To ensure quality and safety in the fish value chain, from catch to consumer, it's vital to consider all steps of the value chain due to potential food safety risks. Implementing hygiene and quality trainings, introducing first sale certificates, and establishing control plans for state institutions are key interventions. A thorough value chain analysis is crucial for identifying improvement areas and require visits to actors and review of hygiene regulations. Based on this analysis, targeted interventions can be identified, ranging from policy to practical actions, involving research enhancement, regulatory support, and capacity development.

The direct actors in the value chain are fishermen, retailers, traders, transporters, warehouse workers and suppliers who are involved in the production, processing, delivery or sale of a product to the consumer. They are the first point of contact when it comes to offering the consumer a safe product of high quality. Accordingly, they represent the target group that needs to be informed about the hygienic handling of products and the aspects of production, storage and transportation deteriorating quality. The implementation of a training plan can strengthen knowledge about hygiene, quality and control practices for the various steps of the value chain.

With so many different actors, there are certain topics that are only important to some while other topics are clearly important for everyone: raising awareness of biochemical processes such as microbes, knowledge about food-borne infections and diseases, maintaining personal hygiene at the workplace, recognizing fresh and spoilt products, using ice to uphold the cold chain or cleaning and disinfecting the workplace and equipment. However, while fishermen, are primarily concerned with the accurate storage and immediate cooling to prevent the deterioration of their catch, processors focus more on the hygienic handling of the processing equipment. Accordingly, it is essential to adapt learning content and teaching methods to the different actors along the value chain, like demonstrations of storage and cooling systems on the fishing boats, or on-the-job trainings concerning proper handling of processing equipment.

Furthermore, didactics must be developed that take into account the experience of fisheries and aquaculture experts. In the context of high illiteracy diagrams, drawings and photographs can be used. Also, the language must be adapted to the target group. In addition, training content can be gathered and summarized in small booklets e.g. guidelines that provide the actors with a long-term option to revise training contents. Here, as with the training content, it is advantageous to adapt the guidelines to the different actors in the value chain, e.g. one guide for fishing, another for processing and so on. By doing this, value chain actors can be addressed directly and do not loose their learning ambition by going through learning content that does not fully affect their work. Finally, the dissemination of the guidelines should be adapted to the local context; not every country has the same media capacities but in addition to handing out printed versions, apps proofed to be a way to spread training contents easily. 

To ensure that the theoretical hygiene and quality trainings become actual practice, it's essential to discuss and confirm understanding with trainees. Using short feedback forms and coaching loops post-training help verify and further improve learning and communication effectiveness. Additionally, evaluating knowledge application, such as willingness to invest in ice for fish storage, is key. Highlighting the long-term benefits, like quality improvement and potential for higher prices, despite initial costs, is crucial for convincing participants of the value.

In addition to understanding, the implementation of training content must also be taken into account. It is important to find out at an early stage which hygiene practices are feasible in the local context. If the purchase price of ice does not justify the additional benefit of fresh quality, no trainee will adhere to the training content. To stay with the example of ice, the question also arises as to whether the necessary infrastructure is in place: are there ice producers, operational cold chains and the necessary equipment? Next to the spread of misinformation, the greatest danger in communicating training content lies in conveying messages that simply cannot be implemented by the local trainees, as they do not have the means to do so or the supporting infrastructure is just too unstable. 

Next to the post-training feedback the effectiveness of the training can be assessed through a second follow-up survey, reflecting on key elements of its content. The timing between these evaluations varies with the topic; for instance, 3-6 months may be sufficient to review acceptance to personal hygiene practices, such as handwashing at work. However, evaluating changes like the use of ice for fish storage on boats might require up to a year, accounting for off-seasons and fishing periods. Even if evaluations are time-consuming, they are crucial to revise, adapt and further develop training materials to meet the needs of the participants.

In terms of the capacity development approach, a training-of-trainers strategy can be implemented in the training plan. Training local knowledge brokers like chairmen of fishing or trading associations or market supervisors in the field of hygiene and quality can have a lasting effect in anchoring this knowledge within partnering institutions and in generating spill-over effects through word of mouth at regional level. Sensitising consumers and buyers are also crucial, to understand the importance of fresh fish. Hardly anyone will take on additional work and costs to create a quality product that is not demanded.

Firebreaks are gaps in vegetation or other combustible material that act as barriers to slow or stop the progress of a wildfire. They can be man-made, for example, cleared strips of land. Firebreaks are strategically placed to protect not only valuable forest resources but also homes and other infrastructure. The effectiveness of firebreaks can be supplemented using early warning systems and predictive modeling. Early warning systems utilize technologies like remote sensing and satellite imagery to detect heat anomalies and smoke, while weather monitoring stations provide crucial data on temperature, humidity, and wind conditions. Ground-based sensors further enhance detection by monitoring environmental changes, and effective communication systems ensure timely dissemination of alerts to authorities and the public. Predictive modeling, on the other hand, uses data and algorithms to forecast fire behavior and spread. Fire behavior models simulate fire dynamics based on fuel type, topography, and weather, while machine learning algorithms analyze historical data to predict future fire occurrences. Coupled fire-atmospheric models integrate fire behavior with atmospheric conditions, offering a comprehensive understanding of fire-environment interactions. Risk assessment tools evaluate the potential impact of fires, aiding in resource allocation and protection prioritization. Together, these technologies enhance the ability to prevent, detect, and respond to wildfires, mitigating their impact on communities and ecosystems.

