Bridging Science and Management in the Western Indian Ocean

摘要

Since 1989 Sida/SAREC has been in the forefront in supporting capacity building in marine sciences in the Western Indian Ocean region. When the Sida/SAREC Bilateral Marine Science Programme between Sweden and Tanzania and the Sida/SAREC East Africa Regional Marine Science Programmes started, there were very few marine scientists in the region, with the majority being fisheries biologists. Now, the number of marine scientists with MSc and PhD degrees has increased significantly and, more importantly, a cadre of competent local scientists of international repute has been established. These programs have also been very effective in strengthening multidisciplinary approaches and regional cooperation and networking. Furthermore, they have had a significant impact in promoting a dialogue between policy makers, the scientific community, stakeholders and NGOs as well as public awareness of marine science and coastal resource management. For the continued success of the Sida/SAREC Bilateral Marine Science Programme and the Marine Science for Management Programme (MASMA) (which replaced the Regional Marine Science Programme) and to sustain research development in the region, it is of vast importance that results and ideas are communicated to an international audience. Researchers and postgraduate students involved in the projects are producing material with high scientific standards, but due to the local situation, few reach out to the broader scientific community. Accessible scientific information of a high standard is also a necessity to successfully manage the coastal and marine environment. It is for these reasons, our programs recognize the importance of investing time and resources in publishing results in a top-level journal such as Ambio.