ii) ReCoMap and WIOMSA hold MPA and Fisheries Symposium – Jan Robinson

iii) The IFS-WIOMSA Project Culminates with Science Communication Workshop ­ Ingrid Leemans

iv) Why the Web Won’t Work: Villagers’ perceptions and experiences on the ethics of research in coastal Tanzania – Betsy Beymer-Farris, Ian Bryceson, and Narriman Jiddawi

v) 2nd Workshop on Marine Turtle Conservation held in Mozambique – Marcos Pereira

vi) MARG Projects completed and submitted in the first quarter of 2011 – Melckzedeck Osore

vii) The 1st Vice President Visits the Institute of Marine Sciences to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the University of Dar es Salaam – Aviti J. Mmochi

viii) Historic technical meeting on dugong research and conservation held in Madagascar – Patricia Z.R Davis and Donna Kwan

ix) UN Population Fund sponsors ‘hugely symbolic’ Madagascar conservation project – Frances Humber

x) WIOMSA Fellow and KMFRI Researcher Receives State Award – Melckzedeck K. Osore

xi) WIOMSA bids farewell to Climate Change Coordinator.

xii) Timothy Andrew joins WIOMSA as Director of Outreach and Resource Mobilization.

xiii) Photo Gallery: Climate Change Conference

Download the Newsbrief from: http://wiomsa.net/index.php?option=com_jdownloads&Itemid=53&task=view.download&catid=88&cid=984

In a wide-ranging, in-depth exploration of the rarely known but centuries-old African presence in the Indian Ocean world, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of The New York Public Library, is presenting the major exhibition Soulful Stitching: Patchwork Quilts of Africans (Siddis) in India; public forums led by internationally known scholars; films illustrating the African Diaspora’s reach into India; and a concert performance of live Bhangra music. In addition, The Schomburg’s new website, The African Diaspora in the Indian Ocean World, is scheduled to launch next month.

Read the full article from: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/4/prweb8320834.htm

The latest Issue of the Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science, Volume 9 No. 2 is out. This Issue consists of selected papers that were presented in the Sixth WIOMSA Scientific Symposium that was held in August 2009 in Reunion. The Issue consists of an editorial and eight papers, which are:

 i) M.H. Schleyer – Marine Science and Management to Meet Development Challenges in the Western Indian Ocean

ii) V. W. Wang’ondu, J. G. Kairo, J. I. Kinyamario, F. B. Mwaura, J. O. Bosire, F. Dahdouh-Guebas and N. Koedam – Phenology of Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. in a Disjunctly-zoned Mangrove Stand in Kenya

iii) C. Conand, F. Michonneau, G. Paulay and H. Bruggemann – Diversity of the Holothuroid Fauna (Echinodermata) at La Réunion (Western Indian Ocean)

iv) T. Lavitra, R. Rasolofonirina and I. Eeckhaut – The Effect of Sediment Quality and Stocking Density on Survival and Growth of the Sea Cucumber Holothuria scabra reared in Nursery Ponds and Sea Pens

v) J. Larsson, O. Henriksson and M. Grahn – Population Genetic Structure and Connectivity of the Abundant Sea Urchin, Diadema setosum around Unguja Island (Zanzibar)

vi) M. Costa Leal, T. Costa Pereira, V. Brotas and J. Paula – Vertical Migration of Gold-spot Herring (Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus) Larvae on Sofala Bank, Mozambique

vii) K. Brooks, D. Rowat, S. J. Pierce, D.Jouannet and M. Vely – Seeing Spots: Photo-identification as a Regional Tool for Whale Shark Identification

viii) G. Penha-Lopes, S. Xavier, J. Okondo, S. Cannicci, E. Fondo, S.Ferreira, C. Macamo, A. Macia, S. Mwangi and J. Paula – Effects of Urban Wastewater Loading on Macro- and Meio-infauna Assemblages in Subtropical and Equatorial East African Mangroves

ix) C. N. Munga, M. O. Said, D. O. Obura, A. Vanreuse and F. Dahdouh-Guebas – Resource Users’ Perceptions on Continued Existence of the Mombasa Marine Park and Reserve, Kenya

This is a reminder that the POGO-SCOR Visiting Fellowship and POGO Visiting Professorship programmes are open for applications. The deadline has now been extended to 2 May 2011. This opportunity is for scientists from developing countries. More information can be found at:

http://www.ocean-partners.org/training-and-education/pogo-scor-fellowship

http://www.ocean-partners.org/training-and-education/pogo-visiting-professorship.

Cardno Emerging Markets (Australia) Pty Ltd, through the Australia-Africa Partnerships Facility (AAPF), is seeking applications from highly qualified individuals to form a Panel of Experts known as the Africa Program Support Group.

