Minister Zokwana to attend the tour and reception to send off the research vessel Dr Fridtjof Nansen
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, Mr Senzeni Zokwana will on Friday 26 January 2018 attend the tour and reception to send off Dr Fridtjof Nansen.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is hosting the first Port call event for the Dr Fridtjof Nansen research vessel. The ceremony will take place on-board the research vessel on the 26th of January 2018 in Durban, under the theme “Supporting the application of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries management considering climate and pollution impacts". The FAO is working in close collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Norwegian Embassy.
Event Details are as follows:
Date: 26 January 2018
Time: 8h30 to 13h00
Venue: M Shed Port, Durban
Please RSVP
Ms Jamela Nkanyane
Cell: 082 346 9781
E-mail: JamelaN@daff.gov.za
Enquiries
Ms Bomikazi Molapo
Cell: 0788013711
E-mail:Bomikazim@daff.gov.za
Port call event Dr R/V Dr Fridtjof Nansen Durban South Africa 26 January 2018
Background
The new EAF-Nansen Programme “Supporting the application of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries management considering climate and pollution impacts" aims at consolidating the results of the previous phase through the continued implementation of the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) with an added focus on impacts of climate variability and change and of pollution on fish stocks and the marine ecosystem productivity and health in general. The Programme is served by a new research vessel that is at the forefront of technology, the 3rd research vessel ship to bear the name Dr Fridtjof Nansen during an ongoing 40-year partnership between FAO and Norway vessel. The vessel remains a primary tool of the EAF-Nansen Programme and continues to operate as a unique platform for knowledge generation and capacity development. Housing seven different laboratories packed with high tech equipment, the Dr. Fridtjof Nansen vessel is the only marine research ship on the globe that flies the UN flag.
The EAF-Nansen Programme is becoming one of the main references for FAO in supporting African countries in their efforts to manage fisheries and implement the principles of sustainable development. FAO’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and many international agreements highlight the benefits that could be achieved by adopting an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF). The EAF is a way to implement many of the provisions of the Code by providing direction on how to translate the economic, social and ecological policy goals and aspirations of sustainable development into operational objectives, indicators and performance measures. The EAF aims at reconcile two paradigms: conserving the structure and diversity of the ecosystems and satisfying societal and human needs for food and economic benefits through management actions.
The Programme is funded by the Government of Norway and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in close collaboration with the Norwegian Institute for Marine Research (IMR) that operates the vessel and provides scientific services to the Programme. The Government of South Africa through the Department of Agriculture, Forest and Fisheries (DAFF) and FAO signed a cooperative programme agreement for the implementation of the EAF-Nansen Programme in 2017.
Surveys with the Dr Fridtjof Nansen
The general objective of the surveys with the Dr Fridtjof Nansen research vessel is to collect data on distribution and abundance of fish stocks, biodiversity, environmental conditions, occurrence of microplastics, using cutting-edge technology and sophisticated equipment to assist developing countries assemble scientific data critical to sustainable fisheries management and to study how a changing climate is affecting our oceans. In 2018, the vessel will be operating in the Indian Ocean, off the southeast part of Africa and Bay of Bengal regions. The research survey will start on 26 January 2018 in Durban and end in Phuket, Thailand, in November 2018. Several survey legs have been planned, and detailed planning is ongoing with the scientists of the region to set the priorities for sampling programme and the analysis for the different legs. Sampling will be undertaken in relation to hydrographic conditions, plankton, egg and larvae, jellyfish, demersal, pelagic and mesopelagic resources, bottom sediment, top predators. Opportunistic sampling for pollution (microplastics and food safety) will be undertaken throughout the survey.
Objectives the event
As part of the survey programme of the research vessel, specific port call events have been organized onbord the vessel with the aim to increase awareness about ocean issues generally and to inform about the EAF-Nansen Programme and the work of the research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen.
The events also provide an excellent opportunity to flag the collaboration between the national authorities, Norway and FAO, as well as regional and international partners to generate knowledge that can help address key issues phasing the oceans today. The event in Durban on the 26th January 2018, will be the first port call event in 2018, marking the start of the collaborative research that is to be undertaken in 2018. It is expected that national and local authorities, decision makers and research scientists, as well as the partners to the Programme and other partners e.g. regional fisheries bodies will participate, as appropriate. The event aims to inform decision makers, research partners and the public at large, and an outreach component through media is envisaged.
