Africa Partnership Station (APS) Nashville and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries co-hosted a water survival workshop February 5, 2009, in Dakar, Senegal, as part of an ongoing effort to advance the art and science of maritime operations in Africa.

Senegalese marine biologists and maritime enforcement personnel attended the course to become better equipped to deal with possible dangers while working at sea. Participants practiced basic survival skill sets such as jumping from a ship, floating while stranded at sea, and mental and physical tips to help save energy and remain calm while waiting for assistance.

"We think that if we can assist some of these developing countries with improved safety that it will benefit everyone," said Teresa Turk, NOAA Fisheries biologist. "And doing that in partnership with the U.S. Navy and other partners is a really good message to send to the citizens of Senegal and other West African nations."

The water survival course is just one in a series of topics reviewed to achieve a safer maritime environment. NOAA Fisheries works closely with Senegalese fisheries as part of an ongoing management initiative to safeguard and track oceanic life. NOAA and their fisheries partners are also working jointly with marine mammal, sea turtle and shark identification as well.

"We are all trying to accomplish the same things, to collect better biological information, prevent illegal and unreported or unregulated fishing," said Turk. We need to be engaged in this together because it's a global issue, not just a national or regional issue."

APS is an international initiative developed by Naval Forces Europe and Naval Forces Africa which aims to work cooperatively with U.S. and international partners to improve maritime safety and security on the African continent.