Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association

In conjunction with the 8th Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) Scientific Symposium, the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and WIOMSA will jointly host a one-day workshop on getting into print on October 27, 2013. This workshop will be directed at scientists interested in learning how to navigate the publication process.

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2013 is an election year for the new Board of Trustees. We are pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for elections of the WIOMSA Board of Trustees. As was the case in the last election, only members in good standing, that is paid members and students (these are exempted from paying membership fees) will be eligible to nominate, be nominated and to vote. Paid members and students may make up to four nominations one for each category (Island states, Mainland countries, Host country and membership from outside the region).

Current Trustees may be nominated subject to Article 9.2.4 (i) of the WIOMSA Constitution which states that the “The tenure of office for the President and Members of the Board shall be three years, eligible for one more re-appointment.” Based on this, members of the current Board of Trustees who have served only one term are eligible for one more nomination and subsequent reappointment while those who have served two consecutive terms are ineligible.

Please submit your nominations (one for each category) to the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The deadline for submission of nominations is 31 May 2013.

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WIOMSA’s initiative to promote the synthesis information of important case studies in the Western Indian Ocean has borne first fruits. After intensive writing, editing and art work the “Chwaka book” entitled: People, Nature and Research in Chwaka Bay, Zanzibar, Tanzania, was launched on 6^th February 2013 at a formal ceremony presided over by Honorable Abdilahi Jihad Hassan, the Minister of Livestock and Fisheries of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar.

The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, Hon.Mohammed Said Mohammed, Dr.Omar Amir-the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dr.Yohanna Shaghude-the Associate Director of the Institute of Marine Sciences, directors of different government departments, village heads from the 7 villages in Chwaka Bay, selected villagers who have assisted researchers in their work and representatives of NGOs. Also present at the ceremony were the editors of the book, Profs Maricela de la Torre-Castro (Stockholm University) and Thomas Lyimo (University of Dar es Salaam) as well as a number of authors of the different chapters of the book.

The book is a major synthesis of the knowledge available in terms of research and management of Chwaka Bay’s social-ecological system and consists of 15 chapters addressing:

• Physical and geological features
• Main key ecosystems in the tropical seascape: coastal strip vegetation, mangroves, seagrasses and corals
• Key components and processes in the system: For example, microalgae and calcareous algae as well as carbonate production
• Wider basin interlinkages: Nutrients and pesticide pollution considering surrounding landscapes and connectivity and nursery function within the Bay
• Human activities: Artisanal fisheries, Seaweed farming and Invertebrate collection
• Management issues: Historical changes in the management of the Bay, the consideration of management in the wider governance sphere and future management prospects

 WIOMSA is proud to be associated with this book and wishes to congratulate the editors and authors for work well done.

WIOMSA and the Unversidade of Eduardo Mondlane (UEM) are pleased to announce the Eighth WIOMSA Scientific Symposium which will be held in Maputo, Mozambique from Monday 28^th October – Saturday, 2 November 2013.

The week is divided into the following:

• The Eighth WIOMSA Scientific Symposium - 28^th to 30^th October 2013. This component will include: keynote presentations, oral and poster presentations.
• Specially convened sessions and roundtable discussions - 31 October 2013
• Fifth WIOMSA General Assembly – 1 November 2013
• Excursions and tours to different places of interest – 2 November 2013.

The Symposium will bring together practitioners, academics, researchers and students to share knowledge, experience and solutions to the challenges experienced in our coastal and marine environment. The Symposium theme is “Science and Society: Building Partnerships for Action”. This theme is in line with WIOMSA’s core activities. WIOMSA has been promoting partnerships through three main approaches: linking multiple scientific domains; institutional partnerships beyond the academic sphere; and linkages across geographic boundaries. The intention is to use the Eighth Symposium to reach out to new partners such as decision-makers and the private sector.

The deadline for submission of abstracts is 26 April 2013.

For more information, download the full announcement