On 9 September 2023, a team of researchers and field workers gathered in Dar es Salaam to begin a very practical job: getting ready to study what lives on the seabed along Tanzania's northern coast.
Why the meeting matters
Tanzania's coast is busy. Fishers, boats and weather all leave a mark on what happens under the water. To manage the sea well, decision-makers need to know what is actually down there.
That is the point of the seabed survey (called the Benthic Ecological Survey, or BES for short). It is part of the USAID Heshimu Bahari programme, and ASUTA is leading the work along the northern coast.
Where it happened
The training took place at the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI) centre in Kunduchi, Dar es Salaam. TAFIRI has years of experience collecting information about Tanzania's fish and marine life, which made it the right home for the workshop.
Who opened the workshop
Mr. Barakael Matulu, the project coordinator, welcomed everyone and invited the guest of honour, Dr. Ismael Kimirei, Director General of TAFIRI, to address the room.
Dr. Kimirei kept his message simple: good decisions about the sea need good information, and good information starts with people who know what they are doing in the field. He urged the team to take the work seriously. Mr. Sadik Laiser, Chief of Party for Heshimu Bahari, was also in attendance. The workshop was declared officially open at 10:00 AM.