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 Samuel Mafwila (SANUMARC, University of Namibia)
On May 8th, 2020, 1-2 pm UTC, we met Samuel Mafwila, Director of SANUMARC, which is a multidisciplinary research centre of the University of Namibia, located at Henties Bay, Namibia. The main themes discussed were the sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture sectors in Southern Africa, desert and coastal agriculture in Namibia and the importance of and indigenous knowledge. Stewart Bernard, Principal Researcher from CSIR – South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Chief Scientific Officer of the AIR Centre, moderated the session.
Networking Friday with Gregory Jenkins (Penn State’s AESEDA)
The Networking Fridays Webinar series started on April 24th with with Gregory Jenkins, Professor of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science at Penn State University and Director of AESEDA – Penn State’s Alliance for Education, Science, Engineering & Design with Africa, will share with the audience his work to improve observations and predictions on air pollution in West Africa by bringing together Earth observation, numerical modelling and innovative low cost sensors. The session will be moderated by Jerry Miller, President of Science for Decisions, a consulting practice founded to ensure that solid science is available to inform decisions that impact people and places around the globe.
Update #2: Coastal water, corn crops and atmospheric pollution