UNESCO-IOC Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) and Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI), the National University of Singapore, Singapore, as the local host, are organizing the Third IOC/WESTPAC-TMO and Singapore HAB joint workshop. The joint workshop will be held in Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI), National University of Singapore, Singapore from 6 to 10 March 2013.

A project “Toxic Marine Organisms and their toxins (TMO) proposed by Vietnam with the title “Enhance the awareness on toxic marine organisms” was approved at the 8th Session of WESTPAC held in May 2010 in Bali, Indonesia with strong support of member states, aiming to improve the awareness of local community on the natural biotoxins in marine organisms and their risks to human health within the Western Pacific region through the identification of toxic marine organisms and their toxins and dissemination of relevant scientific information to public.

This joint workshop seeks to bring together researchers from WESTPAC regions to share their experiences with Singapore local communities on harmful algal blooms, toxic marine organisms and their toxins and bloom managements. Purpose of this workshop are: 1) to exchange knowledge and understanding on HABs, toxic marine organisms and their toxins and managements between TMO members and local member state; 2) to enhance awareness in dealing with seafood poisonings caused by marine toxins; 3) to strengthen regional network and collaboration in marine toxins and HABs research.

Expected outputs of the workshop are: 1) Printed version of the 1st awareness material (poster and flyer on toxic marine puffers in WESTPAC region). 2) Final versions of electronic translated version of the 2nd awareness material (05 local version of the book “Ciguatera: field reference guide” including Chinese, Thai, Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam). 3) Materials, contain and final design of TMO webpage. 4) Detail activity plan of IOC/WESTPAC-TMO project in the 3rd phase of 2013-2014.

Contents of the workshop includes two main parts: Part 1: Singapre HABs seminar: Openning seminar session will be including presentations from all TMO international members with main topics such as overview and introduction of HABs, HABs in Southeast Asia and their impacts, How to develop HAB science in WESTPAC region, new tools of HAB research, toxic marine organisms and management of seafood poisoning problem, and public awareness. Also, Singporean scientists would share the experience on HABs research and monitoring in Singapore. During the seminar, questions and answers between speakers and audiences are made to give a good chance to share the experience from international well-known experts to local governmeners. Part 2: the 3rd TMO workshop: TMO workshop is going to focusing to review and finalyze the 2nd public awareness material (local versions of translated book), draft up the contains and design of TMO webpage, and discuss on future activity plan in the 3rd phase of 2013-2014.

Contacting address for further information:

Dr. Dao Viet Ha
WESTPAC-TMO Project Leader 
Head of Department of Biochemistry Institute of Oceanography
01 Cau Da-Nha Trang-Vietnam
Tel: +84 58 3590218, Fax: +84 58 3 590034
Email: daovietha69@gmail.com; dvhaio@yahoo.com

Mr. Wenxi Zhu
Head
UNESCO/IOC Regional Office for the Western Pacific
c/o Department of Marine and Coastal Resources
9th Fl., Government Complex B
120 Chaengwattana Rd, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 1411287, Fax: +66 2 1439245
Email: w.zhu@unesco.org