TRANING COURSE ON BIOFOULING MANAGMENT PLAN AND RECORD BOOKS IN FIJI
Following the GloFouling Regional Taskforce Meeting, a Fiji National Training Course on Biofouling Management Plans and Biofouling Record Books was held on 19 and 20 July 2023. This event was attended by participants from both government and private sectors.
The GloFouling National Training was officially opened by Ms. Vani Filipe, Manager Legal for the Fiji Ports Corporation Limited (FPCL). She emphasized the importance of the workshop, stating, “You, sitting here today, have an important responsibility to the nation, the region, and our future generations to really make this workshop purposeful and effective.”
The training was an interactive session addressing biofouling issues and exploring how public and commercial maritime sectors can more effectively manage these issues using biofouling management plans and biofouling record books.
Participants highlighted the importance of early detection and rapid response to prevent the establishment and spread of invasive species. They discussed strategies for monitoring and surveillance, conducting risk assessments, and developing emergency response plans. By sharing information and expertise, the national task force can strengthen its capacity to manage and control invasive aquatic species effectively.
Mr. John Alonso, Project Technical Analyst at the GEF UNDP IMO GloFouling Partnerships, and Dr. Ashley Coutts, Managing Director and Principal Scientist at Biofouling Solutions Pty Ltd, guided participants through a comprehensive overview of biofouling stages, how organisms become invasive, and the necessity of having biofouling management plans and biofouling record books.
By the end of the two-day training, participants from both government and private agencies gained a clear understanding of the effectiveness of biofouling management plans and biofouling record books in reducing, managing, and even preventing biofouling. They also recognized the additional benefits of maintaining cleaner hulls and internal seawater systems.
The regional and national workshops were organized by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), in collaboration with the Project Coordination Unit of the GEF-UNDP-IMO GloFouling Partnerships and the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji.
