FAO.org

A workshop organized by the EAF-Nansen Programme on the analysis of Ichtyoplankton, was held from 17 to 28 September at Sam Nujoma Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre (SANUMARC) in Henties Bay, Namibia.

The workshop, attended by 10 scientist from Angola, Namibia and South Africa, was organized as part of the Theme 1 of the EAF-Nansen Programme Science Plan “Early Life History, recruitment and mortality” and also linked to the capacity development component of the Programme.

The main purpose of the workshop was to analyse the ichtyoplankton samples collected during the 2017 pelagic survey by the R/V Dr Fridtjof Nansen on the continental shelf and upper slope of the Southern African region (Angola, Namibia and South Africa).

Additionally this workshop aimed to:

• augment the understanding of the early life stages of fish species.
• standardize the identification of fish eggs and fish larvae;
• determine the abundance, distribution and composition of fish eggs and larvae;
• investigate the spawning and nursery areas of commercially and ecologically important fish species;
• provide an opportunity for capacity development on fish eggs and larvae identification.
• compile a report on the results for comparative studies