Linking Capacity Development to GOOS Monitoring Networks to Achieve Sustained Ocean Observation

• Main Authors: Nicholas J. Bax, Ward Appeltans, Russell Brainard, J. Emmett Duffy, Piers Dunstan, Quentin Hanich, Harriet Harden Davies, Jeremy Hills, Patricia Miloslavich, Frank Edgar Muller-Karger, Samantha Simmons, O. Aburto-Oropeza, Sonia Batten, Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi, David Checkley, Sanae Chiba, Albert Fischer, Melissa Andersen Garcia, John Gunn, Eduardo Klein, Raphael M. Kudela, Francis Marsac, David Obura, Yunne-Jai Shin, Bernadette Sloyan, Toste Tanhua, John Wilkin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2018-09-01
• Series: Frontiers in Marine Science
• Subjects: capacity development; technology transfer; global ocean observing system; GOOS; monitoring; essential ocean variables
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2018.00346/full

Developing enduring capacity to monitor ocean life requires investing in people and their institutions to build infrastructure, ownership, and long-term support networks. International initiatives can enhance access to scientific data, tools and methodologies, and develop local expertise to use them, but without ongoing engagement may fail to have lasting benefit. Linking capacity development and technology transfer to sustained ocean monitoring is a win-win proposition. Trained local experts will benefit from joining global communities of experts who are building the comprehensive Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). This two-way exchange will benefit scientists and policy makers in developing and developed countries. The first step toward the GOOS is complete: identification of an initial set of biological Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) that incorporate the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Essential Biological Variables (EBVs), and link to the physical and biogeochemical EOVs. EOVs provide a globally consistent approach to monitoring where the costs of monitoring oceans can be shared and where capacity and expertise can be transferred globally. Integrating monitoring with existing international reporting and policy development connects ocean observations with agreements underlying many countries’ commitments and obligations, including under SDG 14, thus catalyzing progress toward sustained use of the ocean. Combining scientific expertise with international capacity development initiatives can help meet the need of developing countries to engage in the agreed United Nations (UN) initiatives including new negotiations for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, and the needs of the global community to understand how the ocean is changing.