S
I O F
P
OUTH WEST NDIAN
CEAN
ISHERIES
ROGRAMME
(SWIOFP)
NEWSFLASH 4: SEPTEMBER 2003

An occasional newsletter to update




member
s of SW
IOFP o
n curre
nt








develo
pments.

















The first of the Theme Working Groups is the Science Plan Group, which
held its workshop in Cape Town recently. Plans for the others themes
are being finalised. SWIOFP continues to attract attention and is
developing linkages with numerous other initiatives in the region.

Administration
· Project administration has further improved with the appointment of Ms Paula Boane.
In addition to providing support with day-to-day activities of SWIOFP, she also assist
with logistic and travel arrangements for the various meetings and workshops.

Programme development
Good news is that the first of three Theme Working Groups was held in Cape Town
from 26 to 28 August 2003. Hosted by South Africa's Marine and Coastal
Management (MCM), this workshop was designed to develop an overall Science Plan
for SWIOFP. Although this was never considered to be an easy task, a Science Plan
Framework was indeed developed.

The meeting was opened by Dr. Monde Mayekiso, the Chief Director of MCM. He
confirmed South Africa's support for SWIOFP, especially in the light of NEPAD, the
Nairobi Convention and other regional initiatives.

Dr Johan Groeneveld (who is the SA focal point), supported by Christina Cicognani,
ensured the excellent and smooth running of the workshop. This was despite
considerable problems experienced by several delegates in obtaining South African
visas. In the end, there was country representation from Kenya, Tanzania,
Mozambique, Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles and South Africa. Unfortunately, the
Madagascar delegation was not able to secure visas, nor did the French delegation
participate. There were also a number of other experts, including a team from the
UNDP Large Marine Ecosystem programme, the FAO, the coelacanth project and the
Benguela Large Marine Ecosystem Programme (BCLME).

Although a full record of the meeting will soon be made available, a few select
highlights can be noted.

1. Each country presented their approach to the Science Plan, including their specific
needs and expectations from SWIOFP. These needs were tentatively scored in terms of
priority.

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2. There was considerable discussion around the final definition of the study area and the
overall Vision. Some amendments will be presented to the Plenary SWIOFP meeting
in Maputo during December 2003.
3. While tuna had initially been excluded from SWIOFP because of the good progress
with the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), it was agreed that this matter could
be reviewed, based on the ecological role of tuna and the opinion of IOTC.
4. It was noted that GEF support is normally quite specifically directed at regional and
trans-boundary issues and not at solving individual countries' problems.
5. There is a priority task of defining areas of data needs based on regional requirements
and country priorities. This should focus the understanding of fisheries with a view to
their sustainable management.
6. Existing information and data will need to be identified and evaluated.
7. This should be followed by a strategic gap analysis.
8. Accordingly, a data-collecting programme will need to be developed.

It was clear that many of the countries had similar needs, largely centred on the desire to
define fishery opportunities in their EEZ without the necessary capacity to do so or to
manage possible future resource use. In particular, there was a lack of understanding of
the dynamics of EEZ waters, which would impede any management approach. For this
reason there was strong support for the UNDP led initiative in the LME programme. It
was agreed that the two programmes should collaborate very closely, and in so doing
develop a synergistic approach to protecting the ecosystems of the WIO.
The following steps are to follow the Science Plan Workshop.

Activity
Responsibility
Date
Minutes of Science Plan workshop
MCM
10 Sept.
Minutes circulated
MCM
12 Sept
Draft Science Plan Framework (SPF)-
MCM
1 Oct.
circulated
Comments on SFP
All
15 Oct
2nd Draft of SFP circulated
MCM
25 Oct.
Present SPF to plenary
MCM/secretariat
10-12 Dec:
Maputo


Programme Progress
The overall programme has been considerably advanced. Following discussion on the next
two themes, it was agreed that there would have to be some changes in timing, with the
Kenyan Data Management group preceding the Tanzanian Operations and Procurement,
group, as reflected in the table of activities.

Table of Activities

INTERIM PROGRESS


Task
Action
Status
Deadline
Secretarial support.
Appoint
Achieved
-
Science Plan workshop
Workshop in Cape
Achieved
-
Town- MCM
Data Management
KMFRI- Mombasa
Needs final plan
8-9 October
workshop
Procurement Workshop
TAFIRI- Dar es
Needs final plan
1st week

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Salaam
November
Plenary SWIOFP meeting Arrange and prepare
Underway
8-9 Dec. Maputo
Create basic SWIOFP
Design and host,
Underway
Delayed to end
Website
Compile content- send
Sept. 2003
out for review
Interface with other WIO
Document other
Ongoing: contact
Ongoing
programmes, including
programmes;
with IOTC.
LME
circulate- establish
links.
Final project vision
Compile draft;
Basic framework
End December
document submitted to
circulate
being designed
2003
GEF


Events and activities
The third biophysical research cruise by the South African research ship the RV Algoa, has
been completed. A number of the SWIOFP counties participated and valuable information
was collected. Much of this will be of potential value to SWIOFP.

Who is on the list?
We are eager to engage widespread collaboration between SWIOFP and others. If you know
of any person or institution that would welcome receiving this newsflash please let the
secretariat have their details.
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Ana Paula Baloi
Instituto Nacional de Investigação Pesqueira (IIP)
SWIOFP coordinator
Maputo, Mozambique
Tel: + 258 1 490536 / 490307 / 499963
Fax + 258 1 492112
Email: swiofp@moziip.org

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