June, 2007
Edition
h t t p : / / w w w . g c l m e . o r go r g
ANGOLA - BENIN - CAMEROON - CONGO - CÔTE D'IVOIRE - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - EQUATORIAL GUINEA - GABON - GHANA - GUINEA - GUINEA BISSAU - LIBERIA - NIGERIA - SAO TOME & PRINCIPE - SIERRA LEONE - TOGO
HIGH LEVEL MEETING FOR THE FINALIZATION AND ADOPTION OF THE
LBA PROTOCOL FOR THE ABIDJAN CONVENTION AND STRATEGIC ACTION
PROGRAMME (SAP) 25-29 June, 2007
The week of 25-29 June, 2007 marked an important stage in
the life of the GCLME, as it was dedicated to the finalization
and adoption of the Land and Sea Based Activities (LBA)
Protocol for the Abidjan Convention and the regional Strategic
Action Programme (SAP), two key documents and indicators
of progress for the Project.
The Meeting, opened by the Minister for Local Government,
Rural Development and Environment, Ghana, Hon. Stephen
Asamoah Boateng, attracted over 50 participants including
GCLME countries' National Directors, UN agencies
The High Table at the Opening Ceremony. L-R: Dr. Anjan Datta
representatives, NGO's and consultants for the GCLME. Also
(UNEP), Prof. Babajide Alo (Chairman), Hon. Asamoah Boateng,
in attendance were representatives from three non-GCLME
Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment,
countries but parties to the Abidjan Convention.
Ghana, Prof. Chidi Ibe Executive Secretary, IGCC / Regional Direc-
tor, GCLME, Dr. Chika Ukwe (UNIDO) and Dr. Duah-Yentumi
Prof. Chidi Ibe, Executive Secretary, IGCC and Regional
(UNDP).
Director, GCLME welcomed the delegates to the IGCC
Secretariat and the workshop.
Representatives from UNIDO, UNDP and UNEP made brief
statements each commending the Executive Secretariat and
his staff for the achievements made so far. They also
reconfirmed continued support from their organizations.
In his Keynote Address, Hon. Asamoah Boateng restated
Ghana's continued support to the project and lauded the 16
GCLME member countries for their commitment to the
Project as it demonstrated their ownership of it and collective
will towards solving the trans-boundary problems confronting
their coastal and marine environment.
Prof. Alo Babajide, the chair of the meeting urged the few
countries that have not finalized their National Action Plan
During the Session, HE Okoulou-Kachati Issifou, Minister of En-
(NAP) documents to do so as a matter of urgency.
vironment, Togo called on the Meeting. He seized the opportunity
to reconfirm the full support of his Government to the GCLME
The LBA Protocol will be presented at the joint Conference
Activities. L-R: Dr. Anjan Datta (UNEP), Madam Nasséré Kaba
of Parties of the Nairobi and Abidjan Conventions in South
(Chair of the SAP Session), HE Okoulou-Kachati Issifou, Minis-
Africa September 10 - 14 for adoption while the SAP
ter of Environment, Togo, Prof. Chidi Ibe Executive Secretary, IGCC
/ Regional Director, GCLME, Dr. Abdoulaye Ndiaye (UNDP)
Document is due for signing at the Ministerial Meeting
and Dr. Chika Ukwe (UNIDO).
envisaged for October-November, 2007.
I G C C N e w s l e t t e r Page 2
June, 2007
Signing the Memorandum of Understanding for the IGCC-NGO Network Partnership
Accra, Ghana, 29 June, 2007
Mr. Vincent A. Niagme, President of
GCLME NGO Network expressed grati-
tude to the IGCC for setting up this Net-
work as a means to reach the populations,
the final and real beneficiaries of Project
outcomes.
Prof. Ibe signing the Memorandum of Un-
derstanding for the IGCC-NGO Network
Partnership. Looking on are Hon. Dugan,
Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Ghana, Mr.
Vincent A. Niagme (President GCLME NGO
Network) and Dr. Chika Ukwe (UNIDO).
More of the High Level Meeting in Pictures
Mr. Felix Ugbor Chief of Africa
Programme, UNIDO, during his visit to
Prof. Chidi Ibe, with whom he represented
Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, UNIDO DG, at the
African Union Summit. With him is Mr.
Masayoshi Mastsushita, UNIDO Repre-
sentative in Nigeria and Director of Re-
gional Office in West Africa.
Mr. Masayoshi Mastsushita bidding par-
ticipants farewell after participating in
several sessions of the Meeeting.
Dr. Bradford and Mrs Mabel Brown unveiling the
The Cocktail evening was the occasion to crown the
plaque naming the courtyard of the Executive Sec-
honouring rites. Here " Nana" Bradford Brown
retariat after Dr. Brown. They were assisted by Hon.
(middle) with (L-R) Hon. Stephen Asamoah
Asamoah Boateng, Prof. and Lady Ibe
Boateng, Mrs. Mabel Brown, Lady Chi and Prof.
Chidi Ibe, in the Courtyard named after him.
