Indian Ocean Marine Science

The Indian Ocean is the least scientifically known and understood, the least protected, the fastest warming, and the most exploited Ocean.

By collaborating with communities around the world, gathering data and performing vital research, we protect and restore healthy marine ecosystems so people and wildlife can thrive together. 

The Indian Ocean basin provides an important ocean observatory where scientists can investigate complex marine ecosystems across a gradient of human influence from heavily populated coastal cities to remote, no-take Marine Protected Areas.

The Bertarelli Foundation supports our Marine Science programme, which is managed by ZSL. We work with universities and NGOs across the Indian Ocean region, and research partners in Europe, North America and Australia, to increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and develop and transfer marine technology. The programme funds and is proactively recruiting early-career scientists and students from within the Indian Ocean region.

What is the impact?

Examples of the impact of our projects include: 

• Our cutting-edge research has generated 175 peer-reviewed papers from 2017-2023. Our papers are open access and our open-access data helps to inform improved management outcomes across the region.
   
• Our focus on capacity building has trained 23 postgraduate students since 2017, with a current focus on students from the Indian Ocean region.
   
• Our research has demonstrated the link between rat-free islands with intact native vegetation, healthy seabird populations and the resilience that confers on adjacent coral reefs through nutrient flow. This body of science has informed and motivated plans for re-wilding tropical islands, as a vital conservation action to restore biodiversity and build resilience for vulnerable ecosystems in a rapidly changing climate.

Our 2023 Annual Impact Report is available to read here.

ZSL & the Bertarelli Foundation – The Marine Science Programme

Since 2017, ZSL has worked with the Bertarelli Foundation to deliver the Marine Science programme. The programme is advancing our understanding of large marine protected areas (MPAs) so they can be better managed. The primary focus of this research is the Indian Ocean, with highly collaborative and interdisciplinary projects led by some of the world’s leading marine scientists pushing the boundaries of their fields.

We are exploring approaches that improve communication of marine science to different audiences, increasing regional opportunities and access to marine science. This currently includes the Webby Award winning podcast series ‘Ocean Matters’, webinars, policy events and a regional training course for environmental journalists from the Indian Ocean region. 

The programme is an official action of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

Find out more

Operations & Development

The team at ZSL manages the Marine Science programme, coordinating 96 scientists across 24 institutions and 9 countries globally. We provide communications and operational support for the projects through our team of four in Conservation and Policy. ZSL also has scientists working on research projects across the Marine Science programme. 

Partners

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