Background – AAPF

The Australian Government, through AusAID, is committed to broadening and deepening its engagement with African countries and institutions. The AAPF is one of the mechanisms used to achieve the second objective of Australia’s strategic approach to aid to Africa 2011-2015, which is ‘to help build the human resources capacity of African countries, particularly in areas and ways where Australia has recognised strengths and expertise’. The goal of the AAPF is to develop partnerships between Australia and African countries that contribute to achieving African countries’ development priorities. The two objectives of the AAPF are: (1) to build effective partnerships that contribute to sustainable achievement of development priorities; and (2) to build and promote effective working relationships with African countries.

AusAID has appointed Cardno Emerging Markets (Australia) Pty Ltd as the Managing Contractor for the AAPF. Africa Program Support Group (APSG).  The APSG is a standing group of experts to support the AAPF and AusAID with scoping, designing, and monitoring and evaluation activities in the following fields:

(1) mining sector governance;

(2) agriculture and food security;

(3) public policy;

(4) monitoring and evaluation;

(5) capacity development;

(6) gender.

APSG members will be mobilised for specific assignments at the request of AusAID, as and when activities suited to the individual arise. Requests to APSG members may range from a few hours (telephone or email advice) to a few days or some weeks work on a scoping, design or monitoring and evaluation exercise.

Applicants will be assessed against following selection criteria:

• Demonstrated technical expertise in the relevant sector.

• Ability to provide sound formal and informal advice to AusAID and partners.

• Ability to act independently and resourcefully in responding to work demands.

• Ability to adjust to multiple demands, shifting priorities and change.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including excellent English report writing and presentation skills.

It is also highly desirable that applicants demonstrate:

• Knowledge of working effectively in the African context.

• Fluency in English with working knowledge of French, Portuguese or Arabic an advantage.

• Ability to mobilise at short notice to work in Africa and elsewhere.

Fees: AusAID’s Adviser Remuneration Framework (2011) will apply.

Applications are open for individuals. Interested applicants should contact Cardno Emerging Markets at procurement@aa-partnerships.org to request a full set of application documents, including detailed Terms of Reference and application instructions. Applications for the positions close at 5 p.m. South Africa time on 15th April 2011. No late applications will be considered.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Marie- Luce Penchard, The Minister in charge of Overseas Territories, honoured Pascale Chabanet, in Paris on the 8^th of March 2011. Pascale, a researcher at IRD was selected for the award by the Prefect of TAAF (Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises- French Southern and Antarctic Lands). The Minister received, in her office that day, outstanding women from all the overseas and ultramarine territories, who work to promote the dignity of women. International Women’s Day, which began one hundred years ago on March 8, 1911, is a day of global recognition of the economic, political and social contributions of women.

Speaking to IRD on her impending visit to Paris, Pascale Chabanet, a Coral Reef Ecology specialist  had the following to say on her award :

8 March, International Women’s day, you will be received  by the Minister in charge of Overseas Territories in your capacity as a marine scientist representing La Reunion and the Scattered Islands.  What does this invitation mean to you ?

It is an honour for me to have been selected by the Prefect to be, in his words, ‘ an ambassedor for  the Scattered Islands’. The Prefect was looking for a scientist therefore I see his choice as a recognition of my work not only in science but also in communication to raise awareness on these islands- through for example the 2004 film, ‘Juan de Nova, Coral Island’ directed by Rémy Tézier.

The invitation presents a great opportunity for me to talk about the creation of an  observatory project/post  in the scattered islands. (The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean -Îles Éparses or Îles éparses de l’océan indien) consist of four small coral islands, an atoll, and a reef in the Indian Ocean, and constitute the 5th district of TAAF since February 2007. They have no permanent population. Three of the islands — the Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova and Europa — and the Bassas da India atoll lie in the Mozambique Channel west of Madagascar, while the fourth island, Tromelin, lies about 450 kilometres (280 mi) east of Madagascar. Also in the Mozambique Channel is the Banc du Geyser, a reef which was annexed by Madagascar in 1976. The Islands are classified as nature reserves). The natural environment in the scattered islands, scarcely touched by human pressure, make them ideal places for the observation of global change in tropical areas. The establishment of an observatory post, in addition to the scientific interest that this would generate, would result in permanent settlement/presence  on these islands, that are currently occupied by the armed forces of the southern Indian Ocean (FAZOI),whose length of stay is undetermined.

As a female scientist in the overseas territorries, what would you want to see happen in them ? If you had one wish, what would it be ?

