Growing up near Lake Victoria, in Kenya, Dr Arthur Tuda had little to do with the huge freshwater body. The distant sea was even more out of mind.

“The nearest ocean was over 900km from my childhood home, requiring a two-day bus ride to reach it,” he says.

Which is why Tuda’s career has really been a case of marine science choosing him, rather than the other way around.

University places were few for dentistry and health sciences, his preferred fields of study. And on leaving school, Tuda recalls, he was funnelled into fisheries studies.

Leading grassland ecologist, Prof William Bond, will discuss the future of grassy ecosystems and how they will differ under different climate settings, depending on changing disturbance regimes and global change impacts on plant growth rates, including direct CO₂ effects. This will also include insights into mechanisms, models and ecological drivers which will inform these vegetation changes. Irene Mhlanga, will then challenge the perception that wildlife resources, though traditionally viewed as inputs rather than assets, should receive increased investment. She will further demonstrate their economic contributions that exists through the huge potential in tourism, wildlife ranching, fisheries and aquaculture, amongst others.

Happily the young man soon got his teeth into the subject.

“Sometimes, if you don’t get what you like… you start liking what you get,” he said.

Go-getter

Today, as executive director of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), Tuda plays a crucial role in advancing marine research across a region that spans Somalia to South Africa and includes the island states of the Indian Ocean.

His work highlights both the richness of the ocean and the urgent need to invest more in marine science – an area that remains sorely underfunded. Tuda will present at the Oppenheimer Research Conference in Midrand, Gauteng, from 9 to 11 October. His topic: “Developing Regional Capacity for Marine Research in the Western Indian Ocean”.

As an authority on fisheries, marine protected areas and governance, Tuda is concerned that as little as 0.1% of national budgets on the continent go to better understanding our oceans and marine life. And much of that was for the administration costs of organisations involved in marine research, not the research work itself.

With all the priorities facing governments, this was understandable, but a pity given the increasing interest in Africa in extracting value from the “blue economy” and talk of “harnessing the potential of their oceans”, said Tuda.

Spearheading research

WIOMSA is one of the few organisations in Africa significantly investing in marine research, making it a notable player on the continent. Its funding priorities include marine science research grants, capacity building and training, marine conservation and management, climate change mitigation, fisheries management and sustainable livelihoods.

Tuda applauds initiatives that provide young marine scientists with opportunities for hands-on, practical research. This includes projects like the Ocean Stewards programme run by the South African non-profit, Wild Oceans.

In addition to career guidance, the programme offers essential field experience on marine research projects aboard the research vessel, RV Angra Pequena. In the process, participants get to learn how to operate cutting-edge tools like Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVS) and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) — underwater robots equipped with cameras and sensors that are controlled from the surface for safe exploration.

Controversy

In a pre-conference interview, Tuda stressed the risks of overlooking the ocean’s potential, especially as we face challenges like overfishing and climate change. He emphasised that effective marine research is essential for sustainable development and should be a priority for policymakers.

However, there is a troubling disconnect between science and policy, with politicians and the public often failing to understand the significance of scientific assessments, such as fish stock evaluations.

A recent controversy in Kenya illustrates the point.

Political figures criticised the government for spending Kenyan Shillings 1.6-billion on fish stock assessments, trivialising the effort as merely “counting fish”.

Superficial media coverage fueled public ridicule on social media, undermining the importance of this vital research.

Challenges

What does he see as the most pressing challenges to ocean governance and marine life in the region?

Tuda flagged the discord between the policies and regulations of different countries and the reality that marine ecosystems spanned boundaries.

“The national borders we draw are merely lines on a map, but marine wildlife doesn’t acknowledge these divisions. What we truly need is to find a way to collaborate across borders and where possible harmonise the conflicting laws,” he said.

Understanding local people’s interaction with the ocean and implementing relevant policies was also vital.

Unchecked exploitation

Many still saw the ocean as an endless resource. They believed it could bear the weight of unchecked exploitation – fishing without limits and dumping waste into what some imagine were “self-cleaning” waters, said Tuda.

Overcoming this mindset posed a challenge for ocean management efforts.

People overlooked the connection between their actions and ocean health. But the truth was, with human populations on the rise, pressure on marine resources was mounting. Overfishing, pollution, and climate change were becoming increasingly urgent threats.

Sharpened focus

Yet, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

The concept of the “blue economy”, which focuses on sustainably harnessing ocean resources, has sparked interest in marine conservation and management. It can open doors for investment in innovative technologies that promote sustainable resource extraction and reduce pollution.

As we navigate ocean governance challenges, it was vital for the Western Indian Ocean region and Africa as a whole to sharpen its focus on research that leads to tangible solutions, said Tuda. The ocean should be safeguarded, not by restricting access, but by ensuring its sustainable use for generations to come.

Tuda said WIOMSA was determined to increase knowledge about our oceans through science, education, advocacy and empowering early-career scientists, which is his true passion.

He cites the creation of WIOMSA’s marine research grant programme as among the association’s most significant achievements.

The grants encourage regional research across disciplines, while building the capacity of young scientists to venture into ocean science.

“Now, many of the beneficiaries of these grants are respected scientists in the region and globally,” he reflected.

“When we started, the number of marine scientists was very small. This has changed in the last two decades. For example, at the 12^th WIOMSA symposium [two years ago], we had more than 900 scientists presenting their scientific work and nearly 60% of these were early-career scientists.”

“My greatest joy is motivating others to create the same love for the ocean. It’s a journey of discovery – every day is full of surprises.”

This story was produced with assistance from Jive Media Africa – Science communication partner to Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation.