Indo-Pacific Seagrass Network (IPSN): Assessing the value of seagrass for supporting livelihoods and food supply across the Indo-Pacific: A focus on gleaning

During this workshop we will launch the Indo-Pacific Seagrass Network (IPSN) a collaborative research network, with the overall aim to build capacity, foster learning exchange and conduct collaborative research on seagrass and... [ view full abstract ]

During this workshop we will launch the Indo-Pacific Seagrass Network (IPSN) a collaborative research network, with the overall aim to build capacity, foster learning exchange and conduct collaborative research on seagrass and their associated fisheries across the Indo-Pacific. We are inviting researchers, practitioners and resource users, interested in working with seagrass and associated fisheries in the Indo-Pacific, to this workshop and to become members of IPSN.

Seagrasses are important fishing grounds, used by men, women and children, targeting a wide range of species. The first year’s theme within IPSN is “seagrass gleaning”, in other words fishing/collecting invertebrates or fish with no or very basic gear in water where it is possible to stand.

This workshop will consist of two parts. Part 1 includes an introduction to IPSN, discussion on working within the network, and an introduction to the gleaning research protocol. Part 2 will focus on refining and practicing the research protocol for the first year’s theme - gleaning, to enable replicated data gathering across sites. Year 1 fieldwork is expected to be conducted between July 2018 and June 2019.

The structure of the collaborative network (IPSN) is such that each contributing team will own their own data, but the data will also be shared within the network to allow for larger-scale analysis. Each site is encouraged (and will be supported though the IPSN mentor program) to publish its collected data and share it with local and national fisheries and environmental authorities