Dr Ribbink’s activities included:
• Briefing the South African delegation led by Deputy President, Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and Presidents of Universities in Japan on the need to develop marine sciences in South Africa through collaboration with Japan, and in particular through ACEP which offers more fields for collaboration than other projects.
• Acting on two Memoranda of Agreement, one with Aquamarine Fukushima and the other with Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Delivering three presentations (University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology and to representatives of Embassies of African countries which are involved in ACEP, which is a NEPAD Project)
• Exploring the development of new partnerships with Japan’s Marine Science and Technology Centre (JAMSTEC), Mitsubishi Corporation, Tokyo University, Nagano University and Japan Broadcasting Corporation (Nippon Hosi Kyokai; NHK) for films of ACEP work. 
• Initial plans for modifying submersibles, Remotely Operated Vehicles and coelacanth Robots (JAMSTEC), acoustic tags, data loggers and physiological probes for implantation into coelacanths (Tokyo University) and systems for collecting tissue for genetics and genome studies (Tokyo Institute of Technology), field research on coelacanths (Aquamarine Fukushima) and socio-economic research involving coastal communities (University of Nagano) were developed.
• The opportunity was also used provide information on the painting of a South African coelacanth, which was presented by the Presidency of South Africa to the Imperial Household of Japan, specifically for his Royal Highness, Emperor Akihito, who is an ichthyologist with an interest in coelacanths.
• Personnel from ACEP and South African Embassy also reached students and scholars showing them how their peers in Africa are involved in ACEP activities. 

Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony, Aquamarine Fukushima. Seated, Left to Right: Dr. Tony Ribbink (Manager, ACEP), Anati Canca (Department of Science and Technology), Rejoice Mabudafhasi (Deputy Minister, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism) and Dr. Yoshitaka Abe (Director, Aquamarine Fukushima).

 
Conclusion
There was enormous interest in South African marine science and a very positive response by the research community in Japan to the multidisciplinary contributions of the African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme. The fact that ACEP has drawn together eight countries in a flagship NEPAD project also elicited favourable response and stimulated considerable interest. Many individuals and institutions indicated that they would like to collaborate with South Africa. Work towards a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional collaborative programme reached a stage where it was agreed that the organisations would take plans as far as reasonable by e-mail, then a workshop would be held in which scientists, engineers, technicians and the humanities would develop an integrated proposal for international funding. Overall, the research and technical communities in Japan, with which ACEP interacted, was encouraging about South Africa’s lead in regional marine ecology and coelacanth studies.