SOUTH AFRICA: The SA Agulhas II berthed in the Port of Cape Town from Marion Island today after the scheduled trip to fetch the team of scientists overwintering at the base was delayed due to lack of available fuel.

GENEVA: Experts from governments and employers' and workers' organisations have adopted the first-ever code of practice on occupational safety and health in aquaculture, marking a significant step towards strengthening protections for workers in one of the fastest-growing food production sectors.

SOUTH AFRICA: CSIR will lead the efforts of experts South Africa, Madagascar and Mauritius to develop the early-warning tools  needed to manage oil spills, typhoons and coastal flood risks off Africa’s eastern and southern coasts.  

A spate of hijackings and armed robberies over the last two months have put at least 44 crewmembers at risk and raised concerns about a resurgence of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the off the coast of Somalia.

MADAGASCAR: A regional study tour to promote the sustainable octopus fisheries, harvesting, handling, processing, marketing and conservation was hosted in the city of Toliara, Madagascar last week where octopus fishing remains vital to the coastal community.

SOUTH AFRICA: A public participation process is under way for revised Environmental Management Programmes covering four offshore production rights off Mossel Bay held by PetroSA in Block 9. The notice, published this week, invites the public to comment on the amended programmes by 28 May.

EGYPT: With two tugboats under construction for the export market, and the contract for another two signed,  the Suez Canal Company (SCA) is currently negotiating to build a additional tugs as well as a barge and yacht.

Developing countries, in particular small island developing States (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs), can now apply for financial support to attend a key meeting on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping later this year.