The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO is currently implementing the project Invasive alien species and other ocean stressors: Furthering the scientific knowledge and capacity basis in the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME), which is funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). The project is implemented in collaboration with the Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO, Spain).

The project aims at furthering the scientific knowledge and capacity basis in the countries in the region (Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal and Spain (Canary Islands)) by adding a focus on the effects of multiple ocean stressors to the knowledge base of the Canary Current system. This new focus will include a collaborative approach to the question of invasive alien species (IAS), its connection with other ocean stressors, and an assessment of IAS and other ocean stressors in the region.

The third meeting of the project has been shaped as a workshop to discuss the alien species database for the CCLME that will be elaborated under the framework of this project. Such alien species databse is planned to be prepared based on desktop research.

The meeting is programmed for 5 May 2022, 14-17 h CEST (virtual). It will be held in English.

This capacity development effort is aimed at enhancing oceanography capacities in the region, providing room for scientific discussions. Networks will be built through the attendance of regional experts and postgraduate students from different countries and with different backgrounds.