The Building Capacity in Ocean Acidification Monitoring in the Gulf of Guinea (BIOTTA) project, a collaborative initiative between the University of Ghana, the Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO) and the Ocean Foundation has launched a five-day training workshop aimed at building capacity in ocean acidification research in the Gulf of Guinea.
Dr. Edem Mahu, the BIOTTA Project Lead, warmly welcomed the guests and expressed her excitement about this crucial step towards safeguarding the health of marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of those who depend on them.
She provided an overview of the project, which was launched in 2020 in response to a working group proposal from POGO, noting that the BIOTTA project is both timely and essential in addressing the growing challenge of ocean acidification locally, regionally and globally. Dr. Mahu explained that ocean acidification, a direct consequence of increased carbon dioxide levels, poses a significant threat to marine life in coastal communities, including those in the Gulf of Guinea.
To complement global efforts, the project seeks to develop the capacity to measure and monitor ocean acidification in developing countries, where such studies are largely lacking due to a deficiency of expertise and state-of-the-art facilities.
She acknowledged the various contributions and support from stakeholders, including scientists, researchers, policymakers and representatives from various organisations, which have been vital to the success of the project. Dr. Mahu encouraged participants to collaborate with a common purpose and resolve to build a robust framework for monitoring and addressing ocean acidification, stressing that such actions would lead to a healthier and more resilient future for our oceans and communities.
Prof. Augustine Ocloo, Dean of the School of Biological Sciences, commended the Ocean Foundation and POGO for their support of the project and training programme. He emphasised the importance of researchers sharing their ideas and findings with the broader community, noting that such dissemination is vital for driving societal progress and addressing global challenges.
Recognising the threat of ocean acidification to the planet, he suggested that the training programme would not only support ocean acidification monitoring in the region but also contribute to global efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and their impact on the environment.
Prof. Ocloo urged participants to make the most of the networking opportunities and leverage the expertise of the facilitators for the benefit of their respective countries and the global community.
Dr. Kaitlyn Lowder, Programme Manager for the Ocean Equity Initiative, outlined the mandate of The Ocean Foundation, highlighting four key areas of focus: Blue Resilience, Teach for the Ocean, Plastics and the Ocean Science Equity initiatives. She emphasised the Foundation's commitment to supporting high-impact scientific research and called for the adoption of best practices to address ocean acidification, particularly in underrepresented areas.
Expressing her appreciation to the Management of the University of Ghana and the College of Basic and Applied Sciences for hosting the training programme, Dr. Sophie Seyave, Chief Executive Officer of POGO, noted that UG has maintained a continuous partnership with POGO on various projects. She commended Dr. Mahu for her leadership in leveraging the funding provided by POGO to secure a much larger grant for this impactful project focused on building capacities to support the implementation of ocean acidification monitoring in West Africa.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Benjamin Osei Botwe, Head of the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts to proactively conserve and manage marine resources, ensuring the sustainability of our oceans and the protection of human life.
Group photograph
Participants of the training programme will receive training on best practices in ocean acidification research, data management and the use of the “GOA-ON in a Box” kit. Each participating country in the workshop, i.e. Ghana, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, and Cameroon will receive a GOA-ON in a box kit to conduct ocean acidification research in their country.