Tropical coastal ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean region are under enormous pressure from increasing resource use, environmental degradation, and global climate change. This impedes
With great sadness, we share that Dr. Leonard Jones Chauka, Senior Lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam and Principial Investigator at the Institute
Knysna’s waters are facing alarming levels of pollution, posing serious risks to local ecosystems, livelihoods, and community health. A critical but often underestimated ally in
On 10 June 2025, a diverse group of experts from science, policy and civil society came together for the side event “Bridging Science, Policy and
Welcome to the 3rd episode of the 3rd season of Ocean InSight: Marine Protected Areas and Other Effective Conservation Measures: taking stock and looking ahead Our
How to improve the interface between science, policy and society to ensure that development of the ocean economy is sustainable, inclusive and needs-based? This was
Welcome to episode 2 of Ocean InSight: The value of local and indigenous knowledge for better management of the ocean. Local knowledge, indigenous knowledge and co-design
Welcome back to another season of Ocean InSight – From Science to Policy and Society: Collaboration, Impacts, Sustainability In the first episode of season three,
The MeerWissen podcast Ocean InSight features the first episode in French. This episode is hosted by Ibrahima Camara and Baye Cheikh Mbaye from Laboratory of Atmospheric
Let’s talk science! “We need collaborative science that is focused on real action”. One voice – one vision. To mark World Oceans Day 2023, a
Changes in coastlines are natural processes but the gradual disappearance of beaches has accelerated and increased dramatically in the last decades. Tunisia is receding the
An insightful discussion paper “Co-design as the basis for collaboration and science to policy uptake in the Western Indian Ocean Region” was recently published in
The selected project “Participatory Modeling for Nature-based Solutions in the WIO-Region“ (PAMO) will provide decision makers with decision support tools to facilitate the implementation of
This episode takes the 2022 UN Biodiversity conference (COP 15) in Montreal, Canada, as a starting point to ask what is changing for biodiversity conservation
How is marine science transformed through Co-Design? This was the central question participants from all disciplines of marine science and beyond addressed in our Special
Marine spatial planning (MSP) is often described as an attempt to balance the many demands we are placing on our oceans. Critics say it is
The MeerWissen Initiative – African-German Partners for Ocean Knowledge and the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) are pleased to announce
The 12th WIOMSA Scientific Symposium is coming up and MeerWissen is attending as well! Come and join us for a special session on how marine science
Blue nature-based solutions are being discussed worldwide as an innovative approach to mitigating climate change. But what exactly are nature-based solutions, and what support is
Welcome to the second season of Ocean Insight and our new episode! Have you ever wondered what ocean governance and integrated ocean management actually mean?
… at the interface of marine science and policy. One of the main pillars of the MeerWissen initiative is stimulating dialogue and the transfer of
As part of the UN Ocean Conference 2022, the UN Ocean Decade hosted its Ocean Decade Forum on 30 June 2022. The event brought together
The first ever MeerWissen Network Event took place from 8 to 11 June 2022 on the island of Zanzibar. The event was hosted by the MeerWissen Secretariat and the Western Indian Ocean
Welcome back to season 2 of our MeerWissen podcast series “Ocean InSight on marine conservation and ocean science for sustainable development”, with unique perspectives from those
What role does the Ecological Infrastructure (EI) concept play in systematic conservation planning in the coastal zone? Can the EI concept be used as a
The partnership project NAMares combines expertise in marine spatial planning and cultural ecosystem service analysis with local and ecological expertise, building on the previous collaboration
Assessing the biodiversity of eels and supporting sustainable fisheries and habitat protection: These are two of the goals of our partnership project BIOEELS in Tanzania.
As the deterioration of our ocean is increasingly posing a danger to people’s lives and livelihoods, there is a growing demand for ocean information to
Welcome back to the 9th episode and season finale of the MeerWissen podcast series “Ocean Insight on marine conservation and ocean science for sustainable development”,
Welcome back to the 8th episode of the MeerWissen podcast series “Ocean Insight on marine conservation and ocean science for sustainable development”, with unique perspectives from those on
Welcome to Ocean InSight! Today we release the 7th episode of the MeerWissen podcast series on marine conservation and ocean science for sustainable development, with unique perspectives
The MeerWissen Secretariat has recently published the first version of a guidance on “Planning and conducting co-design in collaborative marine research projects”. The co-design guidance
The MeerWissen Initiative hosted a lively Information Session on the 20th of October regarding the recently launched 3rd Call for Proposals on marine and coastal Nature-based Solutions. More than
The 5th episode of Ocean InSight has just been released. Join our guest Shannon Hampton from the International Ocean Institute (IOI) in Cape Town, South Africa
Just in time for the current UNFCCC COP26 in Glasgow, we are publishing the sixth episode of the Ocean InSight podcast. Join the hosts of OceanInSight
A new Call for Proposals focusing on marine Nature-based Solutions will be launched soon. MeerWissen supports partnerships of at least one African and one German
A new episode of the Ocean InSight podcast is officially online across the web. Join the hosts of OceanInSight Paul Tuda and Hauke Kegler to
Together with WIOMSA, the MeerWissen secretary has recently published a discussion paper on “Co-Design as the basis for collaboration and science to policy uptake in
Welcome to the third episode of the Ocean InSight podcast – a podcast series on marine conservation and ocean science for sustainable development, with unique perspectives from those on the frontlines of
Welcome to the second episode of the Ocean InSight podcast – a podcast series on marine conservation and ocean science for sustainable development, with unique perspectives from those on the
The project “Taking the Pulse of the Ocean” (PULSE) has achieved remarkable progress in a short term since its start in July 2020. PULSE works
The project “Seaweed for climate change resilient blue economies, biodiversity and ecosystem services” (CLIMALG-SN), which runs from May 2020 to April 2022, has already achieved
Welcome to Ocean InSight – a new podcast series on marine conservation and ocean science for sustainable development, with unique perspectives from those on the frontlines of
The virtual event “Co-designing solution-oriented research for sustainable development – creating guidance for research projects and partnerships” on 8 July as part of the UN
The project “CoastWise – Improving knowledge for integrated management of the land-sea interface in South Africa” was introduced on June 18 as part of a
The project “Defining socially-inclusive strategies for conserving fish functional diversity and promoting sustainable blue economy” (INDUCE) was introduced on June 10 as part of a
66 scientists, 12 projects, 7 countries – MeerWissen supports cooperation between African and German marine scientists, thus improving the knowledge available to enhance the level
The “African Penguins and the Blue Economy” (Penguins) project has taken further steps in order to establish a science-based foundation to optimize conservation policies and
During the online Western Indian Ocean (WIO) Regional Science to Policy Dialogue, organised by the Nairobi Convention in collaboration with the Western Indian Ocean Marine
The project “Seaweed for climate change resilient blue economies, biodiversity and ecosystem services” (CLIMALG-SN) was introduced on March 10 as part of a webinar series
During the hybrid Kick-Off meeting on 18 and 19 November 2020, the “Coastal Ecosystem Monitoring” (CEM_CV) project has started its’ first exchange with relevant stakeholders on
With an increasing use of coastal spaces comes a need to effectively manage those areas for a multitude of stakeholders. But how do we make
The project “West African Biodiversity under Pressure” was introduced on February 26 as part of a webinar series featuring each of the 12 MeerWissen projects.
