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IOCINCWIO-IV/3S
Paris, 29 May 1997
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INTERGOVERNMENTAL
OCEANOGRAPHIC
(of UNESCO)
COMMISSION
Nineteenth Session of the Assembly
Paris, 2-18 July 1997
EXECUTIVE S UMMARY OF THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE IOC REGIONAL
COMMITTEE
FOR THE CO-OPERATIVE
INVESTIGATION
IN THE NORTH AND
CENTRAL WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN (IOCINCWIO-IV)
AND RELATED DRAFT
RESOLUTION
Mombasa, Kenya, 6- 10 May 1997
IOCINCWIO-IV/3S
The IOC RegionalCommitteefor the Co-operativeInvestigation in the North and Central Western
Indian Ocean (IOCINCWIO) held its Fourth Sessionin Mombasa,Kenya between 6 and 10 May 1997.
IOCINCWIO-IV was organized back to back with the ‘First WIOMSA Scientific Symposium’
which was held in Mombasa,Kenya on 2 and 3 May 1997.
The Fourth Sessionwas attendedby over 70 participantsincluding representativesfrom Member
States(Comores,France,Germany,Kenya, Madagascar,Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles,Tanzania),
organizations and projects (Commissionde I’OcCanIndien, CommonwealthScienceCouncil, UN-ECA,
IGBP-LOICZ, KBP, UNEP, UNESCO, WIOMSA, WMO) and severalobservers.
During this Sessiona wide rangeof topics covering all aspectsof marine scienceswere discussed.
The RegionalCommitteenotedthe wide rangeof activitiesandthe implementationof the agreedprogramme
of the Third Sessionof the RegionalCommitteewhich constitutedan exampleof regional capacitybuilding.
The Regional Committee expressedappreciationto donors supportingthe programme, in particular Sida
(SAEEC) of Sweden.
OCEAN DYNAMICS AND CLIMATE (ODC)
With regard to Ocean Dynamics and Climate (ODC) the Regional Committee requestedthat a
Group of Expertson ODC be establishedin order to addressthe analysisand interpretationof data collected
in the region for global programmessuch as JGOFS, TOGA and WOCE.
OCEAN SCIENCES IN RELATION TO LIVING RESOURCES (OSLR)
The Regional Committee recommendedthat a regional programmefor the monitoring of marine
algae (including harmful algae) be developedand called attention to the need for assessingthe unknown
impact of harmful algae on human health including awarenesscampaignsfor the benefit of the coastal
communities in particular.
The RegionalCommittee decidedthat a biodiversity databaseshould be developedfor the region
throughjoint action of the Committee. Emphasizingthe importanceof fisheriesto the Member Statesthe
RegionalCommittee concludedthat ecosystemmanagementmethodologiesshould be applied to fisheries,
and that IOC programmescould contributeto this effect. The Regional Committee noted with appreciation
UNEP’s ‘EasternA&an Coastaland Marine Environment ResourcesDatabaseand Atlas Project’which
hasbeenimplementedin Kenya and Tanzania,and requestedthat it be expandedboth geographically- to
the entire region - and subjectwise to include coral reefs and mangroves.
The RegionalCommittee recommendedthat the Mascaxene
Plateaube identified as a Large Marine
Ecosystem(LME) being of great importance to the region as a highly productive area. The Regional
Committee welcomed the planned ‘Shoals of Capricorn’expeditionwhich would visit the region in 1998
and lookedforward to activeparticipationby IOCINCWIO scientistsin this and other researchexpeditions..
The Regional Committee adopted Resolution IOClNCWTW~/P:
OCEAN MAPPING (IBCWIO)
The Regional Committee was informed that the sheetAssembly diagram for the IBCWIO now
consistsof a nehvorkof 2 1 sheets,and that the plotting sheets,togetherwith the collected depth figures (on
CD-ROM) were to be distributedbefore the end of May 1997.The next Sessionof the Editorial Board for
10cxNcw104v/3s
PW 2
IBCWIO is planned for September/October1997.
