Marine Ecological connectivity and conseRvation in the Mozambique Channel – MERMOZ
Marine ecosystems are under pressure from increasing direct and indirect impacts of human activities, leading to a global decline of species and a degradation of oceans’ health. This, in turn, impacts the ability of oceans to provide the many ecosystem services essentiel to people well-being and livelihoods. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), including Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs), are the cornerstone of marine conservation strategies, with the associated goal to mainstream biodiversity conservation into sustainable management. However, many enabling conditions are often not met, jeopardizing the effectiveness of MPA and OECM networks. Amongst those, ecological connectivity (e.g., movements of juvenile and adult species) is one too rarely considered in conservation strategies, although mentioned in international targets, including the recent Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). By combining computer models with tracking and genomic data, our project, MERMOZ (Marine Ecological connectivity and conseRvation in the MOZambique Channel), will inform ongoing national strategies to help meet international conservation targets in the Southwestern Indian Ocean. In particular, we will inform conservation networks design based on improved knowledge of current and future ecological connectivity at different life history stages of various vulnerable, iconic or representative fish, turtle and seabird species in the Mozambique Channel (MC), Indian Ocean. Moreover, we will identify potential future connectivity hotspots considering climate shifts and movement of species as they track suitable climate conditions. This understanding will be complemented with socioeconomic assessments to inform on-going conservation efforts in the MC and help to promote successful socioeconomic and biodiversity outcomes of conservation, overall leading to the aspired ‘harmony between human and nature’ of the 2030 GBF.
Project coordination
RODOLPHE DEVILLERS (UMR ESPACE-DEV (Espace pour le développement))
The author of this summary is the project coordinator, who is responsible for the content of this summary. The ANR declines any responsibility as for its contents.
Partnership
ESPACE-DEV UMR ESPACE-DEV (Espace pour le développement)
SAIAB South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity
CUFR Centre universitaire de formation et de recherche de Mayotte
Université des Comores
CEDTM Centre d'Etude et de Découverte des Tortues Marines
Kélonia Kélonia
Macquarie U. Macquarie University
DFFE Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
UP University of Pretoria
IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature
InOM Oceanographic Institution of Mozambique
MARBEC UMR MARBEC (Marine Biodiversity Exploitation and Conservation)
PALOC UMR PALOC (Patrimoines locaux, Environnement, Globalisation)
CORDIO Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean
MIO UMR MIO (Institut Méditerranéen d'océanologie)
ENTROPIE ENTROPIE - Ecologie marine tropicale dans les Océans Pacifique et Indien
CEFE Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive
FIC Fire Island Conservation
OMR Observatório do Meio Rural
TAAF Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises
APNCC Agence des parcs nationaux des Comores
PNMM Parc naturel marin de Mayotte
CTV Centro Terra Viva
WIOMSA Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association
ESPACE-DEV Observation spatiale, modèle et science impliquée (ex-ESPACE pour le DEVeloppement)
Help of the ANR 791,563 euros
Beginning and duration of the scientific project:
December 2024
- 48 Months