In order to recover the population of the species Crocodylus acutus, a "Head Start" pilot program was implemented, with support from IUCN specialists and based on experiences in other countries. This program included training, supply of equipment and supplies and infrastructure with the construction of two neonatal shelters (pools). This program is closely linked to the monitoring of nesting sites. Biologists observe nesting sites, and count and mark each neonate. Some of the newborns are then moved to the pools for a foster program where they are protected from natural and human predators until they reach the critical size to fend off natural predators.

After some trial and error runs, the program has been successful in duplicating natural conditions for the fostering of the neonates, and approximately 25 individuals will be released into the wild this year, to offset the impacts of climate variablitily on breeding and nest sites and decreased populations.

Training sessions equipped beneficiaries with skills in beekeeping, value addition, nursery management, and restoration. This empowerment enhanced local ownership, enabling community members to independently manage and sustain project components like nurseries and apiaries. The trainings were guided by the needs identified and supported through inclusive decision-making, ensuring relevance and community buy-in.

A participatory project committee process and platforms like the SMAG ensured diverse stakeholders, including government, NGOs, and local communities, contributed ideas. This inclusive approach empowered all participants to have a say in shaping activities, fostering collaboration and accountability. Inclusivity built trust and reinforced the outcomes of the needs assessment by incorporating a wide range of perspectives into project planning and execution.

This building block emphasizes the critical role of engaging men and boys in addressing GBV within the fisheries sector. Recognizing that gender equality requires collaboration between men and women, this initiative targets the predominantly male-dominated fisheries sector to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment. By involving men ie: fishermen, law enforcer, male stakeholders, landowners, transportation providers, and traditional leaders—in awareness raising, training, and GBV Watch Committees, the intervention seeks to transform negative attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate GBV, including exploitative sex-for-fish practices. It also leverages the influence of traditional leaders to drive societal change, ensuring that men play an active role in avoiding backlach and safeguarding women and addressing the interconnected challenges of resource depletion, illegal fishing, and GBV. 

The GBV Response mechanism at community level was establish to prevent and respond to the GBV cases and fishing illegalities which occours in the fisheries sector due to the lack of reporting structures and long distances from the fishing communities to the formal GBV response structures through the establishment of GBV Watch Committees. The GBV Watch Commitees provide awareness in the fishing camp and fishing communities about the exploitative sex for fish practices. They also respond to GBV disclosures at community level, the committees also link survivors to proffessional services and operate as safe space in the community among other functions. 

This building block is to explain how I developped an App that allow fishers to contribute to marine science knowledge in Africa. 

Initially we gave fishers a pre-printed form to report opportunistic sightings they encountered. However, the form was getting lost most of the time. 

We decided to move to a digital solution. The existing App by then required internet to work and was just too complicated for fishers. So we thought we shoud develop an App that will be more userfriendly for fishers. 

We wrote the  algorithm (workflow) of the App and then contracted an Indian development company to write the code. 

Later we had to bring the development of SIREN back to Cameroon to reduce the cost of developement. 

We work with volunteer around the world that will continuously support with the development of the SIREN

Relevant ecological processes and incidents that are of interest in environmental change research typically occur in remote areas beyond the reach of terrestrial communication infrastructures. Data generated in the field using animal tags in these regions can often only be transmitted with a delay of days or even weeks. To overcome this delay and ensure no delay in the early-warning system, GAIA develops a satellite communication module for the tags as well as a nanosatellite operating in low earth orbit (LEO): In order to be able to transmit collected data and information directly from the transmitting node to the LEO satellite (Low Earth Orbit), a high-performance satellite IoT radio module will be integrated into the new tags. This guarantees immediate, secure and energy-efficient transmission of the extracted data. The communication system is based on the terrestrial mioty® technology and will be adapted to satellite-typical frequency bands such as L- and S-band for the project. Typical communication protocols, which are sometimes used in the IoT sector, are usually designed for small packet sizes. Further development of the mioty® system will therefore also aim to increase the data rate and message size to enable application scenarios such as image transmissions.

The satellite IoT system will be key for a no-delay communication and thus for an early-warning system. It greatly contributes to the GAIA system in achieving GBF target 4 "Halt Extinction, Protect Genetic Diversity and Manage Human-Wildlife Conflicts". 

Programs like eco-classrooms, guided tours, and school collaborations raised awareness, while immersive experiences, such as observing salmon in their natural habitats, fostered public engagement.