Fujian Institute for Sustainable Oceans (FISO), Xiamen University

The Fujian Institute for Sustainable Oceans (FISO) of Xiamen University has accumulated abundant experience on organizing marine capacity building activities cooperating with diverse organizations, research institutions and government sectors, including PEMSEA, targeting at promoting the academic exchange, experience sharing and also forging blue partnerships with countries, especially in the East Asian Seas region. The Institute boasts of a faculty team of 62 professors and researchers with expertise in the marine sciences, environmental sciences and management, economics, political sciences and policy and law, among others. A professional team has also been formed to design, organize and host diverse training programs. 

With the Sustainable Coastal Development Capacity-Building Research Lab (SCD-Lab) jointly established by XMU and China Oceanic Development Foundation (CODF), and as a provincial level S&T platform, FISO is willing to and capable to continuing contribute to the capacity building in sustainable ocean and coastal development and to meet the SDGs. FISO offers training courses covering broad areas including but not limited to theories on ocean governance, technologies for coastal zone management, maritime law, blue economy etc. and also cases studies. FISO team has organized the following training programs including Regional Training Workshop on CUZ, Study Tour for Sustainable Coastal Development, ICM and MSP: Moving Beyond Planning for Sustainable Development of Coastal and Marine Areas in the East Asian Region, Virtual Training Program for Sustainable Oceans, Marine Spatial Planning Study Tour, Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning Training Workshop, MSP Training Workshop, and Training Workshop for Joint Marine Spatial Planning Project in the Balikpapan Bay Area.  

FISO has developed Partnerships/Collaborators with Government, NGO and Private sector.  The current international LGUs/National agencies that FISO is cooperating with for ICM capacity building include Directorate General of Marine Spatial and Ocean Management of Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), Indonesia and the related government sectors and institution, for example IPB, ATSEA-2, that are involved in the joint MSP project; Kuala Terengganu City Council (MBKT) of Malaysia and related local and state government sectors such as PLAN Malaysia, and institutions like Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) that are involved in the joint Malaysia MSP project. Looking ahead, FISO and the Network may collaborate on (1) capacity-building on ICM and MSP; (2) research, through developing joint proposals with network members; (3) academic exchanges, through workshops, visiting scholars; and, (4) SCD scholarships, by supporting applicants from ASEAN countries to study in Xiamen University.