Two-Day Intensive Training Brings Together Environmental and Fisheries Experts from Key Egyptian Institutions
Hurghada, Egypt – The Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA) successfully concluded a two-day National Training Workshop on the Regional Information Management System (RIMS) in Hurghada, Egypt, on 4-5 February 2026. The workshop, held at the Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre (MEMAC), brought together experts from the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), the General Authority for Fish Resources Development, the Marine Protected Areas Sector, and other key institutions working in marine environmental management and fisheries.
The workshop represents a significant milestone in Egypt’s participation in the SFISH project (Sustainable Fishery Management in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden), funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by the World Bank (WB). RIMS, developed as one major project outcomes, is a comprehensive web-based platform designed to integrate, manage, and disseminate marine environmental and fisheries data across all seven PERSGA member states.
Diverse Participation from Key Egyptian Institutions
The workshop witnessed strong participation from various Egyptian governmental and research institutions responsible for marine environmental management and fisheries along Egypt’s 1,200-kilometer Red Sea coastline. Participants included representatives from:
- Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) – the primary national environmental authority
- General Authority for Fish Resources Development – responsible for fisheries management
- Marine Protected Areas Sector – managing Egypt’s coastal and marine protected areas
- Red Sea Protectorates Authority – overseeing protected areas along the Red Sea coast
- National focal points for marine environmental conventions
Comprehensive Hands-On Training on RIMS Modules
Over the two-day intensive training, participants gained practical experience with RIMS’s more than 40 specialized modules covering eight thematic categories. The training emphasized hands-on practice, ensuring that participants could confidently operate the system in their daily work.
Day One focused on RIMS architecture, user management, and the Operational Level Plan (OLP) that governs regional data sharing. Participants practiced using modules for Marine Protected Areas and marine pollution monitoring.
Day Two delved into specialized applications including coastal ecosystems modules for mangroves and coral reefs, comprehensive fisheries management modules, and marine fauna conservation modules for sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals.
Regional Knowledge Management for Sustainable Blue Economy
Speaking at the workshop opening, PERSGA Coordinator for Knowledge Management at PERSGA, emphasized:
“RIMS represents a fundamental transformation in how we capture, manage, and utilize marine environmental knowledge across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region. For the first time, we have a platform where data from all seven member states can be integrated, compared, and analyzed together.”
Next Steps and Expected Outcomes
Following the workshop, trained Egyptian experts will return to their institutions and begin integrating Egypt’s marine environmental and fisheries data into RIMS. Expected outcomes include enhanced data accessibility, improved inter-institutional coordination, and stronger evidence base for marine protected area management and fisheries policies.
About the SFISH Project
The SFISH project is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by WB, and executed by PERSGA. The project aims to enhance sustainable fishery management in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
