international hydrographic organization annual report 2011 ... - IHO

INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC
COMMISSION (IOC)
(Task 1.1.11)
XXVI th SESSION OF THE IOC ASSEMBLY
Paris, France, 22 June – 05 July
General aspects:
The XXVI th session of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Assembly took place
from 22 June to 5 July in Paris. Almost all of the 140 Member States of the IOC were represented. The
Heads of the following Hydrographic Offices participated: Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany and
Turkey. The IHO was represented by Captain GORZIGLIA, who attended from 27 to 30 June.
The Chair, Lic. Javier VALLADARES, opened the Assembly and delivered a report on the most recent
work of the Commission.
The Executive Secretary reported on the implementation of the Commission’s Biennial Strategy and
Programme and Budget for 2010–2011. She summarized the main achievements that were the
establishment and harmonization of core infrastructure for sea level and seismic monitoring and regional
warning systems for tsunamis and other sea-level hazards; the implementation of the climate module of
Global Ocean Observing system (GOOS), the ocean’s role in climate variability and climate change, and
coastal change adaptation in Africa and Small Island Developing States (SIDS); the developments within
the UN Regular Process for the Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Oceans, including Socio-
Economic Aspects, and IOC ocean science programmes and the contributions to area-based management
initiatives including integrated coastal area management and marine spatial planning. She also reported
on IOC and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) involvement in
the Rio+20 process under the leadership of the Director-General.
The IOC Assembly discussed a range of topics including a regional strategy for organizational
improvement aimed at strengthening its regional subsidiary bodies. Another topic considered by the
Assembly was the IOC contribution to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
(UNCSD Rio+20) in June 2012.
The Intergovernmental Tsunami Coordination Groups of the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions, the Indian
Ocean, the North-eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and Connected Seas and the Pacific presented their
reports. The Assembly encouraged Member States to carry out actions to improve risk assessment and
reduction, detection, warning and dissemination, and awareness and response. Captain GORZIGLIA
informed the Assembly that the IHO gives high priority to helping address tsunami threats and other
coastal hazards. He also emphasized that ocean bathymetry, coastal hydrographic surveys and particularly
the detailed knowledge of coastal bathymetry constitutes vital information in support of tsunami
preparedness. He indicated that the IHO makes data available through the IHO Data Center for Digital
Bathymetry. He also informed the Assembly that the GEBCO Guiding Committee and the Bathymetric
Regional Project Chairs have been invited to strengthen collaboration with a priority on improving high
resolution shallow water bathymetry at the regional level, particularly to support tsunami projects.
Captain GORZIGLIA also referred to the work jointly conducted with the IOC in the project known as
COAST-MAP IO, sponsored by the Government of Italy. COAST-MAP IO assists participant countries
with the capacity to gather and process bathymetric data to use it in predictive inundation models.
Captain GORZIGLIA reported that the IHO Capacity Building Sub Committee had agreed to include a
Workshop on Standardization of Parameters and methodologies for the production of inundation charts in
support of Tsunami preparedness in its 2012 capacity building programme.
Dr. Savi NARAYANAN, Dominion Hydrographer of Canada and Captain Hugo GORZIGLIA, were
among 43 recipients of IOC 50 th anniversary medals. These were presented during the closing ceremony.
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