GEF.org DECEMBER 2013 GEF.org Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malasysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, and Thailand are collaborating through the Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) Project to better the lives of their coastal populations by improving regional management of the Bay of Bengal environment and its fisheries.

Bangladesh India Indonesia Malaysia The Maldives Myanmar Sri Lanka Thailand Where the grass is greener

he Seaweed and Research Unit of Thailand’s Prince of Songkla TUniversity, supported by the BO- BLME Project, staged a successful week of seagrass conservation and monitor- ing in Myanmar at the end of April and beginning of May. Led by Dr Anchana Prathep, the course brought together some 20 young researchers from various Myanmar government institutes and NGOs, in col- laboration with Mawlamyine University, represented by Prof U-Seo Htun. The first few days of classroom lectures at Mawlamyine University were followed by field excursions from Nga- pali on the cost of Rakhine Division in the west of the country. Dr Anchana reported afterwards, “The participants were very enthusias- tic throughout the course. For some of them this was the very first time they Dr Anchana (left) briefs students before another dive on the seagrass beds. had learned about the importance of cluded they were determined to conserve Anchana said. seagrass ecosystems. It was also the first their seagrass beds.” “These are still very much in pristine time some of them had used snorkeling Dr Anchana was impressed by the condition compared with those in other equipment to allow them to explore the condition of the seagrass beds off Rakh- countries in the region, where seagrass ecosystem close-up.” ine. “We visited several sites and the sea- are known to be in drastic decline due to The training also included how to use grasses were very healthy and beautiful. coastal development, despite this region the HOBO sensors for light and tempera- The water was also very clear.” being known to be a hotspot of biodiver- ture, using GPS receivers to mark and The meadows contained a wide sity for the world’s seagrasses. map the seagrass bed, and setting up the variety of seagrasses, including Halophila “More training should be carried out to permanent monitoring plots using the ovalis, H. decipiens, H. beccarii, promote seagrass conservation in Myanmar SeagrassNet protocol. pinifolia, , Thalassia and also in other countries around the Bay The training also emphasized climate hemprichii, Enhalus acoroides, Cymodocea of Bengal, such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka and change and how seagrass could help serrulata and Syringodium isoetifolium. the Maldives, where seagrass provides an store carbon under the Blue Carbon “It is very important for the country important habitat for a variety of economic scheme. “The participants attended to have established the baseline data to species but where very little is known about actively and asked questions; and con- try to conserve the seagrass beds,” Dr the seagrass in the area.”

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GEF.org GEF.org Workshop participants take time out for a group photograph. Below, the subject of the workshop, the Indian mackerel. Harmonising mackerel research articipants from fisheries research facilities in all of the BOBLME PProject’s eight countries in August attended an eight-day workshop on mackerel genetics at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in Kochi, India. The aims of the Indian Mackerel Genetics Harmonization Workshop – organised by India’s National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR) and the BOBLME Project – were to standardise methodologies and approaches to genetic stock structure identification work on mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta), and to offer training. At the opening ceremonies former CMFRI Director Dr E G Silas presented some background information on what is known about Indian Mackerel genetic stock structure. A shoal of Indian mackerel. Photo by www.redseaexplorer.com Presentations were also given by Dr A Gopalakrishnan, the CMFRI’s current During the following days, activities limitations which could interfere with the Director; Dr JK Jena the NBFGR Direc- generally consisted of morning lectures completion data.” tor, Dr V S Basheer, NBFGR Scientist- followed by afternoon practical training It added, “The role of NBFGR is to in-charge; and Mr Candy, the BOBLME in the lab for the participants. collect, classify, and catalogue the fish genetics consultant. As the post-workshop report written genetic resources of the country as well Rudolf Hermes, the BOBLME Proj- by the NBFGR explained, “Standardiza- as the maintenance and preservation ect’s Chief Technical Adviser, provided tion is an important part of multi-lab of genetic material and conservation of the participants with an overview of the genetic studies this is to ensure labora- endangered species. different Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) tory processes in different laboratories “The bureau is also responsible for Projects worldwide, and then specifically will produce the same allele calls. the evaluation of indigenous species and the ongoing BOBLME Project of which “Ideally before running any country the impact of exotic species. the Indian Mackerel Genetic study is but samples a standard set of individuals “NBFGR is in a unique position since one of many areas of work, all addressing would be run by all labs. India is one of 12 mega-biodiversity transboundary issues of fish overexploi- “However, due to the short timeline countries containing four of 32 biodiver- for completion of the project by February tation, habitat degradation, and land- sity hotspots worldwide. based pollution. 2014, it is instead planned that two fish are run for every 96 fish submitted to the “India contains 7.5 per cent of the As far as the fisheries work is con- world’s biodiversity and a total of 2,508 cerned, he explained, there are stock genotyping facility. known fish species and 291 exotic fish status reviews, and assessments, research “If all labs run the same two fish then programs (including this one on Indian we should all get the same allele calls, species. Mackerel genetics), stock assessment ca- indicating that the rest of the fish on that “The bureau has conducted genetic pacity development, creation of regional plate would be scored the same, indepen- stock structure work on 24 fin fish and fisheries management advisory commit- dent of which lab the samples were run five shellfish species using mitochondrial tees and training courses, and defining in.” DNA, microsatellites and allozymes and performance indicators for fisheries The report noted, “Time is limited be- barcoding over 450 species. management. cause the BOBLME project is scheduled “NBFGR takes on the role of con- The workshop manual developed by to end by March 2014 and all work must servator by gamete cryopreservation, the NBFGR lab staff specifically for this be completed and reported upon. live gene banks, enhancement through workshop was distributed to CMFRI and “Each country was asked to complete ranching and captive breeding, and the NBFGR staff, and BOBLME participants. a time line and outline any anticipated collection of cell lines and stem cells.”

