A working group of Data and Information (D&I) Coordinators, one from each of the ASCLME countries, is responsible for all aspects of D&I management on the ASCLME Project. Representation nominated by each country is shown below. This working group has developed documents on principles and guidelines for overall data management as presented in the Data & Information Management Plan.  Guidelines for 2008 cruise data are presented in the Principles and guidelines for ASCLME data and information management. During the first year of the ASCLME project, there have been substantial discussions with relevant projects active in the WIO region, including regional agencies, commissions and conventions to ensure that ASCLME builds on these already established systems developed by other UN agencies (WIO Projects Document). This is critical for the effective implementation of a long term ecosystem approach to the management of marine resources in the in the Western Indian Ocean that is supported by governments.

Table 1. National Data and Information Coordinators for the ASCLME Project

Country	Institution	Official Representative	Alternate	Contact Details
Comoros	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment (MAPE)	Mr. Farid Anasse	Yahaya Ibrahim	farid_anasse@yahoo.frThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; yahayaim@yahoo.frThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Kenya	Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institure (KMFRI)	Mr. Harrison Onganda		honganda@kmfri.co.keThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Madagascar	Office National pour l'Environnement (ONE)	Mr. Jean-Roger Rakotoarijaona		jroger@pnae.mgThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; jr.rakotoarijaona@gmail.comThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mauritius	Mauritius Meteorological Services (MMS)	Mr. Mohamudally Beebeejaun	Renganaden Virasami	m.bbjohn@odinafrica.netThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; vganessen@yahoo.comThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mozambique	Instituto Nacional de Hidrografia e Navegação (INAHINA)	Ms. Clousa Maueua	Obadias Cossa	clousam@yahoo.com.brThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Seychelles	Policy Planning and Services Division, Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Transport	Mr. Justin Prosper	Michelle Etienne	j.prosper@pps.gov.scThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; justinpros@hotmail.comThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; m.etienne@scmrt-mpa.scThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
South Africa	South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON)	Dr. Juliet Hermes		juliet@saeon.ac.zaThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Somalia	Ministry of Fisheries	Mr. Ali Sabriye		ali.sabriye@gmail.comThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tanzania	Institute of Marine Sciences	Dr. Desiderius Masalu	Dr. Kyewalyanga	masalu@ims.udsm.ac.tzThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
France (Observer)	IRD-EME	Dr. Jean-Francois Ternon		Jean.Francois.Ternon@ifremer.frThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
PCU	ASCLME Project Office	Ms. Lucy Scott		Contact