The Regional Committee adopted Resolution IOCINCWiO-IV/f.
OCEAN SCIENCE IN RELATION TO NON-LIVING RESOURCES
The RegionalCommittee stressedthe importanceof the study of shorelinechange in general,and
of coastal erosion in particular, as a pre-requisite of Integrated Coastal Zone Management(ICZM).
The RegionalCommitteewas informedthat the draft of the Manual ‘Guidelines for Coastal Erosion
Assessment,Monitoring and Managementin the West Indian Region’is to be circulated in the region in
June 1997. The Regional Committee recommendedthat a workshop be organized, late 1997, to clarify,
finalize, and adopt the Manual, and to agree upon the implementation of the common methodology in
selectedpilot study sites.
MARINE POLLUTION
With regardto marinepollutionthe RegionalCommitteerecommendedthat monitoring programmes
of nutrientsand coastalwater quality, including heavy metals,pesticideresidues,hydrocarbonsand marine
debrisshould be implemented,but that theseprogrammesshould be precededby a baselinestudy of 6- 12
months. The RegionalCommittee recommendedthe organizationof a symposiumon marine debris in the
region in 1997.
GLOBAL OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEM (GOOS)
In order to better ensure full participation of the region in the Global Ocean Observing System
(GOOS), the RegionalCommittee decidedto organizea GOOS awarenessworkshop, and stressedthe need
for ongoing oceanographicprojects to feed their data into GOOS.
GLOBAL SEA-LEVEL OBSERVING SYSTEM (GLOSS)
The Regional Committee stressedthe importance of the Global Sea-Level Observing System
(GLOSS) and adopted a project proposal involving the installation of additional sea level stationsas well
as a comprehensivestation maintenanceprogramme.
INTERNATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE (IODE)
In orderto strengthenthe nationaldata managementcapabilities,and to ensurefull involvement of
nationalinstitutionsin the IODE programme,the Regional Committee adoptedthe ODINEA (Ocean Data
and Information Network for the IOCINCWIO region) projectproposal.This project will develop a regional
co-operativestructure linking national oceanographicdata centres,ensureaccessof scientiststo data sets
locatedwithin as well as outsidethe region,disseminatedataproductsfor the benefit of scientistsand policy
makers, and establishexchangeof data and information within the IODE framework.
The RegionalCommittee welcomed the continuing support by Belgium of the RECOSCIX-WI0
network but recommendedthat the project be strengthenedand supportedbeyond 1999.
IOCINCWIO-IV/3S
page 3
CAPACITY BUILDING - TEMA
With regardto capacitybuilding the Regional Committee thankedthe various donors and agencies
for the support provided. The Regional Committee also noted with appreciation the establishmentby
Belgium of the ECOMAMA (EcologicalMarine Management)course.The Regional Committee recognized
the bilinguality of the region and recommendedthat this should be built into the capacity building
programmes.
The Regional Committee noted with appreciationthe developmentof the Western Indian Ocean
Marine ScienceAssociation(WIOMSA) which was made possiblethanks to financial support by SAREC
of Sidathroughthe IOC. Recognizingthe importanceof sustainingthe use and conservationof the marine
resourcesof the WesternIndian Oceanregion,WIOMSA is activelyparticipating in the building of marine
science and technological capability of the WI0 region by focussing on the following activities: (i)
improvingcommunicationamongthe scientific community of WI0 states;(ii) assistingin the development
of institutionallinkageswithin the region; (iii) defining and developingresearchinto problems which may
requirea nationaland/or regional approachto their solution; (iv) identifying workable mechanismsfor the
coordination of marinescienceresearchand developmentwithin the region; (v) strengtheningthe awareness
of marine sciencesresearchand its importancein the developmentand managementof the marine sector
of IOCINCWIO states;(vi) fostering the linkage between policy/management,scienceand.stakeholders
(community,NGOs, and privatesectors);and (vii) developmentand managementof marine researchgrant
programme.