BOBLME Newsletter, December 2013 2 Minister opens ICM centre he Honourable Minister for Fisher- ies, Shri N G Pannir Selvam from Tthe Government of Puducherry, opened the new BOBLME Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) Resource Centre in Puducherry on October 4. The opening was attended by about 50 people, including the local fishing community as well as officials from the Department of Fisheries, the BOBLME Regional Coordinator Dr Chris O’Brien and the National Coordinator Dr K Vi- jayakumaran. Dignitaries lit the auspicious lamp before declaring the facility as the knowl- edge hub for ICM activities in Puduch- erry. BOBLME-India has been implement- ing a programme of work on ICM for several years. Led by Dr Vijayakumaran, this initiative is working with the commu- nity, administration and stakeholders to promote ICM approaches in Puducherry The Minister snips the ribbon to open the Centre officially, watched by BOBLME – a district of just 293 square kilometres Project Regional Coordinator Dr Chris O’Brien (left) and National Coordinator Dr on the east coast of India, just south of K Vijayakumaran (right). Chennai. Puducherry is small in area but is Fishermen’s Welfare is hosting the ICM surroundings and is equipped with a home to over 1.3 million people, so the Resource Centre at its new offices in the computer with internet access and a pressure on coastal resources is consider- local fishing harbour complex. printer; and it already boasts a good col- able. The centre will enable ICM practi- lection of literature, with subscriptions to The Department of Fisheries and tioners to meet in comfortable modern a range of journals. EAFM courses launched he Ecosystem Approach to Fish- eries Management (EAFM) is a Tpractical way to implement sus- tainable development principles for the management of fisheries by finding a balance between ecological and social well-being through good governance. The first training session of the “Essen- tial EAFM” course took place over six days in late June in Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Ma- laysia, and involved more than 30 trainees, candidate trainers, and EAFM experts. This new training course is the result of a unique partnership involving the BOBLME Project, the Asia-Pacific Fisher- ies Commission, the US Coral Triangle Initiative, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Coral Triangle Support Partnership. Local hosts for the training were the Department of Fisheries Sabah, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and WWF Malaysia. Dr Rudolf Hermes, the BOBLME Project’s Chief Technical Adviser, and one of the authors of Essential EAFM, said the course has been developed because un- derstanding of EAFM is still very limited, EAFM pilot course participants show off the results of their efforts. and there is confusion with other manage- ment approaches and tools. and finalization of the training material. boblme.org/eafm-training.html). As a result, resource managers in It also served to build knowledge and The pilot course was followed by general are having trouble putting the skills on EAFM and to start the develop- a four-day training of trainers course, theory of EAFM to practice. Participants ment of a regional pool of EAFM trainers. involving 11 of the participants in the pilot in the Essential EAFM Course actually The training package consists of a course. take home a draft EAFM plan. handbook, workbook, toolkits, trainer The Essential EAFM training course This first course was used to test the manual, powerpoint presentations and (with training of trainers) will be held in training materials in a realistic training sit- session guides. these can be downloaded January 2014 at the SEAFDEC Training uation and to get feedback for fine-tuning from the BOBLME website (www. Department.

