News

2017 was an active year for UNU-FTP. In addition to regular activities, like the six month post graduate training and in-country work, UNU-FTP took part in several large conferences and projects in 2017.

The board, staff and fellows of the United Nations University - Fisheries Training Programme in Iceland send you best wishes for the festive season and a Happy New Year.

Fishing with beach seines has become controversial over the years because of the adverse impact it has on aquatic habitats and also out of concern for overfishing. In Kenya the government took the step in 2001 to prohibit altogether the use of this technique in the country’s important Lake Victoria fisheries. Still, quite a few fishermen keep on using their seines along the shores of the lake thereby seriously undermining management efforts. Why do they take the risk of being caught and penalized? Why don’t they join the common cause of conservation? Is there anything that can be done to alter their behaviour?

The UN General Assembly recently used the NASDAQ billboard in Times Square to promote a UN Decade of Ocean Science 2021-2030. UN's Special Envoy for the Ocean believes this could be the start of a concerted action for the protection of the ocean.

As usually the UNU-FTP fellows have been very busy during the autumn period. Apart from heavy academic work schedule they are also confronted with the task to adapt to a new environment. Sometimes, of course, it is too much and everybody has to chill out.

Recording of UNU-FTP 2017 guest lecture, by Ray Hilborn, Status of Fish Stocks, is now ready online.