There are estimates that over three billion people depend on the ocean for their lives and livelihood. In the Commonwealth, 49 of the 56 member states have an ocean border and so it is no surprise that at the Commonwealth Secretariat there is a sustained focus on ensuring there is a healthy ocean.
One of the areas of concern is eutrophication, which happens when water becomes overly enriched with nutrients, which causes increased development of algae and other plant life. This leads to ocean acidification that slows the growth of marine life and, in extreme cases, can cause death of marine life.
To combat this, the Commonwealth Secretariat, in collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), recently collaborated in the GEM-in-a-Box project to provide Commonwealth countries with the tools to test their waterways. DFO has provided GEM-in-a-Box (Global Eutrophication Monitoring) kits that have undergone extensive development and independent testing to ensure its effectiveness.
Led by the team at the Commonwealth Blue Charter Incubator, this initiative enables access to low-cost, reliable technology for monitoring eutrophication.
Eight member states were selected for the pilot project, including representatives from The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Kenya, Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago, the Solomon Islands, and South Africa. This diverse cohort reflects a balance of government agencies, academic institutions, NGOs, and early-career ocean professionals.
Andrew Stewart, National Manager, Ocean Science for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, commented:
"The GEM-in-a-Box initiative is a testament to Canada's commitment to advancing global ocean science and technology through the Commonwealth Blue Charter. By equipping countries with the tools and knowledge to monitor and address nutrient pollution, we are helping to protect marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them."
Development and testing of the GEM-in-a-Box kit
Following consultations with experts and suppliers, the DFO created a prototype that includes all necessary equipment to measure key eutrophication indicators and standardised operating procedures to guide its use.
Initial testing at Canada’s Institute of Ocean Sciences compared the GEM-in-a-Box results against high-precision lab equipment. The findings demonstrated the kit's reliability in detecting phosphate concentrations above critical thresholds. Additional field testing by the Tula Foundation validated its usability and informed further refinements to the instrumentation and data quality processes.
Supporting scalable solutions for ocean health
This collaboration between the Commonwealth Secretariat and Canada exemplifies the power of partnerships in achieving the Blue Charter’s vision for sustainable ocean stewardship and fostering innovation in marine conservation. Moving forward, the project team will continue refining the kits based on feedback and scaling up support to pilot sites. Training videos and online modules are also being developed to ensure knowledge transfer to a broader audience.
Now trainees are paying it forward
Participants received extensive training on sample collection, sensor deployment, and data analysis for critical parameters like nutrients, chlorophyll a, and turbidity.
Back in Cameroon, Ernest Ohandja Nomo had the pleasure of presenting the highlights of the training at a meeting between the Institute of Fisheries Sciences, companies of Fisheries Sector and the University of Douala, as well as during the Street Whale Symposium in December 2024.
In the Small Island Sustainability team at University of The Bahamas, Dr. Brandon J Bethel and team are taking full advantage of GEM-in-a-Box to advance the monitoring and safeguarding of ocean health in The Bahamas. In South Africa, Dr. Nokubonga Mbandzi-Phorego continues to raise awareness of how one tool can result in better water quality and a healthier ocean for all.
