County.
It is Kenya’s first crab farm that has deployed innovative technologies in . The farm has a holding capacity of over 5000 crabs. They have set up a hatchery with a capacity of 10, 000 crablets at any given time. On average, 1kg of crab costs about US$ 15. The farm has started a program involving 5 groups of crab farmers. This is a pilot program to encourage crab farming. Crab Alive is to supply crablets to farmers who will in turn sell the mature crabs to the company.
Tuna Fisheries Alliance of Kenya - TuFAK Coalition Nationale de Plaidoyer Environnemental - Madagascar WWF Madagascar WWF-Kenya Ourbluefuture

Happening today🔈🕘; Do not forget to join South West Indian Ocean Tuna Forum -Swiotuna and WWF today from 12:45 EAT where we shall be discussing the various contours of WTO agreement and tapping opportunities available that can lead to improved national as well as regional governance frameworks and the establishment of sustainable fisheries management measures tailored to the unique characteristics of the SWIO region.
The link to the meeting is; https://wwf.zoom.us/j/99836696296?pwd=Nll1Q3hMWENqZjh2a2twend5RTkrQT09

Looking forward to seeing you there

World Trade Organization - WTO WWF-Kenya WWF Madagascar WWF-Tanzania WWF-Pakistan Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Ourbluefuture Tuna Fisheries Alliance of Kenya - TuFAK Coalition Nationale de Plaidoyer Environnemental - Madagascar Community Action for Nature Conservation