IOWC Speaker Series: Raffaele Maddaluno, "Oceanic Dispossessions in the Comoros: Ecological Claims, Economic Aspirations, and Imaginaries along the Routes to a Blue Future"

Raffaele Maddaluno (La Sapienza University of Rome)

This paper explores oceanic dispossessions in the Comoros, examining how ecological claims, economic aspirations, and future imaginaries intersect in shaping the region's maritime space. It delves into the impacts of marine conservation efforts, and blue economy initiatives on local communities, highlighting the tensions between global economic interests and the livelihoods of artisanal fishers. By tracing the historical and contemporary routes to a "blue future," this study reveals how environmental governance and economic development policies have led to dispossession and contestation, enabling state institutions to reassert control over customary practices of managing coastal and maritime spaces. These findings offer critical insights into the complexities of ocean governance in the Indian Ocean region.

Light refreshments served.