The WIO BRUVs Network Workshop, held at Pwani University in Kilifi, Kenya, from 21 to 24 July 2026, strengthened NRF-SAIAB’s role in advancing collaborative marine biodiversity research across the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). Co-hosted by Pwani University and NRF-SAIAB’s Marine Remote Imagery Platform (MaRIP), in collaboration with CORDIO East Africa, the workshop brought together 28 participants from the region’s marine research community. Through knowledge sharing and hands-on training in stereo-BRUVs and deep-sea lander technology, NRF-SAIAB shared its expertise in visual observation research while strengthening technical partnerships and identifying opportunities for joint research, training and capacity development.
A key outcome for NRF-SAIAB was the proposed establishment of a formal WIO regional research network, with participants supporting a governance model that could see the network’s secretariat hosted at NRF-SAIAB. This positions the Institute as a potential regional hub for coordination, knowledge exchange and capacity development in visual observation research. The practical field component also demonstrated the value of NRF-SAIAB’s expertise and technology, with participants gaining hands-on experience and collecting the first-ever deep-water stereo-video observations from this part of the Kenyan coast. The workshop therefore strengthened NRF-SAIAB’s regional partnerships, expanded opportunities for collaborative research and reinforced its position as a leader in marine biodiversity monitoring and visual observation research.
