The 13th Ocean Governance Training Programme took place at Kirstenbosch Gardens in Cape Town with local and international participants. Of the 23 participants, 12 were from South Africa and 11 from countries across Africa, including Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Seychelles, Mozambique, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Egypt and Cameroon. Lectures were delivered by distinguished speakers from across the African continent and complementing the course content, interactive sessions enhanced discussion while targeted field trips around Cape Town provided practical case study opportunities.
The weeks were characterised by thoughtful and enthusiastic input from the participants. The programme encouraged peer-to-peer learning and group exercises throughout the training. Group work explored and analysed topics such as the legal framework that underpins ocean governance; the impact of climate change on Africa’s blue economy; and the assessment of risk associated with marine and coastal invasive alien species. In addition, groups participated in a practical marine spatial planning process, using the interactive board game donated by IOC-UNESCO to simulate a Marine Spatial Planning situation. One exercise ran throughout the four weeks with groups developing a policy brief on one of four broad topics listed below:
- Maritime Sector
- Small scale fisheries
- Blue Economy
- Marine genetic resources
Experts in science and policy were invited to assess the group presentations and the final policy briefs, and provide further insight. The panel members' results revealed that the marine genetic resources group ticked all the boxes for a policy brief document with an exceptional group presentation.
The field trips form an integral part of the technical course schedule, as well as providing the participants with a change of scenery. For many of the participants, it is their first time visiting some of the world-famous Western Cape sights. The photos below show a few highlights from visits to the Two Oceans Aquarium, Cape Town Harbour, the Kraaifontein recycling plant, Zandvlei Nature Reserve, the Boulders Penguin Colony and Shark spotters.
Overall, the course was successful with overwhelmingly positive responses from all participants.