BOBLME Newsletter, December 2013 3 BOBLME PROFILE: DR SSK HAPUTHANTRI Counting achievements he BOBLME Project’s National stocks, degradation of critical habitats Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Dr S S K (particularly coral reefs and sea grasses) THaputhantri is only in his forties but and land-based pollution. has already packed his life with achieve- “Without the regional cooperation ments. among the eight Bay of Bengal countries Born in Colombo, Dr Haputhantri that has been built under the BOBLME – Sisira to his friends – graduated from umbrella, no single country would be the Science Faculty of the University of able to resolve problems of this magni- Colombo in 1994 with an honours degree tude. in mathematics and was promptly em- “The BOBLME project has already ployed by the university as an Assistant laid a solid foundation through a number Lecturer. of regional and sub-regional initiatives to Three years later he joined the conserve the Bay of Bengal large marine National Aquatic Resources Research ecosystem and its resources. and Development Agency (NARA) as a “I strongly believe that the Bay will be Research Officer. NARA is the principal a better place thanks to these initiatives. national institute in Sri Lanka, charged “Apart from that, BOBLME plays a with the responsibility of carrying out vital role in capacity building of fisheries and coordinating research, development and environment institutes of the mem- and management of aquatic resources. ber countries and I see this as a valuable While working there he continued his investment for the future.” studies, obtaining a master’s degree in Sri Lanka, he notes, has successfully Industrial Mathematics from the Univer- implemented BOBLME Project activi- sity of Sri Jayewardenepura in 2000 with ties at national level and has already a research project that had relevance to achieved “good progress” in terms of fish population dynamics, addressing the project implementation: parameter uncertainties in the Beverton * The Sri Lanka National Plan of Ac- and Holt Model in Fisheries and their tion for Conservation and Management impacts on optimal fishing strategies. of Sharks was drafted and adopted by the The following year he was transferred stakeholders at a national workshop held to the Marine Biological Resources Divi- in Colombo recently. sion of NARA. “This,” he says, “was a * The comprehensive study on In- turning point in my career. I received an dian Mackerel is progressing well. This Asian Development Bank scholarship to includes a genetic study for determining pursue a PhD in France.” Dr Haputhantri believes the Bay of the Indian Mackerel stock structure in the He enrolled in 2002 in the École Na- Bengal will be a better place, thanks to Bay of Bengal (see also page 2). tionale Superieure Agronomique de Tou- the BOBLME Project * Marine Protected Area (MPA) work louse (ENSAT) and two years later was at Bar Reef Marine Sanctuary is going awarded a très honorable (very honorable) well. Bar Reef is the largest MPA in Sri doctorate in Fish Population Dynamics, research paper titled Trophic interactions Lanka and proposed activities by the his thesis having assessed coastal fishery in the coastal ecosystem of Sri Lanka: an project include assessment of manage- resources in Sri Lanka using single-spe- ECOPATH preliminary approach, written ment effectiveness, awareness raising and cies and multi-species (ecosystem based) with J Moreau and C-M Villanueva, and compliance generation at the sanctuary. approaches. published in 2008 in Estuarine, Coastal * Sri Lanka is in the process of Research is in his blood. “I have and Shelf Science received Presidential strengthening data collection and report- conducted a number of research projects Awards for Scientific Research. ing systems on coastal and off-shore on various aspects of fisheries, ranging In the same year he was appointed large pelagic fisheries of Sri Lanka. (This from assessments of small pelagic fish, Head of NARA’s Marine Biological project is supported financially by the large pelagic fish, shrimps and oyster, Resources Division (MBRD), a wider role BOBLME Project, with technical support food web analysis in the coastal fishery of that saw him representing Sri Lanka at a from the IOTC.) Sri Lanka, climate change and fishing im- number of local, regional and internation- Sri Lanka has already achieved a pacts on the marine fish and developing al technical and consultation meetings or good progress with respect to compliance sampling strategies for fishery dependent workshops, including working parties with IOTC resolutions on the data collec- data collection.” of the Tuna Commission tion of IOTC species. The quality of his research has been (IOTC) and BOBLME technical meetings. * Sri Lanka has successfully undertak- recognised internationally. In 2007 and It is a job that fits him well. “It is en other projects funded by the BOBLME 2008 he was a United Nations Univer- a great pleasure for me to serve as a project and in collaboration with other sity Fellow at Iceland’s Marine Research researcher as well as a head of a technical local project partners including IUCN Sri Institute and in 2010 a Visiting Scientist division of NARA,” he says. Lanka, University of Ruhuna, Depart- at the Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine On June 1, 2009, he added the post ment of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ecology (ZMT) in Germany. of National Coordinator of the BOBLME and SLAFAR (Sri Lanka Association for He has published a number of re- Project for Sri Lanka to his portfolio. the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) etc. search papers in both local and inter- It’s a responsibility he wholeheartedly And just in case anyone is tempted national journals. In 2009 he and his embraces. to believe that Dr Sisira’s life is nothing co-authors, J Moreau and S Lek, were “It is a great experience for me to but work it should be noted that in 2000, joint runners-up in the Gopal Kanji Prize, work with a wide range of local and re- he married Ms H M Y Priyadarashanee, awarded annually for the best articles gional stakeholders through this project. an Information Technology Officer at the published in the Journal of Applied Statis- “I know of no other project in the Ministry of Agriculture. tics. region that has such a wide range of “I am the father of two sons who are That article looked at gill-net fish- objectives, identifying and resolving following their primary education in a ing for sardines off Sri Lanka using transboundary water-related issues leading government school in Colombo,” different statistical techniques. Another such as overexploitation of regional fish he says with pride.

BOBLME Newsletter, December 2013 4 ABOARD THE NANSEN Myanmar researchers join Bay of Bengal survey

End of the voyage. Four of the researchers from Myanmar pose for a last photo before disemabarking from the Nansen.

