The UNESCO/IOC Chair in Marine Sciences and Oceanography (Chairholder: Dr. A. Hoguane) was established at the Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), Maputo (Mozambique) in March 1999 as a follow up to the PACSICOM Conference (1998). Its overall objective is to build teaching and research capacity in Marine Sciences within the country. The major challenge is to bring scientists from different disciplines, the UEM Departments and from other institutions (both national and international) in view of building a culture of multidisciplinary research in Marine Sciences among the national scientists.

A concept paper of the vision and a five-year Action Plan for the Chair have been prepared putting emphasis on building capacity for teaching and research in coastal and marine resources management in Mozambique and in the region. However, due to difficulties in obtaining funds it was not possible neither to employ an international Professor to hold the Chair nor to execute the Plan in full.

The B.Sc. courses in Meteorology and Oceanography have been established at UEM (started in August 2001), and about 60 students registered for the first year of Oceanography. Some 20 more second- and third-year students also registered. The Oceanography course at UEM, being focused on coastal processes, is (i) complementary to that of the University of Cape Town in South Africa and (ii) has a regional significance. Co-operation between the two Universities is being exploited. Through its partners abroad, the Chair mobilises support to the course in Oceanography.

The Chair, working in collaboration with other UEM Departments, was instrumental in establishing the first in Mozambique degree course in Marine Sciences. A proposal for establishing a M.Sc. course in Environmental Sciences is being worked out at the Faculty of Sciences, with full involvement of the Chair.

As of today, five B.Sc. and four M.Sc. students, (co-)supervised by the Chair, graduated. Through the SIDA-SAREC Regional East African Marine Science Program and in cooperation with the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), the Chair co-sponsors M.Sc. studies. The Chair co-supervises two Ph.D. studies and assists a few students in drafting and submitting their M.Sc. and Ph.D. proposals. The Chair assisted in 1999 three Mozambican scientists in having training on board FSR African (South Africa). The training provided skills in handling oceanographic equipment and data processing. Two other scientists attended a course on Oceanographic Data Management.

Research undertaken through the Chair in the Mozambican coastal zone is related to management of coastal and marine resources. Feasibility study of the Maputo Bay coastal zone was concluded as part of a sub-regional Maputaland coastal management project (part of the CSI programme). This research aims at identification of the main environmental issues and problems that could hamper the sustainable development in the Maputo Bay. Other research projects included: Zambezi runoff and shrimp abundance (concluded) and Modelling the ecosystem dynamics in the Mozambique Channel (in progress).

Together with the UNESCO/MAB Chair at UEM and a number of national research institutions, the Chair participated in the developed and implementation of a multidisciplinary research project for the Incomati River basin, with the main objective to determine the state of the conservation of the ecosystems in the Incomati river basin and to develop a common vision of an integrated river basin management.

The Chair participates in the Global Integrated Water Assessment and leads one of its groups of experts. It participates in the African process as a national co-ordinator for conducting analysis of the environmental problems and as a regional co-ordinator for developing a programme of intervention to addressing these issues. The Chair participates in the regular meetings of the “Indian Ocean Rim - Association for regional Co-operation”.

The Chair considers international networking as an important issue. For that, it operates a number of Link arrangements. Thus, Universities of Wales (UK) and Bergen (Norway) provided assistance in setting the syllabus for the degree courses in Meteorology and Oceanography. Surveys in the Maputo Bay, studies of environmental factors in the productivity of prawns and modelling the ecosystem of the Mozambican Channel have been funded by external sources. The University of Gothenburg (Sweden) co-supervises two Mozambican Ph.D. studies. Some oceanographic and office equipment was provided and used for research and training. A proposal for multidisciplinary research in the Maputo Bay has been accepted for funding by the European Union. Research exchanges with the above-mentioned Universities take place. The University of Dar-Es-Salaam has agreed to support the Eduardo Mondlane University in teaching the subject of Beach Processes.

The Chair organised two seminars in Maputo (2000) and participated in a number of scientific and technical meetings.

The activities of the Chair have contributed to raising awareness on the importance of Marine Sciences for marine and coastal zone management. The University considers now Marine Sciences as a priority area. Within this area, Integrated Coastal Zone Management is a priority. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology considers a possibility of allowing a representative of Marine and Coastal Zone Management in the National Council of Science and Technology, and the Government of the Province of Zambezi has requested the University to help establishing an Educational/Research Centre of Marine Affairs in that province. Marine Sciences, in particular Oceanography, are becoming more popular in Mozambique. The Oceanography students undertake voluntary work in different governmental institutions. As a direct consequence, institutions have expressed their interest to employ some of the students when they conclude they education. The number of inquires about the Oceanography course have increased, both from potential employers and students.

Recent activities
The UNESCO/IOC Chair in Marine Sciences and Ocenography played a key role in the organisation of the first IOC/WIOMSA leadership workshop for heads of institutes.