The Regional Committee recalledthe endorsement,during IOCINCWIO-III, of WIOMSA as a
tool which can enhancethe developmentof marinesciencein the region, and commendedWIOMSA for the
establishmentof its Marine ResearchGrants (MARG) which supportedover 20 marine scientistsin the
regionsince 1995. The Regional Committee invited the IOC, Member States,international organizations
and donors to actively support WIOMSA, and especially its MARG programme.
The Regional Committee! adopted Resoiution LOCINCWGW2.
CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER BODIES, PROGRAMME S, DONOR AGENCIES AND REGIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS
Discussing co-operationwith other bodies,the Regional Committee noted with appreciationthe
existingclosecollaboration between IOC and severalinternational organizationsand donors, but stressed
the needfor continuedand intensifiedcollaborationin order to avoid duplication and to ensureoptimum use
of limited resources.In this regard it was suggestedto develop close links between the IOCINCWIO
Officers and the Regional Co-ordinating Unit of the Nairobi Convention (RCU/EAF), establishedin
Seychelles.
The RegionalCommitteealsonotedwith appreciationthe increasedcollaboration betweenIOC and
WMO, encouragedco-operationwith, amongstothers, the Indian OceanCommission,the Commonwealth
Secretariat and with the AUPELF-UREF (Association des Universites pour 1’Ensignementen Langue
Francaise).
1998 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE OCEAN
In order to ensureactive participation in the 1998 International Year of the Ocean the Regional
CommitteeinvitedMember Statesin the region to identify national focal points with the task of setting up
a nationalcommitteeto co-ordinatethe eventstaking placeat the national level. It was further recommended
IOCINCWIO-IV/3
page 4
S
to develop public awarenessand educationcampaigns,and to participate in the PACSICOM Conference
(Mozambique, 1998).
PROGRAMME OF WORK 1997-2001
The RegionalCommittee adopted a comprehensiveand detailed five year (1997-2001) work plan
with a budget of approximately US$ 3,000,OOO.Recognizingthat this exceedsthe financial resourcesof
the IOC, the Regional Committee invited Member Statesas well as other international organizationsand
donors to provide support for the implementationof the work plan.
The Regional Committee adopted Recommendation IOClNCWGIv.2
The Regional Committee elected Dr. Ezekiel Okemwa (Kenya) as its Chairman, and Dr. Jean
Maharavo (Madagascar) for the next intersessionalperiod. It was further decided to organize the next
Sessionin 200 1. Madagascaroffered to host that Session.
IOCINCWIO-IV/3S
Annex I
ANNEX 1
Draft Resolution IOC-XIX-...
FOURTH SESSION OF THE IOC REGIONAL COMMITTEE
FOR THE CO-OPERATIVE INVESTIGATION
IN THE NORTH AND CENTRAL
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN (IOCINCWIO-IV)
The IOC Assembly,
Recalling the successfulimplementation of the IOCINCWIO-III Programme of Work during the past
intersessionalperiod 1992-1997,
Noting with satisfaction that a considerableamount of training activities have been carried out, and
thanking the various donors, and agenciesfor their financial and in-kind assistance,
Noting the results of UNCED and the importanceof its follow-up at the national and regional level,
Noting further the 1998 International Year of the Ocean and its objectives to create awarenessand to
obtain commitments from governmentsto give priority to the Oceans,
Having considered the ExecutiveSummary of the Fourth Sessionof the IOC Regional Committee for the
Co-operativeInvestigationin the North and Central WesternIndian Ocean,together with the 2 Resolutions
and 2 Recommendationsadoptedduring the Session,
Takes note of the Executive Summary and the Resolutions;
Takes the following decisions on the Recommendations:
RecommendationIOCINCWIO-IV. 1 - Large Marine Ecosystems(LME)
(ii)
Approves the Recommendationsubjectto the availability of resources;
Instructs the IOC Executive Secretaryto issue a Circular Letter to invite Member Statesto
(iii)
identify suitable experts for the Group of Experts on LMEs in the IOCINCWIO region;
