FAO Sabbatical Update
My sabbatical project at FAO in Rome ends this week. Part of this project was to identify content for the Aquatic Commons. We contacted all regional fishery management organizations and several regional fishery bodies with information about the Commons and a letter from FAO advocating wider dissemination and preservation of fisheries and aquaculture grey literature via the Aquatic Commons. I’m happy to report that several regional organizations have already responded positively.
The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission has decided to partner with IAMSLIC to include their publications. Several Cyamus members have agreed to collaborate on this project and Debra Losey is coordinating with IATTC. Another important component of this project is as a test case for regional group sponsorship of an agency wishing to deposit into the Aquatic Commons.
A development project hosted at the Network for Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific, the Support to Regional Aquatic Resources Management (STREAM) Initiative, has also agreed. As this project is no longer active, the rescue of STREAM publications documenting their work with aquaculture and poverty in Asia is especially satisfying.
There are a couple of other agencies engaged in preliminary discussions with Jean. She’ll keep you posted on future developments. We would also like to remind members that the Aquatic Commons Content Development Working Group is in need of additional members especially from Regional Groups outside North America.
Regards,
Joan Parker