scientific survey is currently agement and sustainability of Myanmar’s underway to assess fish resources, marine resources for years to come. Amarine biodiversity and oceanog- Two of the Myanma scientists raphy in Myanmar waters and in a wider aboard, Prof. San Tha Tun, Myeik Bay of Bengal context. University and Dr. Htun Thein, Depart- The survey was made possible by ment of Fisheries, reported. funding from the Norwegian Agency for “Our economy is highly dependent Development Cooperation (Norad) in on fisheries resources as well as supplies cooperation with the BOBLME Project. for healthy food. It is important to gain The funding has brought a significant knowledge about the marine ecosystem, addition to the range of national activi- study the climatic and human impact and ties in Myanmar and regional activities: to establish a control and management the use of the Norwegian research vessel system for sustainable harvesting of the Dr Fridtjof Nansen, on a voyage involv- resources. ing Myanmar scientists and government “We are learning to use a systematic officials. and repetitive sampling method with The FAO has been collaborating different kinds of equipment, such as The RV Dr Fridtjof Nansen. with Norad and the Institute of Marine nets with different designs for capturing to improve our studies and make our Research of Bergen, Norway, to carry out organisms of various size classes. research onboard enjoyable.” fisheries resources and environment sur- “We also use different laboratory The regard was mutual. On Decem- veys in developing countries in , techniques to treat the samples before ber 18 Dr Kathrine Michalsen of the Asia and Latin America using the Nansen storage for later biomass calculations and Norwegian Institute of Marine Research since 1975. taxonomic analysis on shore. reported, “Today the scientists from This is not the first time that the “This experience will help in our Myanmar were picked up by a local fish- Nansen has carried out research in the teaching and further research. We are ing vessel and the current cruise with the waters of Myanmar - it carried out simi- experiencing a spirit of good cooperation RV Dr Fridtjof Nansen is over. lar surveys in 1979 and 1980, establishing aboard with crew, steward, chief, engi- “It became suddenly very quiet on important benchmark information on the neers, technicians, scientists, officers and board and we immediately missed our state of marine resources. captain working together to obtain good dear friends. The 2013 survey is expected to mas- scientific results. “They have all worked hard and their sively improve understanding of the sta- “We appreciate all participants’ good humor and working sprit have tus of the marine resources, and provide enthusiasm, encouragement, forbearing impressed and inspired us. It has been an information essential for informed man- guidance and excellent service helping amazing survey in many ways.”

BOBLME Newsletter, December 2013 5 Delta scoping report complete he scoping phase of a two-phase project to identify the vulnerability Tand resilience of the Ayeyarwady Delta in Myanmar, requested by Dr Chris O’Brien of the BOBLME Project, and funded by the Project and the Global Wa- ter Partnership, has been completed. The objectives of this phase, the Identification Mission, were threefold: To identify the possibilities and constraints of conducting an assessment of vulnerability and resilience of the delta; to prepare a plan for conducting a full assessment of vulnerability and resilience; and to deliver a preliminary description of the vulner- ability and resilience of the Delta. This scoping phase was undertaken by the Delta Alliance team, Wim van Driel from the Dutch environmental research institute Alterra and Tjitte Nauta of Del- tares, an independent institute for applied research in the field of water, subsurface and infrastructure, also based in the Neth- erlands. Based on their findings, a phase 2 project will attempt the elaboration of the Ayeyarwady Delta description and assess- ment. This will have two main objectives: To elaborate an assessment of vulner- ability and resilience of the Ayeyarwady delta; and to make a brief comparative analysis related to 10 other deltas world- wide that have already been studied by the Delta Alliance, which aims to connect people working in different deltas to allow them to learn from each other. The project was given particular rel- evance by the destruction wrought in May 2008 by Cyclone Nargis. As the Scoping Phase report notes, “The Ayeyarwady Delta fans out from the limit of tidal influence at Myan Aung to the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. “The delta region is densely populat- ed, and plays a dominant role in the cul- tivation of rice in rich alluvial soil as low as just 3 meters above sea level, although Apart from the death Cyclone Nargis wrought six years ago, it also flooded vast it also includes fishing communities in a areas of farmland and villages in the Ayeyarwady Delta. Photo by DFAT, Australia vast area full of rivers and streams. “It is mainly populated by farm- stakeholders leading to a participatory ing and fishing communities in several planning process, and an integrated and villages besides market towns, mostly sustainable approach to manage and located along the main rivers.” develop the delta to cope with the new These were the communities and economic situation in Myanmar.” activities worst hit by Nargis, “which The report notes that the Ayeyarwady reportedly killed 84,537 people with Delta already demonstrates the first signs 53,836 people missing, and left about 2.4 of significant changes: exploitation of the million affected. Total damage and loss is mangroves, overfishing, river bank ero- approximately 11.7 trillion Kyats (US$4.1 sion and deterioration of water quality. billion).” “However, using the ecosystem ap- Van Driel and Nauta conclude that proach, deltas can be used by the local there are multiple challenges being faced people without compromising the integ- with the opening up and democratisation rity of these systems or overexploiting of Myanmar. their natural resources. “The Ayeyarwady Delta will inevita- “It is stressed that additional measures bly factor significantly into Myanmar’s The Ayeyarwady Delta. Base map: should be adopted such as improving economic development and emergence as Google Maps conservation awareness, fighting poverty, a major regional trade route,” the report. “have a substantial adaptive and resilient improving the weak systematic bio- “At present, however, the Ayeyar- capacity … delta ecosystems, such as man- logical monitoring systems, stimulating wady Delta is still largely undeveloped groves and marshes develop fairly quickly grassroots support for conservation and and the uncoordinated exploitation of its into rich habitats once the environmental strengthening law enforcement.” resources in some (upstream) areas may conditions are favourable again. The researchers reported that they had pose serious threats to the health of the “Worldwide, successful examples received excellent support on the ground, delta.” show the importance of good knowl- particularly from the Myanmar Irriga- However, they note that delta eco- edge of the basic physical and ecological tion Department, and recommended that systems such as the Ayeyarwady Delta processes, early involvement of local Phase 2 of the project should go ahead.

BOBLME Newsletter, December 2013 6 RAMA buoy relaunched he Bay of Bengal Ocean Acidifica- tion (BOBOA) moored buoy was Tredeployed after maintenance on November 23, 2013, from the Indian Research Vessel Sagar Nidhi. Thanks to funding from Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), the BOBLME Project supplied a set of biogeochemical sensors that were fixed to the underside of the buoy.

