S
I O F
P
OUTH WEST NDIAN
CEAN
ISHERIES
ROGRAMME
(SWIOFP)
NEWSFLASH 3: AUGUST 2003



A
n occasi onal ne wslette
r to upd ate








member
s of SW
IOFP o
n curre
nt





developments.














There continues to be good progress with the development of SWIOFP as
several of the Theme Working Groups have now finalised plans to hold their
workshops. The products of these Theme Workshops will be collated into the
overall GEF proposal.

Administration
· The SWIOFP secretary has been appointed. She is Ms Paula Boane. We all welcome
her to the programme. She is contactable via swiofp@moziip.org or
pboane@moziip.org
· A Maputo-based company has been appointed to develop the SWIOFP web site. This
should be up and running by the end of August.

Programme development
The first three of the Theme Working Groups are now being developed. The first is the
Science Plan group that is being hosted by South Africa. Dr. Johan Groeneveld from
MCM is the focal point for this and he has already finalised arrangements for the
workshop to be held in Cape Town from 26 to 28 August 2003. In addition to the
member country experts, it was decided that representation from Mauritius and
Seychelles would considerably enhance the workshop. There will also be a number of
other experts present and some have offered to critically review the final plan. Without
an agreed and sound Science Plan SWIOFP cannot proceed.

A second Theme Working Groups is that of Operations and Procurement, which is
being spearheaded by Tanzania and hosted by TAFIRI. This task will pave the way for
streamlining the operational activities relating to the data collecting surveys, including
the complex issues of procurement of vessels, etc.

The third Theme Working Group being planned concerns that of Information and
Data Management. Hosted by KMFRI in Kenya, this task involves the development of
approaches to data capture, processing, sharing of data and associated technical
capacity.

The Legal Working Group, to be hosted by France, remains to be developed following
a change in focal point appointment.

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Programme Progress
An update of programme progress is tabulated below, reflecting status of tasks and an update
of several deadlines.

Task
Action
Status
Deadline
Secretarial support.
Appoint
Achieved
-

Three main theme working Finalise
plans
and All
three
well All completed by
group activities
budgets for working advanced.
end November 2003
groups;
Science Plan workshop
Workshop
in
Cape Plans finalised for Plan complete by
Town - MCM
26-28 August 2003
end September 2003

Create
basic
SWIOFP Design and host,
Web
Company By end August 2003
Website
Compile content - send selected. Draft of
out for review
content designed

Interface with other WIO Document
other Part complete - e.g. By end July 2003
programmes,
including programmes; circulate - French
WIO and ongoing.
LME
establish links.
initiative

Maputo
Workshop
for Preparation.
Being planned
1st
week
of
presentation and discussion
December 2003.
of the outputs of the
Working Groups.



Events and activities
The South African research ship the RV Algoa, recently undertook a comprehensive scientific
survey to several regions of the SWIOFP study area in collaboration with member countries.
Although the initial primary focus of this cruise revolved around the biophysical features
associated with coelacanths, it was possible to include a range of sampling and survey
activities of direct benefit to SWIOFP. More about this cruise in later newsflashes.

Contact us!
We have received encouraging response to the newsletters and numerous inquiries from
different institutions. We urge you to contact us at the SWIOFP secretariat with ideas, advice
and comment. This programme remains one of the finest opportunities our collective countries
will have to ensure long-term sustainable development of the West Indian Ocean.


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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