WorldFish featured in three of eight 2004 science awards announced in Mexico City (27 October) by the CGIAR, a strategic alliance of food and environmental researchers working to improve the productivity and profitability of agriculture, fisheries, livestock and forestry and foster improved food policies in developing countries. The CGIAR is supported by the United Nations and World Bank.
"Bridging the world of high science and applying it to problems faced by poor farmers is our principal objective", said Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chairman and World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development. "This year's awards once again demonstrate the power of science in improving the incomes and livelihoods of poor farmers worldwide and protecting our environment."
The CGIAR Outstanding Partnership Award was given to Community-Based Fisheries Management, a partnership coordinated by WorldFish in Bangladesh through the Department of Fisheries, Bangladesh that empowers communities by providing them knowledge so that they can make better-informed decisions on the sustainable use and management of the fisheries.
Under the project cooperative relationships coordinated by WorldFish and the Department of Fisheries Bangladesh have grown to include 11 NGOs and private organizations, and more than 23,000 households living near 113 water bodies in Bangladesh. The project has set up about 100 fish sanctuaries and helped to empower vulnerable community members, particularly women and children. The 13 NGOs providing support to this project are: Banchte Shakha, BELA, BRAC, CARITAS, CNRS, CRED, ERA, FemCom, GHORONI, PROSHIKA, SDC, SHISUK and SUJAN.
Anisul Islam of Bangladesh received the award on behalf of the team. The award carries a cash prize of US$10,000.
The award for Outstanding Scientific Support team was received by Christine Casal on behalf of the team at WorldFish who developed FishBase, an internationally recognized premier database and information system on the world's fishes. The team comprises biologists, computer programmers and web developers, and has produced over 50 publications, posters and presentations and delivered capacity-strengthening courses. This award also carries a cash prize of US$10,000.
The third WorldFish nomination that won an award was for Outstanding Journalism, presented to Natasha Loder for her article"The Promise of a Blue Revolution" published in The Economist on August 9, 2003.
The CGIAR supports a network of 15 Future Harvest Centers. In 2003, CGIAR invested US$381 million in generating farming solutions geared toward the needs of developing countries. The Government of Mexico hosted the CGIAR's Annual General Meeting held from 27 to 29 October 2004.
About WorldFish
WorldFish, a member of the CGIAR Consortium, is an international, nonprofit research organization committed to reducing poverty and hunger through fisheries and aquaculture.
About CGIAR
CGIAR is a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Its science is carried out by the 15 research centers who are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations.