The Project
The project is a partnership between the International Maritime Organization (IMO) the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) co assisted by the International Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) and the World Ocean Council (WOC).
PERSGA was selected among other seven regional organizations to run this project for the coming five years. The project is funded by GEF for 6.9 Million $US. Four countries, namely: Jordan, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia, from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Region participate in this project. The project aims to protect the marine biodiversity by minimizing the impacts from aquatic Biofouling organisms and support Goal number 14, life below water, of the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Projects Objectives
The overall objective of the GloFouling Partnership Project is to build capacity in developing countries for implementing the IMO Biofouling and other relevant guidelines for biofouling management and to catalyse overall reductions in the trans-boundary introduction of biofouling-mediated IAS with additional benefits in the reduction of GHG emissions from global shipping.
Glofouling Partnership project communication strategy
The environmental threats and socioeconomic impacts that could be derived from the transfer of IAS can be summarized below.
Environmental Threats:
1
Damage to commercial and recreational fishery and aquaculture
2
Modification of physical structures
3
Alteration of overall habitat dynamics and fundamental changes in ecosystems
4
Predation on and competition with native species
Socio Economic Impacts:
1
Removal of natives’ species from recreational fishing areas (e.g parasite or viral infection). Threat to aquaculture operations by fouling structures , equipment
2
Damage to coastal infrastructures (tourism, water cooling intakes and heat exchangers for power plants, desalination plants intake, etc). Reduce value of waterfront properties. Biofouling of commercial craft and standing/fixed structures
3
Reduction in amenity value. Loss of tourist attractions (beach deterioration/change). Restricted access for coastal recreation. Bioturbation and erosion from burrowing fauna
4
Removal of traditional food and recreational species. Collapse in biodiversity toward a monoculture habitat. Over-exploitation of primary productivity collapsing native food chains.
What are the environmental threats and socio-economic impacts?
The GloFouling Partnership project coordination unit in collaboration with the IOC-UNESCO, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and World Maritime University (WMU) has implemented a multi-faceted communication strategy which includes several on-line tools and social media platforms, such as conferences, seminars, video clips animations, e-deliverytraining courses.
project’s components
Component 1
Assessing..
Assessing relevant national and regional policies, legislation and institutions to identify gaps, inconsistencies and conflicts, and, as appropriate, adopt LPIR measures to minimise the risk of IAS transferred through biofouling.
Component 2
Developing ..
Developing capacity for the implementation of the IMO Biofouling Guidelines through national capacity building, training and technical support, undertaking focused and sustained communications and awareness-raising and executing Pilot/Demonstration Projects in selected ports and marine protected areas.
Component 3
Building…
Building on the existing partnership concepts and mechanisms, established through GEF’s GloBallast partnerships, and expanding the existing GIA framework to bring active private sector participation at global, regional, national and local levels, to ensure the development of innovative technological and other solutions and financial sustainability for the control and management of biofouling and for the effective involvement of the relevant stakeholders.
Component 4
Knowledge..
Knowledge management and developing an institutional and procedural approach for monitoring and evaluation of biofouling management and control measures.
Component 5
Adaptive..
Adaptive project management and coordination for implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
GloFouling Partnerships project’s outputs
Activity 1.1.4.1
Set up Regional Task Forces (RTFs) in strategic regions.
The RCOs will each establish a new RTF or utilize appropriate existing task forces with representation from all countries in the region. The aims of creating RTFs are:
- To serve as a mechanism to expand Partnering Countries’ interest and involvement in GloFouling Partnerships.
- To raise issues and concerns, and generate regional status reports, for consideration at the GPTF meetings.
To provide an opportunity for PCs to gather knowledge on the status of the IMO Biofouling Guidelines,including guidance on implementing the Guidelines. - To develop recommendations for regional coordination on biofouling management issues and develop a Regional strategy for biofouling management (Activity 1.1.4.2).
- To identify mechanisms for national and regional sustainability on biofouling management issues after the conclusion of GloFouling Partnerships.
Activity 1.1.4.2
Draft regional strategies in strategic and outreach regions.
- RTFs in each strategic region will examine options for regional cooperation and the coordination of biofouling management measures and develop a strategy to develop regional harmonization of biofouling management in each strategic region. Regional strategies should consider NBMS developed under the GloFouling Partnerships Project as well as biofouling management practices and approaches implemented by other nations both regionally and globally.
- Based on the work conducted in strategic regions, the GloFouling Project will also engage other regions (outreach regions) to examine options for regional cooperation and the coordination of biofouling management measures and develop a strategy to encourage regional harmonization of biofouling management in each outreach region. Regional strategies should consider NBMS developed under the GloFouling Partnerships Project as well as biofouling management practices and approaches implemented by other nations both regionally and globally.
Glofouling Partnership project communication strategy
The GloFouling Partnership project coordination unit in collaboration with the IOC-UNESCO, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and World Maritime University (WMU) has implemented a multi-faceted communication strategy which includes several on-line tools and social media platforms, such as conferences, seminars, video clips animations, e-delivery training courses.