This is the first CO2 flux and ocean acidification buoy to be moored in the northern Indian Ocean. Data from the buoy, moored at 15°N, 90°E – about 400km west of Myanmar and 800 km south of Bangladesh – will assist in understanding of the large intraseasonal, seasonal and interannual biogeochemical variations in the Bay of Bengal, and track how the marine ecosys- tem in the Bay is changing over time. Establishment of this time series was made possible through a close partner- ship between the BOBLME Project, NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program, the Research Moored Array for African- Asian-Australian Monsoon Analysis and Prediction (RAMA), NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, and the National Institute of Ocean Technology. The Bay of Bengal is a region of strong ocean-atmosphere interactions.

Air-sea flux of heat and CO2 is heav- ily influenced by severe tropical storms and by large intraseasonal, seasonal and interannual variations in surface heat and fresh water fluxes. In addition to the suite of meteoro- logical sensors measuring winds, air temperature, rainfall, etc. and subsur- face sensors measuring ocean tempera- ture, salinity, and velocity this RAMA

buoy is now measuring pCO2, pH, and other biogeochemical parameters at the ocean surface and marine boundary The RAMA buoy, with the BOBLME-supplied sensors attached below the body. layer air pCO2. The Bay of Bengal Acidi- fication (BOBOA) mooring is the first Thailand) to collaborate on long term, ponents in this extensive chain of buoys acidification mooring in the northern sustained ocean observations to better are the TAO/TRITON array in the Pacific Indian Ocean. The data are provided at understand the role of the Indian Ocean and PIRATA in the Atlantic. www.pmel.noaa.gov.co2/story/BOBOA. in the global carbon cycle, and how it is The major phenomenological foci BOBOA is part of the RAMA array changing over time. of this array are the El Niño/Southern and the global network of Ocean-SITES RAMA itself is part of the Global Oscillation (ENSO) in the Pacific; the time series flux reference sites. Tropical Moored Buoy Array, which interhemispheric dipole mode, equato- This project brings together scientists NOAA describes as a multinational effort rial warm events, and hurricane activity from the US and the BOBLME countries to provide data in real-time for climate in the Atlantic; and the monsoons, the (India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malay- research and forecasting. Indian Ocean Dipole, and intraseasonal sia, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Apart from RAMA, the major com- variability in the Indian Ocean. Fishermen rescue buoy that went AWOL n oceanographic data buoy, one of 19 so far moored across condition. It had apparently been rescued by a local fishing the Indian Ocean as part of the Research Moored Array for boat. AAfrican-Asian-Australian Monsoon Analysis and Predic- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tion (RAMA), went walkabout in July. (NOAA, USA) Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory and the The buoy, usually located in the eastern Bay of Bengal area, National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT, India) maintain broke its mooring and started an unexpected journey to Myan- the RAMA buoys and hope to have the wayward unit back in mar. service in the near future. The buoy was tracked by satellite meandering around the Another 10 buoys are due to be deployed to complete the northern islands of Myeik Archipelago before moving off quite array. deliberately towards Myeik. The BOBLME Project and NORAD are supporting RAMA After some excellent detective work by the BOBLME Na- by providing a set of biogeochemical sensors that will contribute tional Coordinator in Myanmar, Mya Than Tun, Fisheries Of- to a better understanding of Indian Ocean monsoon and climate ficers located the buoy at the Myeik Fishing Jetty, and in good change impacts (see main story on this page).

BOBLME Newsletter, December 2013 7 A+ for Chilika Report Card onsiderable interest has been arous- ed by the publication of Asia’s first CEcosystem Health Report Card, which addresses environmental issues in and around Chilika Lake, a brackish water lagoon in Odisha State on the east coast of India. Chilika Lake supports around 200,000 fisherfolk and is the wintering ground for more than a million migratory birds. It was the first place in India to be designated a wetland of international importance. The Report Card is the product of a workshop earlier this year that involved the Global Partnership for Nutrient Manage- ment – of which the BOBLME Project is a member – the Chilika Development Au- thority (CDA), the Government of Odisha, the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) and the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). It was supported by the BOBLME Project; the UN Environment Programme Chilika Lake supports 200,000 fisherfolk and a million migratory birds. (UNEP); the Institute for Ocean Manage- Photo by Proxy Indian ment, Anna University, Chennai India; the NCSCM, the MoEF, the Government the CDA, in partnership with NCSCM, several coastal states. The State of Gujarat of India and other partners. organized two expert group meetings to has already organized the first meeting and The Report Card is aimed at under- reach consensus on the indicators, and their started collecting relevant data for its own standing the bio-geochemical process and values for establishing ecological thresholds Report Card. fluxes of nutrients in Chilika Lake. It also in determining the health of the river, estu- Interest has also come from outside ary and the bay. estimates the overall water quality status, India. The Laguna de Bay Authority of the biodiversity and fisheries of Chilika Lake, They analyzed existing data, did field Philippines has expressed interest in using along with the coastal water quality in the research to collect relevant data to fill data adjacent Bay of Bengal. gaps and, finally, carried out a model- the “Report Card” approach to understand- The Report Card provides rigorous sci- ling exercise to assign scores for different ing and managing the Laguna de Bay, the entific assessment of key parameters based ecological zones of the Chilika Lake and an largest lake in that country. The Laguna de on well-defined threshold values which can overall score for the Lake. Bay Authority was due to host the first ex- serve as a tool for management of Chilika The resultant Report Card, based on the pert group meeting in Manila in December. Lake and its basin. ‘pressure-state-response’ framework for en- The CDA Chief Executive presented the vironmental management, finally concludes What makes it particularly useful is Report Card at the Asia Regional Workshop that it also communicates the science and with key management recommendations. complex information in simple terms, using In addition, the concept of the ecosys- on Scientific and Technical Support for graphics capable of engaging various stake- tem health report card was discussed with Implementation of the Ramsar Convention, holders, from policy makers and resource various stakeholder groups of the Chilika which took place in October in Changwon, managers to coastal communities, in taking Lake area in simple terms by holding meet- South Korea. responsibility for the management of the ings. These meetings welcomed the idea. The Committee welcomed this ap- lake’s ecosystem. The Governing Body of the CDA, proach and decided to replicate the Report The development of the Report Card for headed by the Chief Minister of Odisha, ap- Card methodology in assessing the health proved the 2012 Chilika Ecosystem Health Chilika Lake was a pilot activity under the of the ecosystem of its designated sites. UNEP/GEF project “Global foundations for Report Card at its meeting on November reducing nutrient enrichment and oxygen 13. The 2012 Chilika Lake Ecosystem depletion from land-based pollution, in The Report Card has attracted wide at- Health Report Card, produced with the support of Global Nutrient Cycle”. tention. In India, replication of the Ecosys- support of the BOBLME Project, can be In preparation for the ‘Report Card” tem Health Report Card is to take place in downloaded from www.ncscm.org. Accessible science: Some of the engaging infographics used in the Chilika Lake Ecosystem Health Report Card.

