10 June 2019

The Institute of Applied Sciences (IAS) Pacific Natural Products and Research Centre (PNPRC) Manager Dr Katy Soapi had attended the annual expert group meeting of the Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre (OA-ICC) at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Environment Laboratories, at Monaco on 28 May 2019. The meeting held in cooperation with The Ocean Foundation and Global Ocean Acidification Observation Network (GOA-ON) brought together 15 participants from seven Member States and the IAEA to assess needs and issues faced when undertaking ocean acidification monitoring and research in different regions. The participants had all been involved in previous ocean acidification capacity building efforts.

Dr Katy has been leading the Ocean Acidification (OA) and Blue Carbon Restoration Project implemented in Fiji since 2018. The funding for this important project is from The Ocean Foundation following the acquiring of a GOA-ON box kit for ocean acidification monitoring and research in Fiji by USP. She and other participants focused on developing practical guidelines for ocean acidification measurements and their associated uncertainties at the meeting. The full list of products, including manuals for the GOA-ON in a box kit, and a decision tree for chemical and biological ocean acidification studies depending on the intended use of the data, are open for community input. 

The Acting Director, Dr Isoa Korovulavula said that Dr Katy’s attendance at the experts meeting is a reflection of the importance of developing ocean acidification monitoring and research capabilities in the region. He added that the IAS OA project involves staff members from different units at IAS to increase its capacity building in OA activities