Fisheries experts will discuss ways to enhance research partnership and networking in marine science when they meet at a symposium in Suva on January 29 and 30.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the University of the South Pacific (USP) School of Marine Studies will co-host this symposium on Future International Cooperation and Human Resources Development in Marine Science and Fisheries.

The event is part of the programme organised to commemorate USP’s 50th Anniversary and the establishment of the School of Marine Studies’ 20th Anniversary this year.

The objectives of the symposium are in line with the sustainable Development Goals (SDG14) and those of the UN Ocean Conference held in July 2017 which was co-chaired by the Fiji Government.

Topics that will be discussed during the symposium are similar to  those of the upcoming 8th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 8), which will be hosted by the Japanese government in May 2018.

The SDG14 will be one of the most important topics of PALM 8.

The USP School of Marine Studies and Japanese universities discussions will centre on future prospects in terms of international co-operation and human resource development in the Pacific.

JICA Fiji Resident Representative, Yukari Ono said “JICA is pleased to partner with USP once again to host this timely event”.

Mr Ono said JICA and USP have a long-standing relationship and it has supported USP’s effort for institutional empowerment since 1996 – including the construction of the School of Marine Studies Campus.

Invited guest speakers include Japanese academics – Professor Hideo Yamasaki (Dean of Faculty of Science at University of the Ryukyus), Professor Shunsuke Koshio (Dean of Faculty of Fisheries at Kagoshima University), and Professor Takao Yoshimatsu (Assistant President of International Cooperation at Mie University).

The symposium is co-ordinated by JICA’s Expert, Masanami Izumi, who is based at the USP School of Marine Studies as Marine Resources management adviser.

The two-day meeting will be officially opened by the Minister for Fisheries, Semi Koroilavesau.

Edited by Percy Kean

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