Beach Fundraising Event for the Berbera College of Fisheries and Maritime Studies

Past Wednesday on the 11th of July Dutch based Somaliland NGO, the Daryeel Foundation organised a meeting on the potential, development and conservation of the Somali coast. With this Event Daryeel Foundation raised funds for the Berbera College of Fisheries and Maritime Studies. 140 Somali and Dutch individuals participated in the Event which took place on the beach of The Hague (The Netherlands).

Somaliland and Somalia together have the longest coastline of Africa (more then 3000km long) which lies on the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Because of the 16 year during civil war in Somalia and the lack of recognition in Somaliland little has been done for the development of the Somali Coastal Resources and protection of biodiversity along the coast. The zone is rich in marine resources. According to a marine biodiversity assessment carried out along Berbera coastal area in 1999 by Michael H. Schleyer of Oceanographic Research Institute, Durban, SA:

'The marine environment off Berbera is very productive. Seaweeds flourish in many areas in the inshore region and wind generated water movement promotes their growth as well as breakdown of algal detritus in the system. Large shoals of fish were observed in the region and these provide food for numerous dolphins, a further indication of high productivity…….The generally diverse fish fauna (140 species were recorded), and the presence of large schools of fish (as Lutjanids and Carangids), as well as abundance of large fishes (such as Serranids and Plectorhyrehids) is indicative of a relatively unexploited resource and pristine environment '

The development of the fisheris sector for example is constrained by the lack of adequate equipment, facilities, skilled personnel, commercial organisation, public policy and cultural orientation. The Berbera Marine College is the first institution in the country set up to address these issues. To raise funds for the Berbera Marine College, Daryeel Foundation organized an Event with the Somali community to discuss the potential and obstacles of sustainable coastal development. Internationanal organizations as African Parcs, IUCN and Fair Tourism participated in the Event. Dr.Saad Shire, a member of the development and fundraising team for Berbera College, gave a presentation on the mission, current situation and needs of the Berbera Marine College.

Khaalid Hassan,

Daryeel Foundation

khaalidh@yahoo.com

00-252-24140945

Hargeisa, Somaliland