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STEWARDS OF THE COASTLINE 2025 - STATE OF COASTAL COMMUNITY-MANAGED AREAS IN THE SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN

The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) is at a turning point. This region—one of the world’s great marine biodiversity hotspots—is home to over 60 million people whose livelihoods, cultures, and well-being are deeply tied to the health of its coastal and ocean ecosystems. Yet the importance of these ecosystems translates into mounting pressure. Climate change, overexploitation, and coastal and offshore development are accelerating ecosystem degradation, increasing risks for both nature and people.

The consensus is increasingly clear among scientists, communities, and other knowledge holders: without decisive action, the WIO’s coral reefs, mangroves, seagrasses, and fisheries face an uncertain future. But there is also cause for hope. Across the region, community-led conservation demonstrates that when power is returned to local people, and they are supported to manage their marine resources, they can drive positive change. Community-managed areas (CMAs) have become a vital part of the region’s response to growing environmental threats, providing a pathway to more sustainable and equitable ocean stewardship.

The Stewards of the Coastline report presents the first regional assessment of community governance in the Southwest Indian Ocean. Based on data from 52 sites across five countries, this report highlights the strengths and challenges of community-led marine governance, revealing both inspiring successes and critical areas for improvement. It provides a clear roadmap for action, outlining the steps that governments, NGOs, and funders must take to ensure that communities have the rights, resources, and support needed to play their part in safeguarding shared ecosystems and sustaining their livelihoods.

This report is also a testament to what is possible when we work together. Drawing on the knowledge of coastal communities, scientists, and conservation practitioners from across the region, it builds a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities in community-led marine governance. It also demonstrates the power of collaboration—when local expertise, science, and policy come together, we can find practical solutions that strengthen coastal ecosystems and support the people who depend on them.

Now is the time to act. With the climate, biodiversity, and other crises intensifying, we cannot afford to lose momentum. The future of the WIO will be shaped by the choices made today—choices about how governance and support are transformed to strengthen local governance, to ensure that marine ecosystems and coastal communities can thrive for generations to come.
 

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Stewards of the coastline

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