Report of the EAF REGIONAL TASK GROUP MEETING AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY WORKSHOP (SOUTH WEST INDIAN OCEAN)

The first meeting of the South West Indian Ocean EAF Regional Task Group (RTG) was held in Mombasa, Kenya, from 27 to 30 January 2009, together with an ecological risk assessment methodology workshop. It was attended by 20 partic ipants from the South West Indian Ocean (SWIO) countries, the South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Project (SWIOFP), the Agulhas and Somali Currents Large Marine Ecosystems (ASCLME) project, the Scientific Committee of the South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)/Nairobi Convention Implementation Unit, the African Union Commission and FAO. The RTG is an implementation structure under the EAF-Nansen project GCP/INT/003/NOR and serves as the forum for training in ecological risk assessment that is the methodology used for the identification and prioritization of issues requiring management attention. The main objectives of the meeting and workshop we re to discuss and facilitate key processes and activities for the implementation of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management in the South West Indian Ocean region including the modalities for the formation and functioning of the RTG and National Task Groups (NTGs). It was explained that, to be able to achieve the objectives of implementing an ecosystem approach to fisheries at the national level, certain key structures have to be in place including the NTG with representatives of key stakeholders in a given fishery and that would take the lead in the process. An overview of the key concepts and process of the ecological risk assessment methodology were clarified. Participants were also introduced to the preparation of EAF baseline reports to be used as initial input for the work on ecosystems approach to fisheries. It was explained that the preparation of the report is to be led by national and regional experts and overseen by the NTG. For the exercises the participants worked in three subgroups formed during the meeting with each group selecting a chairman who moderate d the discussions and a rapporteur. The participants expressed satisfaction with the development of a communication strategy for the project and especially with the participatory approach used.

FAO, NORAD, Institute of Marine Research

Published

National task groups

Regional task groups

Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries