During its term as Secretariat which concludes at the end of 1998, Australia is committed to working with other partners to strengthen and broaden the regional and national emphasis of ICRI. The aim of the Secretariat, within Australia's two-year term, is to assist in the establishment of a regional structure for the Initiative which is self-sustaining, assists individual countries and which requires a minimum of organisational support at the international level. The Secretariat is providing support and assistance to the ICRI partners in both developing their regional and national programs and improving the capacity of those countries to deliver those programs.

In November 1998 the ICRI Secretariat will host the inaugural International Tropical Marine Ecosystems Management Symposium (ITMEMS). The Symposium will serve as a major opportunity for coral reef managers from around the world to share management experience and, thereby, build international capacity for future work on successful coral reef management. The major output of the Symposium will be an action statement that will form the basis of continuing ICRI activity into the next century. It is anticipated that future ITMEMS will alternate with, and follow the successful format of, the International Coral Reef Symposium which has, since 1972, been repeated every four years at various coral reef locations around the world.

The International Tropical Marine Ecosystems Management Symposium will be a major environmental event for Australia during 1998 - the UNESCO International Year of the Ocean. It will certainly be among the premier events world-wide during the Year of the Ocean.

For further information on ITMEMS visit the ICRI Secretariat Internet site.

or contact John Baldwin of the Secretariat
on +61 7 4750 0743 or e-mail j.baldwin@gbrmpa.gov.au