New Proposals

• Enhanced Cooperation In Observations On Whale Sharks In The Indian Ocean
• Timor Sea Deep Ocean To Continental Shelf Model Demonstration Proposal

ENHANCED COOPERATION IN OBSERVATIONS ON WHALE SHARKS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN

Proponent: Dr John Keesing, Research Director, Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment, CSIRO, Australia

Proposal:

The proposal emanated from the 1st International Whale Shark Conference held in Perth, Australia in May 2005. The Conference had delegates and/or reports from 23 countries worldwide including the following from the Indian Ocean: South Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, Kenya, Djibouti, Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Christmas Island, Australia. Other countries in the region represented included Singapore, Taiwan and Philippines.

The conference issued a Communique calling for world wide halt to Whale Shark harvesting, enhanced collaboration in international research and encouraged moves towards sustainable socio-economic development uses other than harvesting. Indian Ocean countries include those that are among the worlds most active in research and conservation and where new opportunities for the development of sustainable ecotourism exist. The Indian Ocean also includes countries which still harvest Whale Sharks and opportunities exist to influence a change to moves towards sustainable ecotourism as an alternative.

In recognition of the existing activities and networks in the Indian Ocean Region and the enthusiasm for enhanced regional cooperation together with the significant benefits to be obtained from such regional cooperation, the 1st International Whale Shark Conference agreed that a presentation be made to the IOGOOS III meeting to assess the interest of IOGOOS in supporting the development of a project of regional collaboration.

Relevance and reason for succesful outcomes:

Apparent yet poorly understood link between migration and oceanography; Mechanism to link IOGOOS oceanographic observations to biology and socio-economic activity; Range of existing activities in place; As yet not well coordinated (except perhaps East Africa/Seychelles); Committed people with good networks; Conservation and community building socio-economic outcomes not just research; Link to strong international conservation agenda; Whale Sharks = Smart Argo buoys!, ability to provide oceanographic depth/temperature profiles.

Role for IOGOOS:

Host regional meetings and workshops (the framework of regular regional IOGOOS meetings provides a useful timetable for meetings); Endorse project under IOGOOS Coastal Projects framework; Support capacity building through IOC (e.g. In Photo ID); Support Remote Sensing requirements; Facilitate data availability and exchange; Support applications to member country governments for funding

TIMOR SEA DEEP OCEAN TO CONTINENTAL SHELF MODEL DEMONSTRATION PROPOSAL

Proponent: Dr Ray Steedman, Chairman of WAGOOS

Proposal:

WAGOOS to examine the feasibility of demonstrating the coupling of the deep ocean operational model Bluelink with a shelf model. The project is consistent with the Coupling Shelf and Deep Ocean Models strategy of the COOP Implementation Strategy for the Coastal Module of GOOS.

Application in Timor Sea:

Apply model to Timor Sea considering (a) Bluelink (Australia - Navy/CSIRO/Bureau of Meteorology); (b) Appropriate higher order shelf model; (c) Data and information; (d) Assimilation; (e) Application to environment and or engineering.

Responsibility for Proposal:

WAGOOS; Indonesian Institute and person - to be identified

Implementation:

R Steedman, chairman of WAGOOS, will present the concept to next WAGOOS meeting. If approved WAGOOS shall proceed with:
(a) seek an Indonesian partner agency;
(b) develop a plan
(c) determine funding mechanism