Last month, key stakeholders from Madagascar gathered at Le Pavé, Antananarivo, to participate in a pivotal workshop co-organized by the WIOBathy project and the Foibe Taotsarin-tanin’i Madagasikara (FTM) – the country’s National Geographic and Hydrographic Institute.
The workshop – which brought together representatives from government, academia, and industry – focused on the collation and compilation of bathymetric data, to advance ocean mapping efforts in Madagascar. It was co-facilitated by Tinah Martin, Lead Data Manager at Seabed 2030’s Atlantic and Indian Oceans Regional Center with the WIOBathy lead team from the Kenyan Marine and Fisheries and Marine Research Institute (KMFRI),
The WIOBathy project, led by alumni from the Western Indian Ocean Region trained through the Nippon Foundation/GEBCO Training Program, aims to produce the first authoritative bathymetric map of the region – with valuable data being contributed to Seabed 2030.
Over the course of the three-day event, workshop participants – representing institutions such as the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, the National Geographic and Hydrographic Institute, the Madagascar National Oceanographic Data Center, the Institute for Geophysical Observation of Antananarivo, the Marine and Fluvial Authority, the Office for Mines and Strategic Industries – shared data, identified gaps in ocean mapping capabilities and explored strategies to enhance local expertise in bathymetric data collection and processing.
Madagascar’s economy relies heavily on its marine resources, and understanding the ocean floor is critical to managing and conserving these vital assets. This collaborative workshop was a step toward developing the capacity necessary to carry out large-scale ocean mapping projects, ensuring that Madagascar plays a central role in regional and global seabed mapping efforts.