Urges Member Statesto assistin the LME related capacity building in the region;
(9
RecommendationIOCINCWIO-IV.2 - Programmeof Work 1997-2001(*)
(9
(ii)
(iii)
Approves the Recommendationsubjectto the availability of funds;
Urges Member States to contribute financially and in-kind to the implementation of the
Programmeof Work;
Urges donor agencies,organizationsand national institutions to actively communicate, coordinateand collaboratewith the IOC, its IOCINCWIO and Member Statesto achievethe highest
level of complementarityand co-ordination;
(*) ANNEX TO THE RESOLUTION: SEE ANNEX TO RECOMMENDATION IOCINCWIO-IV.2)
IOCINCWIO-IV/3S
Annex II
ANNEX II
RESOLUTIONS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Resolution IOCINCWIO-IV.1
INTERNATIONAL
BATHYMETRIC
CHART OF THE WESTERN INDIAN
(IBCWIO)
OCEAN
The Regional Committee,
Noting with appreciation that two tirther Member Stateshave joined the Editorial Board, namely the
RussianFederation and South Africa,
Taking note that the assemblydiagram had been modified and the number of sheetsincreasedby 3 to 2 1,
Taking also note that the preparatory work has been successfullycompleted, that the plotting sheets
togetherwith a disketteare being distributednow to sheetcoordinators,and the frost2 sheetswill be printed
in 1998,
Stressesthe great importanceof an early presentationof the whole Chart in particular for the benefit of the
countries of the region;
Invites Member Statesto tirther closely co-operatein the fmalization of the Chart;
Thanks the German governmentfor its continuoussupport of the work of the Chief Editor to enable him
to issuethe Chart in time.
Resolution IOCINCWIO-IV.2
WIOMSA
CONTRIBUTION
TO IOCINCWIO
ACTIVITIES
The Regional Committee,
Recalling its endorsementof WIOMSA as a tool which can enhancethe developmentof marine sciences
in the region, during its Third Session,
Further recalhg the endorsementby the Regional Committee during its Third Session,of the requestto
support WIOMSA,
Noting the establishmentof the WIOMSA Marine ResearchGrantsprogrammeand their provision to cover
twenty marine scientistsin the region since the Association’s registration in 1994,
Noting further the registration by WIOMSA of over 300 members,
Recognizing the relevanceof the objectivesand activities of WIOMSA which are attachedin Annex to this
Resolution,
EncouragesIOC Member States,other internationalorganizations,and donors to provide support to assist
in the further developmentof the Association,especiallyto its Marine ResearchGrants programme;
Requests IOC to continueits assistance
to WIOMSA through support of its Secretariatand its operational
activities.
10cINcWI0-Iv/3s
Annex II - page 2
Annex to Resolution IOCINCWIO-IV.2
Aims and objectives of WIOMSA
.
to promoteand advancethe educational,scientific and technologicaldevelopmentin all aspectsof
.
.
.
.
.
marine sciencesin the Western Indian Ocean region;
to encourage the support of marine science research,development and educational activities
undertakenby governmentsand private sectors;
to provide forum for discussionand disseminationof information and organize meetings,seminars
and workshops for the presentationof findings and experienceson subjects related to marine
science;
to collect and disseminatescientific, technical and other information relevant to marine sciences;
to foster the linkage betweenscientists,governmentpolicy-makers, managersand stake-holders
(coastal community and private sector)
to promote and foster inter-institutional linkageswithin and outside the region.
Activities of the Association
.
.
.
.
.
.
improving communication among the scientific community of the IOCINCWIO region;
assistingin the developmentof institutional linkageswithin the region;
defining and developing research into problems which may require a national and/or regional
approach to their solution;
identifyingworkablemechanismsfor the co-ordinationof marinescienceresearchand development
within the region;
strengtheningthe awarenessof marinesciencesresearchand its importancein the developmentand
managementof the marine sector of the IOCINCWIO region; and
developmentand managementof marine researchgrant programme.
