Western Indian Ocean researchers address global change impacts

The Western Indian Ocean. Keynote presentations covered topics such as the resilience of mangroves to climate change. Excursions included a visit to Kenya’s Arabuko Sokoke indigenous forest.

I was fortunate to be selected to participate in the 7^th Scientific Symposium of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) which was held in Mombasa, Kenya. The event was attended by some 500 delegates representing more than 50 countries.

Coping with Global Change

The theme of the symposium, “Coping with Global Change”, covered the implications of changes in major drivers on the coastal and marine environment – natural, physical and biological. The objective is to bring together practitioners, academics, researchers as well as students to share knowledge, experience and solutions to the challenges experienced in the coastal and marine environment of the Western Indian Ocean.

The programme covered more than 200 oral presentations, divided into more than 30 themes. Topics included management, conservation, ecology, fisheries, genetics and oceanography.

As a physical oceanographer, I am of the opinion that physical oceanography research within the Western Indian Ocean was somewhat under-represented during the symposium. Even though 4 of the 50 sessions were set aside for oceanography, most of the presentations had a biological undertone and mainly focused on the Mozambique Channel. The field of physical oceanography was better represented in the more than 200 posters that were on display.

Six keynote presentations were delivered by invited speakers during the plenary sessions. These included David Obura from CORDIO (Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean), Katrina Brown from the University of East Anglia, David Pugh from the United Kingdom National Oceanography Centre, Ussif Rashid Sumaila from the University of British Columbia, Nyawira Muthiga from the Wildlife Conservation Society, and Stefano Cannicci from the University of Florence.

The keynote presentations covered a broad spectrum - from general topics such as Ocean science and Ocean management to more specific topics such as a coral triangle in the Western Indian Ocean and the resilience of mangroves to climate change. Organisations such as UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), WWF (World Wildlife Fund for Nature) and Birdlife International used this symposium as a platform to organise 10 special sessions in which issues such as Marine Important Bird Areas, Dugong Conservation and Marine Turtle Management could be discussed.

As a student, I was very fortunate to be able to attend and present some of my work. The research that I presented forms part of my PhD and was done in collaboration with Drs Raymond Roman, Juliet Hermes (SAEON) and Professor Chris Reason.

The Comoros Gyre

The presentation, entitled “The Comoros Gyre – from observations to modelling” focused on the Comoros gyre, an anti-cyclonic eddy located in the northern Mozambique Channel. Hydrographic data that was collected as part of the ASCLME project revealed that during the cruise much of the basin was dominated by cyclonic circulation, while anti-cyclonic circulation was observed in the extreme western part. This circulation pattern suggested a double “gyre” circulation in the Comoros Basin. The circulation in the Comoros Basin was also investigated through numerical modelling which revealed that the anti-cyclonic feature in the basin is non-stationary, recurrent and very dynamic with variable horizontal and vertical dimensions.

Even though the main focus of the symposium was to showcase the research and challenges of the Western Indian Ocean marine environment, provision was also made for socialising and networking during the opening and closing ceremonies. The closing ceremony took place at Fort Jesus, a UNESCO world heritage site, where delegates were treated to a spectacular Sound and Light show which showcased the long and turbulent history of the Fort.

On the last day of the symposium, delegates had the opportunity to explore some of the natural and historical wonders of Kenya through a number of excursions. Visits to the Tsavo East National Park, home to most of the larger mammals including the Big Five, Haller Park, a restored quarry, the Arabuko Sokoke indigenous forest, and the Mida Creek mangrove conservation project provided delegates with the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of Kenya and an overview of the conservation efforts of this country.

Delegates could also explore the cultural history of the country through visits to Old Town with historical buildings influenced by the Arabic culture, Fort Jesus built by the Portuguese in the 16^th century and the Gede historic ruins - a lost city and one of the great unknown treasures of Kenya.

Charine received funding to attend from WIOMSA, UNDP funded ASCLME project and SAEON.