In Decision CP7/15.1, Contribution to the United Nations Regular Process, Contracting Parties to the Nairobi Convention agreed to support and actively contribute to the United Nations Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, Including Socio-economic Aspects by nominating national experts or institutions to be part of the Pool of Experts and by providing the necessary information for the process and the assessment of marine environment. Pursuant to decision CP7/15, the Secretariat contracted the Western Indian Ocean Marine Scientists Association (WIOMSA) to prepare the first Regional State of Coast Report for the Western Indian Ocean region.