Report of the training course on integrated coastal management in the Bay of Bengal, Chonburi, Thailand, 20-24 October, 2014

Participants consisted of 25 middle and junior level personnel from BOBLME countries. Modules included: Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) concept and principles; ICM development and implementation; indicators of good practice; and action planning.

Report of the Socio-economic Monitoring (SocMon) Training Workshop for Mannar, Sri Lanka, 26 May-1 June, 2015

The Socio-economic Monitoring (SocMon) training workshop followed up from the capacity building workshop held in Mannar, 2015. It's aims were to validate information collected at the previous workshop, assist in filling in any gaps and develop a vision tree fro future actions. Planned outputs included: a detailed workplan; a workshop process report; and a final socioeconomic base line report for Vidathaltivu village.

Report of the training on seagrass conservation and monitoring, Myanmar, 26 April -3 May, 2015

Trainers from the region contributed theory and practical training to trainees from government departments, universities and NGOs relevant to conservation of seagrasses and monitoring methods.

Report of the Training Workshop on MPA Management Effectiveness Assessment Tool, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 27 and 29 April, 2015

Objectives of the workshop included; introduction to various Marine Protected Area (MPA) tools with a focus on Management Effectiveness Assessment Tool (MEAT); report on selected MPAs in Bangladesh; undertake initial assessments using MEAT; and develop workplans for other MPAs

Feasibility study: the methods and approaches to implementing a SEREAD teacher training programme in BOBLME countries

Objectives included a desk-top feasibility study to explore opportunities to adapt the Scientific Educational Resources and Experience Associated with the Deployment of Argo profiling floats in the South Pacific Ocean (SEREAD) to BOBLME country schools.The programme included teacher resources on climate change and facilitating interactions between scientists, students and teachers.

Report on science communication training and Wayamba International Conference (WINC) on Sustainable Development through Equitable Sharing

This report presents presentations from representatives of 12 countries, key outcomes and recommendations for the future.

Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (Essential EAFM) training and TOT in Sri Lanka

This report presents presentations from representatives of 12 countries, key outcomes and recommendations for the future.

Training aspects for a trawling fishery

Trawling experiments carried out by the United Nations Development Programme Project and the Uganda Department of Fisheries, strongly suggest that the trawling method of fishing, if introduced on Lake Victoria, would bring about a tremendous increase in fish production from the lake. It is recognised, however, that before trawling is introduced, its economic, social, technical, biological and manpower implications must be carefully analysed. I now propose to discuss the training aspects of a trawl fishery on Lake Victoria.

Methodology for valuing wetlands in Uganda

The wetlands in Uganda are undergoing rapid degradation. Swamps provide a habitat for birds, fishes and other animals. They have many ecological functions and, furthermore, supply people with multiple resources, such as reeds, herbs, fish and agricultural products. Although some'uses of wetland are sustainable, others lead to rapid deterioration. The main threat to swamps are human activities. One reason for the progressive destruction of wetlands is that the people may not appreciate the existence of and the treasures represented by wetlands even if they live in arm long distance from them. Another reason is that the two most important user groups of wetlands, farmers and fishermen, although having conflicting interests concerning the wetlands, hardly interact. A study, done as part of the Ecotone Project at the Fisheries Research Institute (FIRI), tries to evaluate in monetary terms how much Uganda loses with progressive destruction of wetlands. The study looks first at which uses of the wetlands are of importance and thereafter it examines, what data is needed and available to calculate the values of those uses.