BOBLME Newsletter, December 2013 8 PSC mandates 1-year project extension he BOBLME Project Steering Com- (UNEP-GPA), South East Asia Fisher- mittee met in Chennai, India on ies Development Center (SEAFDEC) TMarch 20 and 21. attended the meeting (while WorldFish The PSC was well satisfied that the and the South Asia Cooperative Environ- Project was on track; moreover, given ment Programme (SACEP) - were unable projected savings in the budget, it in- to make it). structed the RCU to request a one year, The partners made a valuable con- no-cost extension from the GEF to extend tribution to proceedings and expressed the Project completion date to March 31, their willingness to play an ongoing 2015. major role in the remaining BOBLME ac- The PSC welcomed the latest tivities and future SAP implementation. advanced draft of the Strategic Action The meeting was masterfully chaired Programme (SAP) , and endorsed the by Tarun Shridhar, Joint Secretary of proposed institutional arrangements the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries for SAP implementation which would Masterful chairman: Tarun Shridhar. India, but sadly the PSC meeting was consist of a Consortium of countries and Governmental Organization (BOBP- his BOBLME swan song as he is moving partners. IGO), International Collective in support from New Delhi to a new role with the The BOBLME Project has been work- of Fish-workers (ICSF), International State Government of Himachal Pradesh. ing closely with a range of bodies and Union for the Conservation of Nature We wish him all the very best! organisations operating in the Bay of (IUCN), United Nations Environment The PSC meeting report can be found Bengal in order to improve coordination Programme of the Global Programme of at http://www.boblme.org/document of activities and enhance impacts. Action for the Protection of the Marine Repository/BOBLME-2013-Project-01. The Bay of Bengal Programme Inter- Environment from Land-Based Activities pdf. Scientists sharpen comms skills he BOBLME Project has been deliv- ering its science communications Ttraining programme, comprising two one-week courses on science writing and science presentation, since 2010. Now two professional bodies have latched onto the course as a way to im- prove the quality of material being pre- sented at scientific for a and, moreover, the quality of scientific publications. The Sri Lanka Association for Fisher- ies and Aquatic Resources (SLAFAR) has been using BOBLME techniques since 2012 to better prepare scientists for the annual SLAFAR meeting and to improve the quality and timeliness of the SLAFAR Proceedings. This year, SLAFAR, funded by the BOBLME Project, held a scientific writ- One of the young scientists on the SLAFAR course gets advice on creating the ing workshop in April to complete the skeleton of a manuscript. papers from the 2012 SLAFAR proceed- ings. Then it held a science presenta- finished papers to the Sri Lanka Journal filmed by professionals. In addition, tion course in preparation for the 2013 of Aquatic Sciences, which will prepare a there were short tutorials on preparing annual meeting, followed by a second special edition showcasing their work. posters for scientific meetings and deal- science writing course, to finalise the The Marine Biological Association of ing with the media. papers from that meeting. India (MBAI) also delivered the BO- Dr Rothlisberg reported that par- Participants had an opportunity to BLME Science Communications training ticipants were very enthusiastic, and discuss their presentations with their course in 2013. by and large the delivery of talks was peers as well as expert tutors, to present The course,funded by BOBLME, was “very proficient and articulate” and their papers in front of a scientific com- aimed solely at Indian marine scientists use of Power-Point was “also of a high munity, and to build up confidence. in the early years of their careers. Fifty standard”. Most importantly, they had a chance two scientist applied to join the training, He noted, “Better engagement comes to discuss and get clarification on their from whom 20 trainees from eight cities with confidence and then experience … problems, difficulties and concerns and 14 institutions were selected. increased confidence was evident even when preparing and presenting a re- The workshops were organised by during the four-day workshop.” search abstract. Dr K Sunil Mohamed of the Central A total of 62 scientists from more Marine Fisheries Research Institute Feedback from the students was than 12 institutes from all over Sri Lanka (CMFRI) who is also the Secretary of very positive. Almost all participants undertook the training. MBAI. “Strongly agreed” or “Agreed” to all six The chief facilitator of the course The course was conducted by Aus- questions about suitability and organisa- was Dr Sevvandi Jayakody from the tralian expert Dr Peter Rothlisberg with tion of the Workshop. All said, too, that Wayamba University, supported by Prof the assistance of five mentors: Dr Sev- they would recommend the course to a E Vivekanandan of the Central Marine vandi Jayakody and Dr W M H Kelum colleague. Fisheries Research Institute, India, and Wijenayeke, both from Sri Lanka, and “Overall I think both workshops Prof J M P K Jayasinghe, and Dr M D S T Dr E Vivekananadan, Dr S Ajmal Khan went very well,” Dr Rothlisberg re- de Croos, from Wayamba University. and Dr V Kripa, from India. ported. “Clearly the selection process At the end of the writing course, Each participant received an elec- used by MBAI to vet participants paid the students were asked to submit the tronic copy of his or her presentation, dividends.”