10cINcwI04v/3
s
Annex II - page 3
Recommendation
LARGE MARINE
IOCINCWIO-IV.1
ECOSYSTEMS
(LME)
The Regional Committee,
Noting the recommendationsmade by:
the International Symposium and Workshop on “Status and Future of Large Marine Ecosystems
(9
(LME) of the Indian Ocean”held in Mombasa 1993 and the First Sessionof the IOC-FA0 Group
of Experts on the Programme on Ocean Science in Relation to Living Resources for the
IOCINCWIO Region held in Mombasa, 1994,
(ii)
IOC-IUCN-NOAA Consultative Meeting on Large Marine Ecosystems(LME) held in Paris,
January 1997,
(iii)
First WIOMSA Scientific Symposium on Advances in Marine Science in Eastern Africa:
Application of Scientific knowledge in Marine and Coastal Management (Mombasa, Kenya, 2-3
May 1997),
Recognhing that two large Marine Ecosystemshave been identified in the Western Indian Ocean Region,
namely the Somali Current and Agulhas Current LMEs,
Recommends the recognition of the Mascarene Plateau as a third LME in the WI0 Region because:
(a)
(b)
Recommends:
(9
(ii)
it is a shallow topographicridge extending in an area over 2,200 km from Mauritius to the
Seychelles;
it is a large area of more than 115,000 sq km of banks and shoals which are largely
between 33-90 m with a shallow rim of 8-20 m depth;
it spansbetween South Equatorial Current and the north Equatorial Current;
it is a highly productive area, of significant importance to the IOCINCWlO region;
capacitybuilding to meaningfullyaddressLME activities. Lack of expertise both scientific
and technicalas well as scientificunderstandingof the biological and physical components
of LMEs inhibit assessmentsof pollution, habitat degradation and overexploitation of
resources;
developmentof project proposalsfor GEF and other donor funding for the implementation
of the three LMEs in the WI0 Region for submissionto GEF and other donors;
Requests IOC to provide support for development of these proposalsand identification and establishment
of a Group of Experts (minimum of three experts [Somali Current, Agulhas Current and Mascarene Bank
LME]) to co-ordinate the LME activities in the region;
Recommends that, in developing these proposals,consideration should be given to:
(9
(ii)
applicationof new technologiesand techniques,such as airborne instruments e.g., compact
airborne spectrophotometric instruments, acoustic assessmentsof sedimentary habitats,
GIS and assessmenton the statusand changesin LMEs;
analysis of existing information and programmes with a view of providing a basis for
further investigationof topics,suchas the dynamicsof the ecosystems,socio-economicand
impact of human activities and degree of resistance and resilience, ecological role,
maintenanceof biodiversity,and existing managementsystems. The scientific information
will assistin the formulation of policies and managementstrategiesfor the protection and
conservation of marine ecosystems;
.
IOCINCWIO-IV/3 S
Annex II - page 4
Recommendation IOCINCWIO-IV.2
PROGRAMME
OF WORK 1997-2001
The Regional Committee,
Recahg the successfulimplementationof its programme during the past intersessionalperiod 1992-1997,
Noting with satisfaction that a considerableamount of training activities have been carried out,
Noting the results of UNCED and the importanceof its follow-up at the national and regional level,
Noting further the 1998InternationalYear of the Oceanand its objectivesto createawarenessand to obtain
commitments from governmentsto give priority to the Oceans,
Decides to adopt the programme of work for IOCINCWIO for the period 1997-2001and indicated in the
Table annexedto this Recommendation;
Expressesits appreciation to the Member States,donors and organizationswho have provided support to
IOCINCWIO during the intersessional;
Urges Member Statesto actively participate in the IOCINCWIO programme in accordancewith their
national priorities, interests and capabilities;
Urges the IOC, other organizationsand donor agenciesto assistin the implementation of the 1997-2001
Programmeof Work.
Y
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