Project Description
The Government of Namibia procured a marine research vessel from Finland through a concessional credit arrangement in 2011-2012. During the process it became apparent that transfer of knowledge and exchange of experience between marine research experts of the two countries would provide a major opportunity to gain added value for the investment of the Namibian Government. Therefore an Institutional Cooperation Instrument (ICI) project, financed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, was prepared and commenced to transfer knowledge and experience about a modern research vessel to the users of the new vessel. The aim was to ensure that all new data collection and research facilities in the vessel will be taken into use smoothly and utilised in full scale to produce versatile scientific information for decision making concerning especially the regulation of fish stocks in Namibia.
In this Project, scientific staff of SYKE’s Marine Research Centre assisted the scientific staff of the National Marine Information and Research Centre (NatMIRC) under the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Namibia (MFMR) to utilise the research methods offered by the new vessel. Enhancement of ecosystem modelling as well as improved application of geographic information systems (GIS) related methods were emphasised. In addition, communications experts of the partner organisations collaborated for improved communications strategies, skills and materials. At the same time, the Faculty of Technology and Maritime Management of the Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK), as a sub-contractor in the Project, provided further training in maritime skills for the masters, officers and operational crew of the new vessel.
The Project started in June 2012 by training of the vessel crew during the escorting of the vessel from Finland to England from where it was successfully transferred to Namibia by the permanent crew. The scientific training started in October 2012 in a monitoring cruise during which the scientific instruments were tested on-board. The maritime, data collection and equipment training continued in March 2013 during a joint professional visit of SYKE and SAMK to Namibia. During the cruise, on-the-job training was provided on many working methods, equipment lay-outs and arrangements related to marine scientific data collection, and the structure and functioning of the Quality Assurance/Control systems were also introduced. The training on quality controlled sampling and analysis was continued on-board r/v Aranda during a professional visit of five NatMIRC experts to Finland in August 2013. In May 2014, two SYKE experts also made a professional visit to Namibia focusing on plankton surveys, marine food web studies and working as a Chief Scientist conducting multi-disciplinary cruises on research vessels. Further training in marine environmental sampling for zooplankton food web studies, experiments with zooplankton, quality assurance issues and protocols and analysing long term data collected during the monitoring cruises with both graphical and statistical methods was provided in Namibia in May 2015.
Two experts from NatMIRC participated in the annual calibration of fluorometers and participated in a specific training on fluorometry during their Visit to Finland in February 2014. The training in the use o f fluorometers continued in Namibia in September 2014 and August-Septebmer 2015, and again in Finland in October 2015.
In December 2012, the first phase of the training on remote sensing of sea water chlorophyll and sea water temperature was completed and existing data on fish stocks and specific parameters in relation to three commercial fish species were evaluated. Further training on numerical methods, ecosystem modelling remote sensing and GIS was provided and training on fish stock assessment and modelling was continued during the second half of 2013. Theoretical training in fish assessment methods was organised in Namibia in May 2014 and practical training with NatMIRC’s own data in Finland in December 2014. Finally, training in satellite data management with R-statistical software was provided in Namibia in February 2015.
In addition, training in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was organised jointly by NatMIRC/MFMR, The Southern African Institute for Environmental Assessment (SAIEA) and SYKE in Namibia in November 2015.
The training in communications in an expert organisation was organised in March 2014, and a communication strategy and action plan for MFMR and NatMIRC was prepared jointly. The training continued by designing and producing communication materials for NatMIRC in November 2015.
Services provided by SYKE:
Altogether sixteen experts of SYKE’s Marine Research Centre, Communications Unit and International Affairs Unit participated in the implementation and management of the Project.
In this Project, scientific staff of SYKE’s Marine Research Centre assisted the scientific staff of the National Marine Information and Research Centre (NatMIRC) under the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Namibia (MFMR) to utilise the research methods offered by the new vessel. Enhancement of ecosystem modelling as well as improved application of geographic information systems (GIS) related methods were emphasised. In addition, communications experts of the partner organisations collaborated for improved communications strategies, skills and materials. At the same time, the Faculty of Technology and Maritime Management of the Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK), as a sub-contractor in the Project, provided further training in maritime skills for the masters, officers and operational crew of the new vessel.
The Project started in June 2012 by training of the vessel crew during the escorting of the vessel from Finland to England from where it was successfully transferred to Namibia by the permanent crew. The scientific training started in October 2012 in a monitoring cruise during which the scientific instruments were tested on-board. The maritime, data collection and equipment training continued in March 2013 during a joint professional visit of SYKE and SAMK to Namibia. During the cruise, on-the-job training was provided on many working methods, equipment lay-outs and arrangements related to marine scientific data collection, and the structure and functioning of the Quality Assurance/Control systems were also introduced. The training on quality controlled sampling and analysis was continued on-board r/v Aranda during a professional visit of five NatMIRC experts to Finland in August 2013. In May 2014, two SYKE experts also made a professional visit to Namibia focusing on plankton surveys, marine food web studies and working as a Chief Scientist conducting multi-disciplinary cruises on research vessels. Further training in marine environmental sampling for zooplankton food web studies, experiments with zooplankton, quality assurance issues and protocols and analysing long term data collected during the monitoring cruises with both graphical and statistical methods was provided in Namibia in May 2015.
Two experts from NatMIRC participated in the annual calibration of fluorometers and participated in a specific training on fluorometry during their Visit to Finland in February 2014. The training in the use o f fluorometers continued in Namibia in September 2014 and August-Septebmer 2015, and again in Finland in October 2015.
In December 2012, the first phase of the training on remote sensing of sea water chlorophyll and sea water temperature was completed and existing data on fish stocks and specific parameters in relation to three commercial fish species were evaluated. Further training on numerical methods, ecosystem modelling remote sensing and GIS was provided and training on fish stock assessment and modelling was continued during the second half of 2013. Theoretical training in fish assessment methods was organised in Namibia in May 2014 and practical training with NatMIRC’s own data in Finland in December 2014. Finally, training in satellite data management with R-statistical software was provided in Namibia in February 2015.
In addition, training in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was organised jointly by NatMIRC/MFMR, The Southern African Institute for Environmental Assessment (SAIEA) and SYKE in Namibia in November 2015.
The training in communications in an expert organisation was organised in March 2014, and a communication strategy and action plan for MFMR and NatMIRC was prepared jointly. The training continued by designing and producing communication materials for NatMIRC in November 2015.
Services provided by SYKE
Altogether sixteen experts of SYKE’s Marine Research Centre, Communications Unit and International Affairs Unit participated in the implementation and management of the Project.
More Information
Mr. Pasi Laihonen, Team Leader/Marine Research Expert, Marine Research Centre, Finnish Environment Institute
Mr. Pekka J. Salminen, Project Manager, International Affairs Unit, Finnish Environment Institute