Cawthron Institute hosted 20 scientists from the French national institute for ocean science and technology, IFREMER, last week for a five-day knowledge exchange workshop.
The IFREMER delegation visited Cawthron’s Nelson research facilities including the Cawthron Aquaculture Park at Glenduan and its main Halifax St campus.
Cawthron’s chief science officer Dr Cath McLeod says the visit’s focus was exploring research collaboration opportunities in areas like biodiversity and the blue economy.
“As research institutes dedicated to understanding and protecting the world’s oceans from urgent and increasing environmental pressures, Cawthron and IFREMER are eager to collaborate to leverage our efforts and have a greater combined impact,” she says.
“We’re keen to work together in a few priority areas including the impact of climate change on human and environmental health, advancing the future of marine aquaculture and transitioning towards sustainable blue economies.”
Dr McLeod says the visit was enormously beneficial for New Zealand’s research, science and innovation system, and the relationship between both countries.
IFREMER’s scientific director, Dr Chantal Compère, says that while the ocean offers great potential in terms of biological resources for the benefit of society, there were challenges that must be overcome if this potential was to be exploited sustainably.
“There are a lot of different pressures on marine ecosystems, including aquatic disease epidemics, invasive species incursions, harmful algal blooms and pollution, and all of these are made worse by climate change,” she says.
“Both Cawthron Institute and IFREMER hold expertise in these fields of science, and combining our knowledge and skillsets will create opportunities to enhance the health and wellbeing of the marine environment and the people who depend on it for food and income.”
Science and Higher Education attachée at the French Embassy in New Zealand, Anne Rouault, says that collaborative research between France and New Zealand was important for both country’s relationship.
“Today, science cooperation between New Zealand and France is strategically scaling up. New opportunities such as the recent association of New Zealand to Horizon Europe will support this positive dynamic,” she says.
“The collaboration between IFREMER and Cawthron will increase our capacity to deliver on the blue economy agenda and to address the global challenge of ocean protection.
“This cooperation occurs at a crucial moment ahead of the third UN Ocean Conference to be held in Nice in June 2025.”
