Tourism, Rejoice Mabudafhasi, Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association
(WIOMSA)
22 October 2007
Programme Director
Julius Francis, Course Leader
Dixon Waruinge, Nairobi Convention Secretariat
Professor Rudy van Der Elst, Director for Oceanographic Research Institute
(ORIâSA)
Peter Scheren, WIO-Lab Project Manager
Delegates from the East African Region countries under the Nairobi
Convention
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Last year on 16 September and 2 October, I was in this same city where we
have embarked on the beach cleaning and officiated the training of Leaders in
Marine Environment respectively. It is a year now that we are back in the same
city to embrace the Fifth Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association
(WIOMSA) Scientific Symposium.
Today's event marks and reflects the commitment by all parties within the
eastern African region to exchange information, support the marine research
from the research grants offered, build the capacity of the marine scientists
and coastal management practitioners while promoting the policy dialogues on
key topics and policy implications.
Forums of this nature in the WIO region should be platforms of exchanging
ideas, experiences, and scientific advancement on coastal and marine issues. It
is encouraging to note that our West African region countries are part of this
symposium for the first time. It is in this spirit of oneness that as we come
together we shall remind each other about the challenges faced by our continent
in reaching the millennium goals.
The scientific events such as this one should be aimed at developing
methodologies, answers, solutions, and giving directions to the policy makers
on how to alleviate poverty, create jobs, and feed the nation without
extinction of our most valuable marine resources. In today's world, we cannot
ignore the level of demand for scientific knowledge while faced with challenges
such as climate change, social dynamics in resource management, capacity
building within the marine and coastal environment with particular emphasis on
developing young scientists and management of marine protected areas, of which
WIOMSA should be appreciated for leading and taking charge in networking within
the region while taping from the broader international arena.
Programme director, ladies and gentlemen, the theme of your symposium is
'fostering cooperation in the management protection and development of the
coastal and marine environment in the Western Indian Ocean region.' This can
never be achieved unless there is full commitment from all governments,
businesses, academic institutions and other research and related institutions
to form partnerships while involving communities and putting together policies
to regulate and enforce good governance.
This symposium should be viewed as a vehicle to move towards improving your
overall proficiency and being able to identify blockages and constraints to
effective performance in your work environment thereby developing credible
interventions. In conclusion, I am delighted to also inform you that in two
weeks time from today, i.e. 5 to 8 November 2007 I shall meet again with most
of you and your principals at the joint Conference of Parties for the Abidjan
and Nairobi Conventions in Johannesburg - Gauteng province.
Thank you
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
22 October 2007
