Second Regional Training Course on the CCRF 21 June - 04 July 2009, Chennai/Mumbai, India

The Second Regional Training Course on the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries was held from 21 June to 04 July 2009 in association with the Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai. Sixteen delegates from Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka took part.

The first part of the two-week programme was held in Chennai for five days (21 June to 25 June). Participants learned about the Code’s basic features and technical aspects, and made field trips. In the second part (25-29 June), held in CIFE Mumbai, participants discussed integrated coastal management and co-management, and prepared group reports on various aspects of fisheries management. In the concluding part (30 June-4 July) held in Chennai, participants prepared awareness campaigns on CCRF applicable to their areas, on the basis of the knowledge they had acquired.

Adapting to Climate Change: Field-Level Capacity Enhancement Programme, 12-18 July 2009, Chennai, India

Recognizing the shortcomings of traditional fisheries management measures, the BOBP-IGO with funding support from UNITAR organised a training programme for India’s fisheries officials in Chennai from 12 to 18 July 2009. Fifteen Department of Fisheries officials from West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry took part. Participants were briefed on current knowledge about the various impacts of climate change on fisheries and ongoing research by national institutions on climate change in India. The participants also made field trips. On the basis of the course materials and information collected during the field trips, two reports were prepared on possible adaptation strategies for climate change.

Second Regional Consultation on Preparation of Management Plan for Shark Fisheries, 9-11 August 2009, Kulhudhuffushi, Maldives

The Second Regional Consultation on Preparation of a Management Plan for Shark Fisheries (RC-SF 2) was held at the office of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Upper North Province, Kulhudhuffushi, Maldives, on 09-11 August 2009. Nineteen delegates representing Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka, regional fisheries organisations and observers took part.

The consultation reviewed the progress made in member-countries since the first consultation. On the basis of feedback, member-countries prepared roadmaps for national plans of action for management of sharks. A Regional Plan of Action was also prepared to coordinate the effort of member-countries. An inter-school drawing competition for schoolchildren of Maldives was also held on the occasion.