Application of Nuclear and non Nuclear Techniques for the Monitoring and Management of Harmful Algal Blooms in the Benguela Coastal Region

General Information

Partnership website(s)

http://ioc.unesco.org/hab/default.htm

Expected Timeframe

January 2003 - December 2005

Partners

Governments: Government of Angola Government of Namibia Government of South Africa	Major Groups: University of Copenhagen (Denmark)
UN System: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) (Monaco) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (France)	Other intergovernmental organizations: African Regional Agreement (AFRA) (Algeria)
Other:

Thematic Focus

Primary Themes:

Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development
Oceans and seas

Secondary Themes:

Means of Implementation (Trade, Finance, Technology, Transfer, etc.)

Geographic Coverage

Geographic Scope: Sub-regional Benguela Coastal Region
Country(ies) where the partnership is being implemented:
Angola, Denmark, France, Monaco, Namibia, South Africa

National Focal Points

This partnership has not made any contact with the national focal points for sustainable development in the countries involved

Goals and Objectives

Summary of the partnership's goals and objectives

Harmful micro-algal toxins represent a major threat to public health and marine living resources in the Benguela region. The main objective of this Partnership/initiative is to develop an integrated monitoring program to address the adverse effects of harmful algal blooms through the application of isotopic and classic techniques, in order to contribute to the sustainable development and management of the Benguela marine coastal environment. More specifically:
1. To transfer to Angola, Namibia, and South Africa, the identification/quantification method for toxic phytoplankton and the receptor binding assay (RBA) and related assays technologies for algal toxins.
2. To establish the capability to monitor toxic phytoplankton and to perform receptor assay methods for algal toxins in the Member States laboratories.

Targets and Progress

Partnership targets

Expected results:
1- Equipped laboratory facilities and trained personnel in toxic phytoplankton identification/quantification & Receptor Binding Assay and related assays in participating Member States.
2- Incorporation of the toxic phytoplankton quantification method and the Receptor Binding Assay technology in national monitoring programs.
3- Harmonized approach among national HAB monitoring programs in the Benguela region.

Specific targets:
1. Establish adequate facilities for carrying out phytoplankton identification/ quantification and Receptor Binding Assays and related assays on phytoplankton and shellfish (Jan-Sept 2003).
2. Harmonize approaches for monitoring protocols for phytoplankton and shellfish between Member States through regional workshops (Mar 2003, Jul 2004, Oct 2005).
3. Establish phytoplankton identification/quantification methods and RBA related assays technologies, and algal and shellfish toxin extraction procedures at Member State laboratories, including: PSP, ASP, NSP, DSP. This will be achieved through training and experts visit (Mar-Dec 2003).

Progress against targets

The WSSD Partnership Initiative between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO has been successfully completed in June 2004 through a regional training workshop involving participants from Angola, Namibia and South Africa. The objective of the training workshop was to provide complete information for the establishment of national monitoring programs of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) occurrences and their associated seafood toxicity in the Benguela marine coastal area, through the demonstration of complementary nuclear (IAEA) and classic (IOC) techniques. This Partnership was recognized by the Member States representatives participating in this training workshop, to have been a very useful initiative.

Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer

Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer

Human resources development/training
Education/building awareness
Institutional strengthening, including local participation
Technology transfer/exchange

AEA will provide technical/administrative backstopping and lecturers recruitment for nuclear techniques and fellows travel arrangements. IOC Science and Communication Centres in Copenhagen and Vigo would provide technical backstopping and lecturers for non-nuclear techniques and the corresponding training materials. The Partnership/Initiative will ensure part of the technology transfer through a regional training workshop on identification, regulations and design of monitoring and management systems for HABs.

Relationship to International Agreements on Sustainable Development

How the partnership contributes to the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation

The partnership addresses Agenda 21 's Cluster 13: Oceans and Seas, whose goal is "protection of the oceans, all kinds of seas, and coastal areas as well as the protection, rational use and development of their living resources." Losses from individual harmful algal bloom events are significant, often reaching US$ 5 - 10 million per event in areas with extensive wild or cultured fish or shellfish industries. These events have occurred over an expanding range in the last few decades, with increasing impact on human health and trade. Virtually every coastal country is now affected. Relevant Sections of Agenda 21

Protecting and promoting human health conditions; Protection of the oceans, all kinds of seas, including enclosed and semi-enclosed seas, and coastal areas and the protection, rational use and development of their living resources; Environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals, including prevention of illegal international traffic in toxic and dangerous products

Relevant Sections of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation

Health and sustainable development

Coordination and Implementation

Coordination Mechanism of the Partnership

- Coordination will be achieved through communication between the IOC focal point, the IAEA Technical Officer for the HABs project in the Benguela region, and national focal points.

Implementation Mechanism of the Partnership

The partnership will:
1- Prepare protocols for incorporating phytoplankton identification/quantification methods (IOC), RBA techniques (IAEA) and monitoring systems (IAEA&IOC) in HAB national screening programs.
2- Write joint report following regional workshops.

- Implementation will be undertaken according to the workplan established for the IAEA project on HABs in the Benguela region and endorsed by Member States.

The Partnership/Initiative will be linked to an existing IAEA project on HABs in the region. It will contribute directly to existing regional programs, including the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem Program (BCLME) funded by the Global Environmental Facility and the Benguela Environment Fisheries Interaction and Training Program (BENEFIT), primarily funded by NORAD and GTZ, which currently incorporate aquaculture and HAB components.

Resources

Funding Currently Available Amount in US$: 366000 Source(s): International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) available resources: US $ 366,000 for laboratory equipment, training and expert services	Non-financial resources available Type(s): Computers - Staff Source(s): IGO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO (IOC): training materials, manuals and guides, lecturers, and technical backstopping.
Funding Sought Required Amount in US$: 0 Source(s) already approached:	Non-financial resources sought Requirement(s): Source(s) approached and details:

Additional Information

Additional Relevant Information

No additional information at present.