NEWS & ARTICLES
WHATS HAPPENING ACROSS THE WIO REGION
Follow the stories, voices, and milestones shaping our ocean from coastal communities and grassroots action to regional advocacy and the global stage.
Latest Articles
In-depth features, community voices, and campaign stories from across the Western Indian Ocean. Written in the spirit of this campaign, close to the water, close to the people.
Kenya Marine Mammal Network
Along Kenya's coastline, a growing network of scientists, fishers, tourism operators, conservationists, and local communities is transforming the way marine mammals are studied and protected. The Kenya Marine Mammal Network (KMMN) has created an innovative citizen science platform that enables anyone who encounters dolphins, whales, or dugongs to contribute valuable data to marine conservation efforts. Since its establishment, the network has grown to more than 200 contributors and recorded over 2,100 marine mammal sightings, dramatically expanding knowledge of Kenya's marine biodiversity. Through simple reporting tools, community members help document species, identify emerging threats, and support rapid responses to stranded or injured animals. Beyond research, the network is creating opportunities for coastal communities through sustainable marine tourism, environmental education, and youth engagement. The data generated by citizen scientists has contributed to important conservation outcomes, including the identification of critical marine mammal habitats and the establishment of internationally recognised marine conservation areas. In an era of rapid environmental change, the Kenya Marine Mammal Network demonstrates the power of collective action, proving that effective conservation begins when communities become active participants in protecting the ocean they depend on.
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Between the Waves and the Shore: A Lifeguard’s Perspective on Ocean Safety and Community Along Kenya’s Coast
At sunrise along the beaches of Kwale County, the ocean appears calm and inviting. Tourists stroll across the sand, fishermen prepare their boats, and children race toward the waves. Yet beneath that beauty lies an environment that demands knowledge, awareness, and respect. For Tabitha "Tasha" Wangui Kariuki, a lifeguard and swim instructor with Kwale Water Rescue, protecting lives goes far beyond responding to emergencies. It means educating communities about ocean safety, safeguarding fragile marine ecosystems, and helping people understand the risks hidden beneath the surface. From dangerous rip currents and changing tides to coral reef conservation and Kenya's growing drowning crisis, Tasha's work reveals the deep connection between public safety and environmental stewardship. Along the coast, every rescue, every swimming lesson, and every conversation about ocean awareness contributes to a larger mission: building safer relationships between people and the sea. As Tasha often says, "People protect what they understand." Protecting the ocean, she believes, is ultimately inseparable from protecting people.
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Groovin’ with the Mangroves: Kilifi’s Community-Led Restoration Drive and the Road Ahead.
Along the salty creeks of Kilifi County, a quiet transformation is taking root. Over the past five years, LEAF Kenya and local communities have planted more than 1.1 million mangroves across Kilifi Creek, Takaungu Creek, Mtwapa Creek and the Sabaki Estuary, achieving an impressive 80% survival rate. But this story is about more than trees. It is about restoring fisheries, protecting coastal communities from rising seas, creating sustainable livelihoods, and building climate resilience from the ground up. Every surviving mangrove represents a partnership between local families, women's groups, youth associations and conservationists working together to safeguard Kenya's coastal heritage. Through our Groovin' with the Mangroves initiative, we are proving that successful restoration is rooted in community ownership. Now, we are ready for the next chapter: restoring an additional 450,000 mangroves, expanding community nurseries, and empowering hundreds more coastal residents to become stewards of their environment. Because when a mangrove survives its third year, it becomes more than a tree. It becomes a symbol of resilience, hope and a shared commitment to a thriving future for people and nature.
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Official announcements from EAWLS, WIO-C, and Oceans 5. Formal statements, partnership news, and organisational updates for media, partners, and stakeholders.
event updates
What happened, what was said, and what it means. Short dispatches from OOC sessions and WIO-C side events.
MARINE LIFE SPECIAL SWARA EDITION
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