The European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) launched the €60.5 million Sustainable Western Indian Ocean Programme (SWIOP) on 18 June 2026 during the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya. The programme aims to strengthen ocean governance, catalyse sustainable blue economy investment and enhance marine ecosystems resilience across nine countries in the Western Indian Ocean region.
SWIOP is the EU's flagship initiative under the Global Gateway strategy for advancing ocean governance and sustainable blue economy development. Funded by the EU (€58 million) and co-funded by BMZ (€2.5 million), the five-year programme will be implemented across Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia and Tanzania. Implementing partners include the Nairobi Convention, European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), GIZ and Expertise France.
The programme addresses critical challenges in the region, where over 60 million people depend on coastal and marine ecosystems for food and livelihoods. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing costs the region more than €214 million annually, depleting fish stocks and depriving coastal communities of income. Additionally, fewer than one-third of small and medium enterprises can access formal finance, hindering the growth of sustainable blue businesses.
European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis said: "This programme embodies the spirit of Global Gateway: a partnership of equals that turns common challenges into shared opportunities. By strengthening ocean governance, supporting sustainable fisheries and catalysing investment, we are helping unlock the potential of the Western Indian Ocean while protecting its ecosystems for generations to come."
Andreas Schaumayer, Head of Department for Food Security and Fisheries at BMZ, highlighted Germany's contribution: "SWIOP reflects a shared regional ambition to strengthen cooperation in the sustainable management of marine and coastal resources while advancing an inclusive blue economy. Through the Team Europe approach, Germany and the European Union are supporting food security, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and healthy marine ecosystems."
Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hassan Ali Joho, welcomed the initiative, stressing that regional cooperation is essential: "No country can realise the full potential of the blue economy in isolation. Ocean ecosystems and maritime trade flows do not stop at national borders. Fish stocks migrate, currents carry pollutants across coastlines, ports are linked by shipping routes, and climate impacts are regional in scale."
The programme is expected to benefit coastal communities and enterprises by unlocking investment in sustainable blue economy sectors, while improving fisheries governance and ecosystem resilience. For EU and German taxpayers, the €60.5 million investment represents a targeted contribution to international development and ocean governance priorities. The programme may also create new compliance and operational frameworks for fishing industries and maritime businesses operating in the region, potentially increasing costs for those engaged in unsustainable practices while opening opportunities for sustainable enterprises.