A 10 members’ delegation from the Seychelles is currently attending the Marine Regions Forum conference in the Western Indian Ocean, being held in Dar es Salam Tanzania from the 7^th – 9^th November 2023. The event is being organised in partnership with the Nairobi Convention Secretariat and its partners and co-hosted by the United Republic of Tanzania and The Republic of Seychelles, under the theme “Navigating Ocean Sustainability in the Western Indian Ocean and beyond”. The meeting is bringing together around 180 delegates from more than 20 countries, with a special focus on countries of the Western Indian Ocean region, and these include marine experts, policy makers, government institutions and NGO’s working with sustainable marine issues.

The primary objectives of the Marine Regions Forum encompass strengthening regional ocean governance, bridging the gap between knowledge and policy, promoting collaborative solutions to challenges impacting ocean sustainability, and fostering a global network to unite individuals from diverse backgrounds, harnessing their efforts and skills to ensure the future of our oceans.

Over the course of the three-day meeting, discussions will revolve around four key themes:

• Tackling the Triple Planetary Crisis
• Fostering a Sustainable Blue Economy
• Implementing Global Goals at the Regional Level
• Regional Ocean Governance

The 2023 Marine Regions Forum provides an invaluable opportunity for informal exchanges among scientists, policymakers, and leading stakeholders. All participants share a common goal: to drive the transformation of ocean governance through regional actions and initiatives.

The Seychelles delegation is being led by Principal Secretary for the Department of Environment, Mr. Denis Matatiken who in his opening remarks emphasised the need for the continuous collaboration within the region as a key element in addressing the many issues threatening our oceans today. This call for collaboration was also emphasized by other speakers in their opening remarks.

Other members of the delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change, Energy and Environment, Blue Economy Department, Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority, Seychelles Fishing Authority, Department of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Habitat, Infrastructure and Land Transport, Nature Seychelles and Seychelles Islands Foundation.