UNESCO/KBP/KMFRI Regional Workshop on Fundamental and Applied Marine Ecology

Abstract

Let me be,today, very short. I like to thank, in the first place, Dr. E .Martens, Mr. P.Pissierssens, Mrs. M.Opiyo and Mrs. J.Ndau for all they work, they did to prepare this workshop. I’m not sure that, without their energy, we would have had an organization of this workshop as we have. If there are any mistakes then it is my responsibility . All positive work is theirs. I like to thank the Kenyan and Belgian authorities and UNESCO for all the administrative, financial and moral support. I like to thank the International organizations UNESCO, IOC and UNEP who helped us and are willing to help u s in the f u t u r e for the development of Marine Research in the Region. And here, my wishes for the workshop are: That we develop a strategy to start the data - bank , that we develop a strategy to start the exchange of scientific literature, that we develop a strategy to start a newsletter... That we start the exchange of scientific results. I know the programmes of IOC, UNEP and UNESCO: all of us have to know them. All these organizations like to have a data - bank and exchange of information . All these organizations have a programme. All of them have some money. With a good co-ordination and organization , a follow - u p of ideas, strategies and philosophy, we can and will succeed in the development of marine sciences in the region with their help. In theory, the Kenya-Belgium Project will he finished at the end of this year. However, I hope that a new project will start. Th is new project ,the "Higher Institute for Doctoral and Post- doctoral Research and Education", will he a collaboration between the Kenyan and Belgian Government, implying the KMFRI and the Kenyan and Belgian Universities, with as speciality Marine Ecology. The new approach would he: the project will he open to the East African region, as will he the post-graduate course FAME, organized at the Free University of Brussels CVUB), within certain limits. I will give an introduction to this new Project: I hope you will give your remarks, suggestions and proposals. Indeed: IOC, UNEP and EEC requested me, in an inform alway, to discuss an "East-African Consortium of Marine Laboratories", each with their own specialities (Chemistry, Geology, Aquaculture , Fisheries ,...) interacting with each other and with specific European laboratories. Let’s ,start the workshop'. Let ’s develop 100 new proposals, then we are sure 10 will be a success. Thanks to all of you, to be present in Mombasa. The future of Marine Sciences in East Africa is in your hands .