'BENGUELA, Current of Plenty' is the 144-page story of how, over the past decade, Angola, Namibia and South Africa overcame a wide range of political, cultural and technical barriers and introduced a co-operative ecosystem approach towards the management of their shared marine resources.

The book, which was published by the Benguela Current Commission (BCC), was launched in Swakopmund on Tuesday.

The book was written by scientists from the three countries using simple English and eloquently describing, amongst other things, the knowledge gained about the dynamics of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem.

According to the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Abraham Iyambo, the commitment by the governments of the three countries to conduct joint research to sustainably manage marine resources and to protect the marine environment in the region was "highly commendable".

He said this paved the way for the region to reach its aim of implementing an ecosystem approach to fisheries management by 2010, and achieving sustainable fisheries by 2015.