The AIR Centre’s Executive Director, Miguel Miranda, participated in the International Conference on Sustainable Fishing and Aquaculture (CIPAS 2025) in Luanda, Angola, showcasing the application of Copernicus Earth Observation data to enhance ocean monitoring and support fisheries operations in Angolan waters.
Organized by Angola’s Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources under the theme “Responsible Fishing and Sustainable Aquaculture: A Challenge, a Commitment, a Mission Uniting the Nation,” the two-day conference brought together national and international experts to foster dialogue on sustainable fisheries.
On November 5, Miguel Miranda presented “Integration of Copernicus Data into the INIPM Portal: Supporting Ocean Monitoring and Fisheries Operations” as part of the Science, Data and Ocean Monitoring panel. His presentation highlighted the AIR Centre’s collaboration with Angola’s National Institute of Fisheries and Marine Research (INIPM) to enhance ocean observation capabilities using advanced satellite data. He also promoted the sea state forecasting service supported by the AIR Centre, which provides real-time data on significant wave height, peak period, currents, temperature, salinity, and elevation for Angola’s coastal waters – essential parameters for safe and efficient fisheries operations. This service is now fully accessible via INIPM’s official portal.
By integrating Copernicus data into local monitoring systems, the AIR Centre is supporting Angola in strengthening its capacity for evidence-based fisheries management and ocean surveillance, bridging Earth Observation technology with practical applications for ocean sustainability.
The conference was opened by José de Lima Massano, Minister of State for Economic Coordination, who emphasized Angola’s commitment to the National Development Programme 2023-2027 and the National Strategy for the Sea of Angola 2030, aligning with the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the African Integrated Maritime Strategy 2050.
The AIR Centre’s participation in CIPAS 2025 reinforces its commitment to supporting sustainable ocean management and fostering international collaboration in marine science across the Atlantic basin.
Networking Friday with Kwame Agyekum (University of Ghana / GEO Blue Planet)
On December 4th, 2020, 1-2 PM UTC, Kwame Agyekum, marine remote sensing scientist at the University of Ghana and Co-Chair of the GEO Blue Planet, will address the challenges in the fisheries sector with Earth Observation. The moderator will be José Luís Melo, CEO of XSEALENCE – Sea Technologies. The University of Ghana, through the EU/AU funded Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) & Africa project is supporting coastal states in West Africa to utilize Earth Observation data derived from space-borne sensors to support fisheries management efforts. By engaging with policy-makers, issues relating to changes in ocean processes and its impact on fish distribution, threats posed by illegal fishing and environmental destructions from spills at sea are being mitigated by employing geospatial technologies. This talk will provide some insights on the how satellite imaging is being used in planning monitoring and surveillance campaigns of industrial fishing fleets, generating key fishing effort indices, and providing periodic information of the state of the ocean to artisanal fishermen to reduce accidents at sea.
Networking Friday Thematic Special Session on Coastal Research in Amazonia
On November 27th, 2020, 1-3 PM UTC, we visited the coast of the Brazilian Amazonia to learn more about its dynamics, mangroves and coral reefs with Marcello Rollnic, coordinator of the Marine Environmental Monitoring Laboratory (LAPMAR) at the Federal University of Para, Brazil (UFPA); Pedro Walfir, researcher at the Vale Institute of Technology (ITV) and professor at UFPA; and Nils Asp, researcher at the Institute of Coastal Studies (IECOS) at UFPA.
Networking Friday with Maria Buraimoh (University of Lagos, Nigeria)
On November 20th, 2020, 1-2 PM UTC, we had Maria Buraimoh, University of Lagos, Nigeria. She presented Circular Economy: A Sustainable And Preventive Strategy For The Alleviation Of Atlantic Ocean Pollution. The moderator was Isa Elegbede, Faculty of Environment and Natural Sciences, Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU), Germany. The major challenges confronting the Ocean is pollution emanating majorly from land due to poor waste management (especially plastics/related polymeric material and other organic wastes). Unfortunately, in the developing part of the world where most water bodies are channelled into the Atlantic Ocean, the spread of light and floating plastic polymers travels to shared International environments. Invariably, wastes generated in one continent spread and find their ways to other connected continents via the pollution of the Atlantic Ocean with great consequences on the climate, and lives in the ocean. In her group, They have started to work on preventive approach to Atlantic Ocean and other environmental pollution, which could be achieved through circular economy and sustainable resource recovery especially in the developing country like Nigeria. This could help to maintain clean and safe Atlantic Ocean and environment. In addition, a way of job creation and eradication of poverty. Dr. Olanike Maria Buraimoh is a Lecturer and Researcher in the Department of Microbiology Faculty of Science, University of Lagos. She holds a Ph.D. certificate of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos Nigeria. Her research interest is focused on Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology with special focus on bioremediation of polluted ecosystems and bioconversion of wastes to value-added products as a sustainable solution to climate change.