Collaboration between the Nansen Programme and the Large Marine Ecosystem Programmes

Abstract

Norwegian development cooperation in fisheries has been taken place since the early 1950s and the Nansen Programme, now operating as the EAF-Nansen Project, has been one of its major representatives. The Nansen Programme has cooperated with developing nations, institutions and national and regional projects over the last forty years, representing an important mechanism for development assistance in the field of fisheries for the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). The scope of the cooperation has changed over the years to respond to emerging needs and challenges in partner countries. Since the Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) concept appeared in the global marine science and governance agenda, the Nansen Programme was seen as an important partner for the regional projects in Africa that emerged from the concept. The Nansen Programme has collaborated with the Agulhas and Somali Currents LME (ACSLME) project, the Benguela Current LME (BCLME) project and its successor the Benguela Current Commission (BCC) as well as the Canary Current LME (CCLME) project and the Guinea Current LME (GCLME) project. In South Asia, the Nansen Programme has also collaborated with the Bay of Bengal LME (BoBLME) project. This paper chronicles the nature of the collaboration and the mutual benefits accruing to all the parties.