Having recently completed a study on fisheries resources in the Western Gulf of Guinea, the vessel will return to sea on 8 June to carry out a survey in the waters off Ghana to assess the selectivity of trawl gear, with the aim of making bottom trawl fisheries more sustainable.

Present at the ceremony at the Port of Tema to welcome guests to tour the vessel were the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Ghana, Hon. Abdul-Aziz Ayaba Musah, Special Adviser to the FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, Mr David Phiri; the Chief Integration Operations Support/Acting Country Representative of FAO, Mr Arsine Bounemra and the Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Norway, H.E. Kyrre Holm.  Others were Ms Eunice Ofoli-Anum, Deputy Director FSSD, Fisheries Commission the Chief Director, Ministry of Fisheries, Aquaculture Development, Ms Marian Kpakpah and the Special Advisor to the President on the SDGs, Dr. Eugene Owusu. 

The Dr. Fridtjof Nansen holds a significant hallmark. It is the only vessel that flies the UN flag as its house flag, symbolizing the neutrality and collaborative spirit of this remarkable programme.

A great initiative ahead of World Oceans Day tomorrow, 8 June 2024 which seeks to create awareness on the impact of human actions on the ocean and for sustainable management of the world's oceans.