About Us

The Western Indian Ocean Certification of Marine Protected Area Professionals (WIO-COMPAS) Programme is a joint initiative of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) and the Coastal Resources Center (CRC) at the University of Rhode Island (URI).

WIOMSA and CRC, with collaboration of its partners, have been working together in capacity development activities in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region for more than a decade.

Experience and Value of the WIOMSA and CRC Partnership:

• Global and regional recognition as leaders in sustainable and integrated coastal management (ICM), one expression of which is marine protected areas
• Capacity building experience in MPAs and ICM
• Networks of practitioners, policy makers and academics across WIO region and internationally

Most exciting is that it is partners in the region—from government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, universities, and the private sector—who have shaped the Programme to the needs of the place.

This unique offering combines the best of stand-alone training courses, professional development seminars, practicum, mentoring, continuing education and networking in a new approach to closing the capacity gap in effective MPA management.

Join us in this exciting new approach to building capacity for effective management of our region’s MPAs!