Future of Benguela ecosystem discussed

A three-day symposium focusing on a decade’s findings, achievements and challenges of the two regional marine programmes involving Namibia, South Africa and Angola started at Swakopmund yesterday.

The symposium is attended by marine scientists, fisheries managers, economists, NGOs and academics from the Benguela region. Topics under discussion include marine scientific research, transboundary management of shared stocks, links between fisheries and the environment, monitoring the state of the ecosystem, marine pollution, the impacts of seabed mining and oil and gas production on the marine environment, as well as socio-economic governance.Both the Benguela Environment Fisheries Interaction and Training (Benefit) and the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) programmes will be concluded by the end of this year.The responsibilities of the BCLME programme will be transferred to the newly established Benguela Current Commission (BCC), which is hosted by Namibia and chaired by Fisheries Minister Abraham Iyambo.The Benefit programme will be transformed into the Ecosystem Co-ordinating Committee of the BCC.Topics under discussion include marine scientific research, transboundary management of shared stocks, links between fisheries and the environment, monitoring the state of the ecosystem, marine pollution, the impacts of seabed mining and oil and gas production on the marine environment, as well as socio-economic governance.Both the Benguela Environment Fisheries Interaction and Training (Benefit) and the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) programmes will be concluded by the end of this year.The responsibilities of the BCLME programme will be transferred to the newly established Benguela Current Commission (BCC), which is hosted by Namibia and chaired by Fisheries Minister Abraham Iyambo.The Benefit programme will be transformed into the Ecosystem Co-ordinating Committee of the BCC.