Welcome to the ASCLME Project
Between 2008 and 2012, the nine countries of the western Indian Ocean region, including Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa and Tanzania, will work together through the UNDP/GEF Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystems (ASCLME) Project.
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Agulhas Current Large Marine Ecosystem |
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The ACLME lies off the southeastern margin of the African continent and includes the continental shelf areas of South Africa, Mozambique, the Comoros Islands, the Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius. The narrow, swift and strong Agulhas current flows southwestwards, down the east coast of Africa (the Agulhas current proper only forms in the southernmost part of the Mozambique channel). The region’s mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs reflect high degrees of biodiversity, but with improved fishing methods, greater numbers and varieties of marine organisms are being exploited. As a consequence, fish stocks are shrinking and several species face potential extinction. The ACLME also faces pressure from urbanisation, industrialisation and tourism. You may be interested in reading our summary of what is known about the oceanography of the region.
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“This is the first time I’ve attended the PSC meeting and, before I came here, I had a completely different perception of this project. I am glad to have attended this meeting because I now have a detailed understanding of the project. Generally, I’m very impressed. After only year, the project has already produced certain products and the outreach is very good. Now that I understand the project, I will be in a better position to coordinate my country’s participation. I am going to set up an office in the Institute to facilitate Kenya’s participation in the ASCLME Project.” Johnson Kazungu, Executive Director of Kenyan Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
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