Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO) was initiated in 1999 as a direct response to the El-Niño related mass bleaching and mortality of corals in the Indian Ocean in 1998, focusing initially on Eastern Africa, Western Indian Ocean Islands and South Asia. Since the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 the programme also covers the Andaman Sea, and from 2007 has started work in the Red Sea.

The objectives of CORDIO are to:

• sustain research on coastal and ocean ecosystems relevant to conserving and sustaining ecosystem function, goods and services;

• strengthen social and economic assessment and research for integrated coastal management processes;

• improve the livelihoods and well-being of coastal populations;

• improve policies and the use of scientific and technical information in local to national and regional policy;

• foster networking and integration of science, management and policy; and,

• build capacity and partnerships to meet these objectives.