BOBLME Newsletter, December 2013 9 Gender report praised he BOBLME project report, Main- streaming Gender in the BOBLME TProject: Gender audit and recommended actions for mainstreaming a gender perspective by Dr Cecile Brugere has been featured on the highly influential Genderaquafish.org website. Genderaquafish was lavish in its praise: “Most marine and fisheries devel- opment projects are gender blind, even though, in recent years, they generally pay much more attention to reaching out to fishing communities. “What does a major, multi-country project do when it wants to get serious on overcoming its gender-blindness? For sure, the project partners face a steep learning curve, but the … BOB­LME Proj- ect has taken the plunge. “In 2012, it commissioned a major study by Cecile Brugere to help work out where they stood and what to do. BOBLME has now published Dr Brugere’s report … and it is a very useful guide with wider relevance than just BOBLME. A woman sets fish out to dry. Photo by McKay Savage “It is a veritable ‘how to’ and literature review from which new and even expe- Programme; life of the project. rienced practitioners can learn a lot. Also Tackling gender-disaggregated data The BOBLME Project Regional Coordi- significant is that this is the first of the collection as soon as possible; nator, Dr Chris O’Brien, noting that this Global Environment Facility (GEF) sup- Ensuring the continuous provision is probably the first gender audit under- ported Large Marine Ecosystem projects of gender inputs throughout the project taken by any of the 20 or so Large Marine to undertake a thorough gender audit.” duration; Ecosystem Projects in the world, said it Key recommendations of the report Strengthening the participatory was “great to get such recognition” from are: processes undertaken so far by the Main- the Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries Commissioning of a gender-sensitive community. review of legislation and regulatory streaming Gender project; The Gender in Aquaculture and Fish- frameworks in the BOBLME partner Avoiding falling in the Women In eries community, which runs the website, countries; Development rhetoric and maintaining a is devoted to the exchange of information Following through the mainstream- focus on the addressing of gender issues on gender in aquaculture and fisheries ing of gender in the National Action Plans, and inequality. from all parts of the world. mirroring what has been proposed to Supporting gender training and The report may be downloaded from mainstream gender in the Strategic Action capacity building at all levels, beyond the the BOBLME website. Author ‘surprised and delighted’ he report’s author, Cecile Brugere, gender in 1998, there were opportunities to seize to raise says she was surprised at the at- while working awareness about gender issues and equal- Ttention it has received. She told the as a research ity in fisheries and aquaculture in both BOBLME Newsletter, “I was actually quite assistant at the academic and development praction- nervous when I submitted the report the Institute of ers’ communities.” because I knew the stakes were high. Aquaculture She is happy with the way the “A concern I always had in the back in Stirling in BOBLME report turned out. “I read the of my mind when I was writing the report Scotland. report again recently and I think some was to provide recommendations that “I was parts could be tightened. However the were as practical as possible. I think some- asked to inves- fundamental messages about how to times non-gender specialists get scared tigate the social mainstream gender effectively are in the when they hear all the gender rhetoric and and economic report, and I would not change them.” there was a danger of falling in that trap. issues sur- She says she would like to continue rounding the “So I am really delighted to hear that her involvement with the Project. “The the report and its contents are proving adoption of report suggests that a gender expert useful to the BOBLME project. I think small-scale Cecile Brugere some of the recommendations could also cage aqua- should be involved at some key stages of be applied to other projects. culture in Bangladesh. How women the project, for example in the finalisation If this happens – for example if there is participated in this activity and, more of the Strategic Action Plan (SAP). a wider uptake in other projects or natural importantly, what they gained from it “I would be very interested to do this resources contexts – it will be an indica- (or not), was critical to the adoption of as I feel I have got to know the project tor that an important impact has been the technology and it opened my eyes on quite well and I will be interested to see achieved. It would be amazing! ‘gender’ as a factor of key importance in how the recommendations I made will Dr Brugere is an economist by train- aquaculture development and as a topic in be used. I believe the BOBLME project ing, holding an MSc in Ecological Eco- its own right.” is very committed to addressing gender nomics and gaining her PhD in Agricul- She found that very little, if anything, issues, and, in this sense, exemplary tural Economics 10 years ago. had been done on gender in the context of amongst all the other large marine ecosys- She became interested in the topic of fisheries and aquaculture at the time. “So tem projects.