The West African Biodiversity under Pressure (WASP) Project is making waves for science-based biodiversity conservation in Mauritania after successful talks with the British company BP
During the online Kick-Off meeting on January 20th, activities of the “Seaweed for climate change resilient blue economies, biodiversity and ecosystem services” (CLIMALG-SN) project were
The Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) in collaboration with the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI) organized a two-day workshop on Marine Biodiversity Data Digitization and Publication on
The project “African Penguins and the Blue Economy” was introduced on January 27 as part of a webinar series featuring each of the 12 MeerWissen projects.
The Fishing Data East Africa (FiDEA) project was introduced on January 15 as part of a series featuring each of the 12 MeerWissen projects to provide
COVID-19 has certainly put a damper on many of the plans for projects that we would never have expected at the start of 2020. WIOGEN
The Coastal Ecosystem Monitoring in Cabo Verde (CEM_CV) project was introduced on December 15 as part of a series featuring each of the 12 MeerWissen projects to provide
The virtual session “Co-designing the science we need for the Ocean Decade” was convened by IOC’s Sub Commission for Africa and the Adjacent Island States
A “High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy”, a unique initiative of 14 world leaders, recently released “National Accounting for the Ocean and Ocean Economy”,
The MeerWissen Initiative organized an interactive session on “Effective marine and coastal conservation in Africa through demand-driven marine research, international partnerships and improved science-policy exchange“ at
The Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association’s (WIOMSA) new report “Enhancing Science-to-Policy Uptake in the Western Indian Ocean Region” provides an overview of current thinking
The MeerWissen project “Coastal Ecosystem Monitoring in Cabo Verde” (CEM_CV) used the Cabo Verde Ocean Week 2019 to further establish a network of stakeholder contacts
WIOGEN is all about connecting people and forming a network of experts around the Western Indian Ocean region who can share experiences and generate knowledge.
The NeDiT project, as part of the GIZ-funded MeerWissen Initiative, hosted a side event at the regional consultation workshop “UN Decade of Ocean Science for
Nature Mauritanie started their “Blue Classes” for school children from 10 to 15 years old. Previously offered “Green Classes” by the NGO together with Birdlife
The kick-off workshop for the WASP project (West-African Biodiversity under Pressure) was held in February 2020 at the headquarters of the Mauritanian research institute IMROP in Nouadhibou.
The need to train fisheries scientists and managers in stock assessment methods in the Western Indian Ocean region (WIO) is one of the core objectives
As part of the WASP project, we would like to present the first episode of a three-part educational video series about the Mauritanian marine ecosystem and
In May 2019 New Digital Technologies for Marine Biodiversity Data Handling in East Africa – Data Linking People (NeDiT) held its very first inaugural project
Many coastal ecosystems worldwide are at a crossroad. The pace of environmental change is increasing, as is the rate at which we lose species in
The Western Indian Ocean Governance Exchange Network (WIOGEN) conference, co-hosted by WIOMSA, was attended by 40 delegates from South Africa, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Seychelles, Mauritius,
Project on improved fisheries data handling for sustainable fisheries management in East Africa is launched The Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research in Bremen, Germany
Under the topic of “Strengthening Marine Biodiversity Conservation in Sustainable Blue Economy Approaches” a second call for proposals was initiated in mid-2019. Out of the
Held under the theme “Achieving a healthy ocean – Regional ocean governance beyond 2020”, the first Marine Regions Forum took place from 30 September –
With a thematic focus on “Strengthening Marine Biodiversity Conservation in Sustainable Blue Economy Approaches”, we received over 15 submissions in the 2nd call for concepts.
Additional information regarding eligible organisations:Due to several queries received by the MeerWissen secretariat, we would like to clarify the following with regard to para. 3.1.
The second call for partnership projects is now open for applications! In this call, the MeerWissen Initiative seeks to support projects that contribute to Strengthening
From 1-6 July 2019 more than 400 scientists, policy-makers and practitioners are expected to gather for the 11th WIOMSA Symposium under the heading “People, Coasts
Marine and coastal resources are essential for food security and economic development, in Africa and everywhere. Still, the ocean is facing increasing threats such as