NF-UBC Nereus – Predicting the Future Ocean program
University of British Columbia researchers launched a $13-million, nine-year research program on Dec. 5, 2010 with Japan’s Nippon Foundation (NF) to study the future of the world’s oceans and to monitor the impact of human activities on seafood resources.
With support from the Foundation’s Marine Affairs Department, the NF-UBC Nereus – Predicting the Future Ocean program at the UBC Fisheries Centre will forge partnerships with Princeton University, Duke University, Stockholm University and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) World Conservation Monitoring Centre at Cambridge University.
As part of the program, international experts in fisheries, climate change, environmental policy, geospatial modeling, marine ecology and socio-economics will engage in research collaborations, capacity building and increasing public awareness about fish stock depletion.
“UBC is a leader in international research partnerships,” said UBC President Stephen Toope, who helped launch the program today at the Nippon Foundation Building in Tokyo. “This generous support from and collaboration with The Nippon Foundation will enable international research to address some of the most pressing issues facing the world’s oceans today and for generations to come.”
See press release at http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/2010/12/05/mr-10-170/
See Nereus website at www.nereusprogram.org for video and image samples and more details.
Project Seahorse
Project Seahorse sets up new Hong Kong council to improve conservation of marine species used in Traditional Chinese Medicine
The statistics are staggering: Approximately one-quarter of the world’s population draws on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to meet their health needs, and more than 600 types of marine animals and plants are used in TCM.
A new Hong Kong council led by the Fisheries Centre’s Project Seahorse, in partnership with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) merchants, conservation groups, the University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong government, is aiming to improve the conservation of marine species used in TCM.
This initiative is a first-time collaboration, which will work directly with TCM training centres in Hong Kong and mainland China.
“Such cooperation is critical because Hong Kong is the world’s largest entry port for TCM products, which are sold locally and also re-exported to mainland China and other Chinese communities globally,” says Prof. Amanda Vincent, director of Project Seahorse and Canada Research Chair in Marine Conservation.