C o p y r i g h t , I G C C , 2 0 0 7
I G C C N e w s l e t t e r Page 3
June, 2007
Co-operation Between IGCC and FAO
Hon. Daniel Dugan addressing the audience
at the launching of the fish survey cruise on
Hon. Daniel Dugan, second from right, at FAO during
board the RV Fridtjof Nansen, in June, 2005.
the presentation of a new fish species, Caranx fischeri,
As part of efforts to enhance the recovery of fish stocks and
named after Dr. Fischer, a retired FAO official.
ensure fish food security for the GCLME region's over 300
·
Assistance in analyzing the time series survey data and
million people, the Interim Guinea Current Commission
propounding models for fisheries management by IGCC
seeks to enlist the support of regional and sub- regional
countries.
fisheries bodies within the region to fulfill its mandate of:
·
Collaboration with the WWF and IGCC to encourage
·
Promoting the sustainable utilization of living marine
and assist member countries to develop political will and
resources and
to harmonize the formulation of minimum terms and
·
conditions for negotiating Access/Partnership Agreements
Addressing common problems of fisheries management
to their advantage.
and development confronting member states.
Mr. Csirke reiterated FAO's sustained commitment to the
It is against this background that the Deputy Minister for
IGCC/FAO partnership for the implementation of Ecosystem
Fisheries of Ghana, Hon. Daniel Dugan, on behalf of the
based Fisheries Management in the GCLME region through
IGCC, embarked on a 6 day mission to the FAO in Rome,
the Nansen Research Surveys.
Italy from 25 to 30 May, 2007, to solicit FAO's advice and
assistance and to discuss expanded programmatic cooperation
The FAO will commit technical and scientific support to the
between the FAO and the IGCC.
IGCC and assist member countries to source for funds to
improve Fisheries Surveys and Research.
The Hon. Minister held discussions with a team of FAO
officials consisting of the Director of the Fisheries and
To enhance and expand Ghana's MCS/VMS to accommodate
Aquaculture Management Division, Mr. Jorge Csirke,
other countries in the region, the FAO will invite Ghana to
Fisheries Research Officer, Ms. Merete Tanstad and the Chief
participate in its International Plan of Action to monitor vessels
of International Institutions and Liaison Service, Mr. Ndiaga
operating in the region.
Gueye.
The FAO team advised developing nations to apply the Code
FAO's support and expertise was requested in the following
of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, as well as their national
areas:
fisheries laws, as a guide, when entering into Access/
·
Partnership Agreements.
Integrated Coastal Management towards the attainment
of IGCC's objective of restoring degraded habitats
The FAO commended the IGCC for its role in promoting the
through education on good environmental practices and
recovery and sustainability of depleted fisheries and living
training of fisher folk in alternative livelihoods.
marine resources and pledged their continued support towards
·
the management of fisheries resources in the GCLME region.
Technical assistance to the Monitoring Control and
Surveillance (MCS) Division of the Ministry of Fisheries
The IGCC salutes FAO and especially the team led by Dr.
of Ghana, to strengthen its Vessel Monitoring System
Jorge Csirke for the warm welcome accorded the Hon.
(VMS), to accommodate member countries of the IGCC.
Deputy Minister and for the enlightened discussions with him.
C o p y r i g h t , I G C C , 2 0 0 7
I G C C N e w s l e t t e r Page 4
June, 2007
Catching the "little guys" - Successful
Plankton survey forms an integral part of the GCLME project
tow of CPR in the GCLME
and is one of the Regional demonstration projects. Plankton,
the "little guys" of the oceans, form the basis of the food chain
in the oceans and without them the ocean will be as barren as
a desert. The very large whale feeds solely on plankton (called
krills or euphausiids). The importance of the regional
demonstration project on productivity is in line with assessment
of plankton as primary food source for fish and other living
marine resources.
CPR routes towed in June, 2007
A continuous plankton recorder (CPR) was successfully
deployed from the RV Fridtjof Nansen on June 2nd as part
of the annual fish trawl survey in the GCLME. The CPR
was successfully towed from Tema (Ghana) to Cote d'Ivoire
Liberia border, and later on in the month, from Benin to
Cameroon.
Mr Moses Angmortey
(CPR Technician,
Middle) preparing CPR
The CPR being deployed into the ocean to collect plankton.
cassette for deployment
Upcoming Events
·
July 2-5: The Executive Secretary, IGCC/
During the Pilot Phase of the project involving six countries,
Regional Director, GCLME, Prof. Chidi Ibe
the necessary capacity for CPR survey was developed in
will lead a Team from the US Army Corps of
the region. For this year, Mr Michael Oyebanji of NIOMR
Engineers to meet with the DG of NOSDRA
was the Plankton Expert on board during the first and second
on Regional Emergency Preparedness and oil
CPR tows. Plankton monitoring using CPR is the most cost
spill contingency planning and response. Abuja
effective method of collecting samples. The samples were
and Lagos, Nigeria.
sent to the GCLME Productivity and Biodiversity Centre
in Ghana for analysis.
·
July 8 -12 : The Executive Secretary, IGCC/
Regional Director, GCLME, Prof. Chidi Ibe will
participate in the 9th IOC - IUCN -NOOA -
UNEP Consultative Committee Meeting on
Michael Oyebanji fixing
samples after successful
Large Marine Ecosystem.
tow of CPR.
·
July 29 - August 4 : The Executive Secretary,
IGCC/Regional Director, GCLME, Prof. Chidi
Ibe will lead a Regional Team to Cape Town,
South Africa to participate in 4th International
Waters Conference.
Edited by : N a p o l e o n G b o l o n y o Layout by : J o s h u a O k e c h u k u N d u b u i s i, IT Specialist