Effective maritime domain awareness in the Western Indian Ocean

Better knowledge can prevent threats and inform maritime operations and policies.

Accurate knowledge of maritime activities is vital for maritime security and the development of the blue economy. Although international donors have provided significant assistance, there are still no reliable regional maritime domain awareness structures in the Western Indian Ocean. This policy brief reviews current activities to identify opportunities through low-tech solutions, human resources and collaboration for improvement of maritime domain awareness in the region.

About the author

Christian Bueger is Professor of International Relations at Cardiff University and Honorary Fellow
at the University of Seychelles. He is the principal investigator of SAFE SEAS, funded by the British Academy (www.safeseas.net). He is also the lead investigator of the Lessons Learned Project of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (www.lessonsfrompiracy.net).

Picture: U.S. Navy