BOBLME Newsletter, December 2013 10 MEMORANDA BOOKSHELF DIARY MANGROVES FOR THE January 2014 Future (MFF) of the Interna- tional Union for Conservation of 19-21 South Asia Meeting on Coastal Zone Management, Centre for Nature (IUCN), and the Minis- Science and Environment, India. try of Environment and Forests 20-30 Essential Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries training course (MoEF), India, in partnership (with training-of-trainers) in partnership with SEAFDEC and with BOBLME, FAO, UNEP, REBYC II CTI Project, Thailand. SEAFDEC and CMFRI, recently 21-22 International Conference on Conflict Resolution and organized the Regional Fisher- ies Symposium on “Ecosystem Sustainable Fisheries Governance in Palk Bay, University of Approaches to the Management Colombo, Sri Lanka. and Conservation of Fisheries February 2014 and Marine Biodiversity in the Asia Region” (Kochi, India, 27- 11-12 Marine Protected Areas Working Group meeting, in partnership 30 October 2013). The Book of Extended Ab- with WorldFish, Malaysia. stracts produced for the meeting 11-14 Regional Workshop to support the implementation of IOTC presents 35 abstracts, grouped into the five symposium themes: Resolutions, in partnership with IOTC, Malaysia. Coastal Ecosystems – Towards an Ecosystem Approach to Fish- 11-13 Bay of Bengal Ecosystem characterization workshop, in eries Management; Spatial Planning, marine Protected Areas partnership with CSIRO, Thailand. and Fisheries Management; Artisanal Fisheries, Livelihood and Biodiversity; Exploring the Issues of Bycatch and Bycatch 25-26 BOBLME National Coordinators Meeting and Annual Planning Management; and Bycatch, Sharks, Marine Turtles, and other Workshop, Thailand. Endangered and Threatened Species. Full symposium proceed- March 2014 ings are under preparation. The abstracts can be downloaded at 06-08 Sub-regional workshop on nutrient pollution, in partnership http://www.mangrovesforthefuture.org/assets/Reposi- with SACEP, Sri Lanka. tory/Documents/Regional-Fisheries-Symposium-Book-of- Abstracts.pdf 24-29 Short course on remote sensing of potential fishing zones and ocean state forecast, ITC Ocean and INCOIS, India. MFF-IUCN INDIA OFFICE, IN PART- April 2014 nership with MoEF, India, published in 2012 the book entitled Coral reefs in 02-03 5th BOBLME Project Steering Committee Meeting, Maldives. India – status, threats and conservation measures. This 305-page, richly illus- trated book was edited by JR Bhatt, JK elasmobranch species which are easily confused in the field. Patterson Edward, DJ Macintosh, and The book covers 15 pairs of sharks, 20 pairs of rays and two BP Nilaratna. pairs of skates and is intended to improve the knowledge of re- It contains 26 articles, contributed gional taxonomists and fisheries enumerators on identification by various Indian marine scientist, of sharks and rays in their catch data reporting from various and arranged under the four themes: fisheries of the region. Coral status and conservation; Coral This books responds to a real need, as many species look associates; Reproduction, recruitment very similar and are difficult to identify even for experienced and restoration; and Coral environ- taxonomists. ment and threats, and is a result of a workshop held at the Suganthi THE INTERNATIONAL COL- Devadason Marine Research Institute (SDMRI) in Tuticorin. lective in Support of Fish The geographical coverage of the book encompasses the Workers (ICSF), in collabora- four major reef areas in India: the Gulf of Mannar, the Gulf of tion with BOBLME, has de- Kachchh, Lakshadweep, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. signed and published a small, colorful brochure entitled An FOLLOWING Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries. on from the Field This publication is in- Guide to Sharks of tended to complement vari- the Southeast Asian ous existing training course Region authored materials for use of fisheries by Ahmad Ali and managers and administrators Annie Lim Pek and related government staff, Khiok of Malaysia and has been designed for the and published by work with fisheries resource the Southeast Asian users and communities. Fisheries Devel- The illustrations of the booklet, combining photos with opment Center graphics and sketches, are accompanied by small text state- (SEAFDEC) in ments, covering some features of marine ecosystems, such as 2012, the same two connectivity, life cycles, food webs and impact of pollution authors, now joint and feature nine principles of the EAF, from balancing human- by Fahmi and Dharmadi of Indonesia, authored the Field Guide wellbeing and ecological well-being to capacity building for to Look-alike Sharks and Rays Species of the Southeast Asian Region improved governance. as SEAFDEC MFRDMD Special Publication 22. The booklet can be downloaded from the ICSG website at On 107 pages, the authors present on opposing pages those http://www.icsf.net/images/EAF_final_26Nov13_1.24pm.pdf

This newsletter was compiled and designed by Alasdair Forbes and Forbes Communications in conjunction with the Regional Coordination Unit of the BOBLME Project, Phuket, Thailand. For further information please visit the website at www.boblme.org

11 December 2013, BOBLME Newsletter