The Nairobi Convention Secretariat through the Project on the ‘Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the protection of the Western Indian Ocean from land-based sources and activities’ (WIOSAP) in partnership with the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) held the 2018 Science to Policy Forum for the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region in Durban S. Africa from the 9th to the 11th of July 2018. The Forum serves as an intermediary body to bridge the gaps between science, policy and practice and facilitates the interface between regional research agenda and priorities that could inform policy developments by member states towards a sustainable WIO region.