IMARES' capacity building activities with Institut Mauritanien des Recherches Oceanographiques et de Peche (IMROP) within the Woodside Chinguetti PFW Baseline project

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prepared by Woodside (Perth, Australia) for the Chinguetti Development Project in Mauritania identified potential environmental effects from routine Produced Formation Water (PFW) discharges on the marine environment. Adverse effects on the industrial fisheries of Mauritania in particular, were identified as one of the key environmental risks represented by the project. Woodside therefore made a commitment to monitor PFW discharges and as a first step biological and water sampling was prepared prior to, and following first oil production from the Chinguetti Project. Woodside, recognizing the importance of involvement of Mauritanian institutions in monitoring studies, requested that the project be undertaken in association with National Mauritanian Institute for Oceanographic and Fisheries Research (IMROP), which is the Mauritanian body responsible for protection of the sea. In addition, part of the project is dedicated to improvement of IMROP’s capacity to perform sampling and to analyze the water and biological samples, so that over time all required activities could be performed by IMROP. The project is being undertaken by the Marine Resources Assessment Group (MRAG) of United Kingdom and the Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies (IMARES) of the Netherlands. The capacity building activities are being shared by both partners and coordinated by MRAG. This document provides a final report on the capacity building activities performed by IMARES within the Woodside Chinguetti PFW Baseline project. The report covers the list of all activities performed, the discussion and evaluation of the current capacity of IMROP and suggestions/recommendations for further activities.