Over the next few weeks, the Norwegian research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen will be on a mission on behalf of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to study the ecology of marine ecosystems in the southern Indian Ocean. Located in between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, the Indonesian archipelago provides an important passage for ocean currents that, among others, have a major impact on regional and global weather patterns. Hence, the Indonesian seas play an important role in the world's climate system.

One example is the El-Niño, a global weather phenomenon caused by a band of warm ocean water that develops in the equatorial Pacific, an important trigger of drought in many parts of the world. The Indian Ocean also has its own phenomenon called the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) that has a significant impact on the weather and climate in Indonesia.

Aside from playing an important factor in the country's weather and climate, the Indian Ocean is also a key fisheries zone and the largest contributor to Indonesia's tuna production. The country's annual tuna harvest ranges between 105,000 and 180,000 metric tonnes, far larger than India's or any other country's tuna harvests from the Indian Ocean.

Given the importance of the Indian Ocean for Indonesia and for the world, Indonesia declares its full support to the 2nd International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE-2), which is being undertaken to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first International Indian Ocean Expedition in 1965. The IIOE-2 will be launched in December 2015 and aims to enhance knowledge about the oceans and atmospheric interactions, including biogeochemical processes, ecosystems, and global fisheries. Indonesia has also stated its full support and interest to engage in the 2nd IIOE during the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission's 28th Session, currently being held at UNESCO in Paris.

The Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs, in partnership with FAO and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Jakarta, will hold a welcoming event that will also mark the start of the Demonstration Survey in Preparation of IIOE-2. The event will be held on board of the research vessel R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen on 25th June, 2015.

This international survey activity will be conducted for 21 days and involve 16 marine researchers from 12 countries (Norway, Indonesia, Madagascar, Spain, the Netherlands, Kenya, South Africa, France, India, Tanzania, and the Seychelles). The survey team will conduct research on how the Indian Ocean Gyre (a large system of rotating ocean currents) affects the ecosystem and fisheries. The vessel will leave Jakarta on 26 June to commence the survey that will end in Port Louis, Mauritius on 16 July 2015.

"We expect that the Nansen project will strengthen regional efforts to reduce poverty and create conditions to assist in the achievement of food security through the development of sustainable fisheries management", said Mark Smulders, FAO Representative for Indonesia.

FAO has been collaborating with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) of Bergen, Norway over the past 34 years towards the successful implementation of previous phases of the Nansen Programme. Since 1975, the Nansen Programme carried out fisheries resources and environment surveys in many developing countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, using the Research Vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen.

"The Nansen Programme is an example of how joint research can give shared knowledge to the benefit of everyone, and help us use the oceans in a sustainable way that will continue to provide food and livelihoods for generations to come," said Hilde Solbakken, chargé d'affaires at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Jakarta.