Great Blue Wall National Steering Committee Convenes in Moheli and Inaugurates a Training Centre to Strengthen Coastal and Ocean Resilience as part of the ReSea Project

Hosted under the leadership of the Ministry of Environment in charge of Tourism, the meeting provides a platform to review progress achieved since the establishment of the NSC in January 2025 and to align national priorities with ongoing GBW-supported initiatives, including IslandPlas, ReSea, BBNJ, and WIOCOR. 

The meeting strengthens coordination and shared ownership of Great Blue Wall implementation in the Union of the Comoros by bringing together government institutions, technical partners, and community leaders to advance governance, nature-based solutions, gender-responsive blue economy approaches, and regional collaboration. Discussions focus on priority actions for 2026 while showcasing progress across GBW-aligned initiatives, including IslandPlas , ReSea, BBNJ, and WIOCOR. A key highlight of the programme is the inauguration of a fisheries training and skills centre in Moheli, supporting local capacity building in fisheries value addition, entrepreneurship, and community-based coastal stewardship, while reinforcing the importance of coordinated action to strengthen long-term coastal and ocean resilience. 

A major milestone of the programme was the inauguration of a fisheries training and skills centre in Mbatse Village, Moheli, established through the ReSea Project with support from Global Affairs Canada as a long-term investment in coastal livelihoods and ocean resilience. The centre will serve as a practical hub for capacity building, equipping youth, women, and small-scale fishery actors with skills in fisheries value addition, entrepreneurship, sustainable resource management, and community stewardship. Beyond training, the facility creates space for knowledge exchange and locally driven solutions, reinforcing the role of communities in strengthening coastal resilience and protecting marine ecosystems. 

"This gathering in Moheli Islands marks a turning point. With the new training centre in Mbatse village and strong national coordination, we are building lasting coastal resilience — from the ground up, with communities at the heart. This community training centre is a tree of knowledge and skills that we are planting today, from which we hope to reap valuable fruits for our local communities. " Says Said Ahamada, Coastal and Ocean Resilience Interim Programme Manager IUCN Comoros. Comoros is demonstrating strong leadership in advancing the Great Blue Wall vision, turning national coordination into tangible action on the ground in Moheli. Through the collective impact of IUCN-supported initiatives such as ReSea, IslandPlas, BBNJ, and WIOCOR, we are seeing how regional collaboration can translate into real investments in coastal resilience, skills development, decision making and ecosystem value and restoration. we are seeing how regional collaboration can translate into real investments in coastal resilience, including the inauguration of the fisheries training and skills centre in Mbatse Village with support from ReSea project, which strengthens local capacity, livelihoods, and community stewardship This is a clear example of how the Western Indian Ocean is moving from ambition to implementation, with communities at the centre of ocean solutions – Added Denise Nicolau, The Regional Manager, Coastal and Ocean Ecosystems, IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office. 

The meeting is expected to strengthen alignment among institutions involved in GBW implementation and support an agreed roadmap for coordinated action in the coming year. 

Through this process, the Union of the Comoros continues to position itself as a key factor in advancing ocean resilience, marine governance, and locally driven solutions across the Western Indian Ocean. 

About the Great Blue Wall 

The Great Blue Wall is an African - born initiative and global south led movement working to conserve and restore marine and coastal ecosystems through nature-based solution approaches while supporting sustainable and climate resilience across the Western Indian Ocean and beyond. The initiative aims to strengthen interconnected marine and coastal areas and unlock the potential of a regenerative blue economy. 

About IUCN 

IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. 

Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards. 

IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples’ organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development. 

Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being. 

www.iucn.org   

About the ReSea Project 

The Regenerative Seascapes for People, Climate and Nature (ReSea) Project is a four‑year initiative (2023–2027) funded by the Government of Canada through the Partnering for Climate program. Implemented in five African countries, ReSea works with local communities, civil society, and government partners to restore marine ecosystems, build climate resilience, and create sustainable blue economy opportunities, with a strong focus on gender equality and social inclusion. 

Media Contact 

ReSea Project 

Audrey Masitsa 

Communication and Advocacy Coordinator 

Mission inclusion 

[email protected]  

Ghaamid Hatibu 
Regional Ocean Communications Officer  

IUCN ESARO 

[email protected]