 To speak more on coral reefs

Coral reefs are only found in the tropics. France,through its overseas territories,  is the only country to have access to all the oceans where reefs thrive and is ranked 4^th worldwide in the totality of  areas covered by reefs. France therefore has a special responsibility towards the conservation coral reefs for ecological and socio-economic development that goes beyond mere postcards for tourists. It is thus our duty to talk about coral reefs

Improve on Science Communication

This is linked to the above, on speaking about corals. We must pass on information on coral reefs  not only through  writing scientific publications but also by transmitting this information to the general public, policy makers and especially to children.  Conservation and protection of reefs does not happen through the passing of laws only. To conserve resources, we must love them and see them as a priority to us.

Use Science to eliminate the North-South Differences

 This is what Associations like the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association are trying to achieve. WIOMSA aims for  the development, promotion and dissemination of marine science in the southwestern Indian Ocean. This is also partly the objective of the IRD for the whole world.

Read the full interview from:  http://www.ird.fr/toute-l-actualite/actualites/pascale-chabanet-honoree-pour-la-journee-de-la-femme-et-l-annee-des-outre-mer

Background

This position is part of the GASPAR program and financed by the FRB (“Fondation pour la Recherche sur la Biodiversité” – a French State Organization). The aim of GASPAR is the macro-ecological analysis of reef fish assemblages on a world-wide scale in order to understand their major functioning principles. The scientific program may be asked to M.Kulbicki (michel.kulbicki@ird.fr). This program is based on the principle of several meetings a year at the CESAB center (in France) during which the members of this program brainstorm on the questions and hypotheses in order to produce scientific information (mainly analytical and synthetic articles) and build a database which will be made freely available to the scientific community at the end of the program.

Skills :

The candidate should be skilled in the following domains: (a) theoretical ecology or community ecology; (b) statistics; (c) databases; (d) GIS. Fluent English is required; French is not required but would be advantageous. The role will consist of: (1) organizing a database which will compile information on the diversity of reef fishes from a wide selection of sites across the world, on their life-history traits, and on environmental factors. These data will originate from the members of the program and from existing international databases; (2) preparation of the meetings in order to facilitate the writing of analytical and synthesis articles on the macro-ecology of reef fishes. This preparation entails statistical pre-analyses, maps and the compilation of important references; (3) participation in the coordination of the project, in particular by liaising between the partners of this program; (4) contribute to the writing of scientific articles issued from this work.

The candidate will work with some of the best specialist in coral reef fish ecology. A number of high impact factor scientific articles are expected from this program, to which the candidate will be associated and in some instances be first author (depending on the degree of involvement). There should be also opportunities to attend international meetings and to meet renowned scientists in the field of reef ecology.

Contract duration and salary

The post-doc will be based at the “Laboratoire Arago” in Banyuls/mer (France –http://www.obs-banyuls.fr/) and will be under the supervision of Michel Kulbicki, the person in charge of the GASPAR program.

The contract is for 30 months and will start in July 2011. The net monthly pay will be around 1900 euros (the gross yearly salary will be 45 000 euros), this amount varying slightly according to the social security and welfare costs.

For any question regarding this position please contact Michel Kulbicki at:

Tel. : within France : 04-30-19-24-17 from overseas : 33-4-30-19-24-17

e-mail.:   michel.kulbicki@ird.fr

IRD- UR227 – Laboratoire Arago – BP 44

66651- Banyuls /mer – France

Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans (POGO) is pleased to announce that it will once again offer a special POGO Visiting Fellowship for training on-board an Atlantic Meridional Transect (AMT) cruise in 2011, in partnership with SCOR. This initiative is now in its fourth year and has proved to be a very successful training programme providing hands-on, sea-going experience to young scientists from developing countries, and the opportunity to be involved in an internationally renowned scientific programme.

The selected candidate will have the opportunity to visit Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) in the UK, for one month prior to the start of the cruise to participate in cruise preparation and planning; to go on the cruise (29 September – 14 November 2011 from UK to Chile) and help make hydrological, bio-optical and ecological observations; and after the cruise to spend one additional month at PML, learning to analyse the results statistically and interpret them. The fellowship will provide a round-trip ticket to the UK and a stipend for living expenses for up to two months stay in the UK; flights and accommodation associated with joining the ship; ship messing fee; seafaring medical and sea survival course.

The programme is open to scientists, technicians, graduate students (PhD) and Post-doctoral Fellows involved in oceanographic work at centres in developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

The application deadline is 1st May 2011. For further details visit http://ocean-partners.org.

A story entitled, “A push for more women in conservation at Cousin Island” has been posted on the ESARO website. You can locate it on the following link:

http://www.iucn.org/about/union/secretariat/offices/esaro/?7189/Cousin-Island