Decade regional workshop for the North Pacific and Western ...file.iocwestpac.org/UN Decade Regional Workshop/documents/sum… · Societal needs observing requirements Data acquisition

Decade regional workshop for the North Pacific and Western Pacific Marginal Seas

Draft Report - Working Group 6: A Transparent and Accessible Ocean Co-conveners – Margaret Leinen, Somkiat Khokiattiwong, S. Kim Juniper

Rapporteurs - Jing Zhang, Nancy Bemas, Lin Liu, Erin Satterthwaite

1.0 Conduct of WG 6 Discussions Twenty-three participants from 10 countries (China, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Philippines, RO Korea, Malaysia, USA, Canada, Russia) participated in Working Group 6. Participants were from the scientific research community (majority), policy and industry sectors. The group worked in plenary for the first 3-hour session (Aug. 1). The conveners presented an analysis of questionnaire responses during the first plenary discussion (Appendix I). A total of 19 questionnaires from 9 countries were received prior to the meeting in Tokyo. See Appendix III for a question-by-question compilation of individual responses. During the second 3-hour session (Aug. 2), two parallel sub-groups separately considered the data and capacity building questions. Working group participants contributed brief presentations at the end of the first session, and at the beginning of the second session. Over the course of the two sessions, the group gradually broadened the scope of the Transparent and Accessible Ocean theme, from an implied data focus, to include the development of data products for stakeholders, and later to encompass an entire value chain from the translation of societal needs into ocean observing requirements, to the acquisition and archiving of ocean data, the scientific interpretation of data, and the delivery of ocean information and knowledge to societal stakeholders. This ocean knowledge value chain is illustrated in the figure below.

The conveners proposed several areas of focus for the Aug. 2 breakout

Societal needsOcean

observing requirements

Data acquisition& archiving

Data processing Scientific interpretaion

Delivery of ocean information & knowledge to

socienty

Figure 1. Proposed ocean knowledge value chain for sustainable development.

North Pacific workshop – WG 6 final report

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The conveners proposed several areas of focus for the Aug. 2 breakout sessions on data and capacity building. These were further refined during the Aug. 1 plenary discussion. Data – in addition to expanding the scope of data discussions to include open data and data products, the conveners invited participants to consider data system priorities for the North Pacific. Participants also considered opportunities to advance sustainability-relevant ocean knowledge, arising from strengths within North Pacific organizations and the unique societal and oceanographic features of the region. Capacity Building – the full ocean knowledge value chain concept emerged during the capacity building discussions as participants concluded that capacity development for ocean sustainability required investments and commitments across the spectrum from the translation of societal needs into ocean observing requirements through to the delivery of knowledge and information products to decision makers and other societal stakeholders. Participants concurred that the achievement of effective capacity (in the context of "…ocean science for sustainable development…") for all constituent countries of the workshop region (and indeed for the world as whole) is a high priority issue that should be pursued through the opportunity of the UN Decade. The current capacities of individual countries vary, and hence an identification and quantification of where each country sits along and within the value chain in Figure 1 is an essential and fundamental first step, that then should lead to prioritisation of attention and focus, in terms of investment and commitments. 2.0 Knowledge Gaps/Scientific questions Opportunities/Priority Areas Knowledge Gaps and Priority Areas - WG 6 participants contributed additional comments during the convener presentation of the questionnaire results. Both the questionnaire results and WG 6 participant input to this question are recorded in Appendix I. Most of the knowledge gaps and priorities identified can be related to the steps in the value chain (Fig. 1). Scientific Opportunities - Unique regional features identified included an abundance of marginal seas, the ENSO cycle, the Indo-Pacific convergence1, large regions considered for Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) oversight and the rapid industrialization of Asian coastal regions and resulting impacts on the marine environment. Time did not permit discussion of organizational strengths within the region. 1 The Indo-Pacific convergence zone north of the Equator in the western Pacific is an area of convergence of atmospheric circulation, ocean circulation, tectonic convergence of three crustal plates that creates geographic complexity, and high marine biodiversity.


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3.0 Existing Initiatives in North Pacific Region that Could Address Knowledge Gaps and Priorities The questionnaires and WG 6 discussions identified a substantial number of existing initiatives/programmes/partnerships in the North Pacific region that could contribute to addressing knowledge gaps and priorities. Some of these are applicable to all regions of the ocean (e.g., IOC Oceanographic Data Exchange Policy), but are included here for completeness. See Appendix II for a complete list. Here we report on this question in more general terms. 3.1 UN Agencies

• Intergovenmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) – The IOC Oceanographic Data Exchange Policy adopted in 2003 (Resolution IOC-XXII-6) recognized the importance of the “timely, free and unrestricted international exchange of oceanographic data” for operational purposes and to advance scientific understanding, and the importance of enhancing the “capacity of developing countries to obtain and manage oceanographic data and information”.

• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – UN Environment is the custodial agency for indicators for Sustainable Development Goals. UN Environment works in three areas related to the production and collection of data needed for monitoring indicators and policy development: methodological development and data services, data use and visualization, and capacity building.

• UN Global Partnership for Oceans – This initiative under the SDG Partnerships Platform aims to “bring together and mobilize all oceans stakeholders around shared goals [and] tackle documented problems of overfishing, pollution, and habitat loss”. A presentation on the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership highlighted an integration framework that can combine coastal habitat information with national data on income, waste generation and energy use related to tourism to support sustainable development of this sector of the blue economy.

• Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) – On-going negotiations at the UN related to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdictions are aimed at adding an agreement to the United Nations Convention and the Law of the Sea. One of the goals of the current draft agreement is the establishment of a “clearing house” that would serve as an “open-access web-based platform” [Article 51] for data related to the collection and use of marine genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Since a large portion of the North Pacific lies beyond national jurisdiction, this clearing house could become an important tool for benefit sharing from the sustainable use of the marine genetic resources of the region.


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3.2 International Cooperative Research Programmes in the North Pacific • Cooperative Study of the Kurioshio and Adjacent Regions (CSK) – This long-time cooperative study of the Kuroshio Current

and East Marginal Seas operates under the auspices of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific. A proposed extension of this programme (CSK-2) would provide basic ocean data and support the study of the influence of the Kuroshio current on climate and pollution.

• North Pacific Ocean Circulation of Climate Experiment (NPOCE)– This cooperative research programme, endorsed by CLIVAR, coordinates research “designed to observe, simulate, and understand the dynamics of the NWP (Northwestern Pacific) ocean circulation and its role in low-frequency modulations of regional and global climate.” A second decade of activity is currently being considered.

• Partnership in Environmental Management of the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) – This programme, which has been operating for over two decades, aims to “foster and sustain healthy and resilient coasts and oceans, communities and economies across the Seas of East Asia through integrated management solutions and partnerships.” Recent activities include a 2015 report that offered a practical Blue Economy framework for business.

3.3 Operational Data Several programmes in the region generate and freely share operationally oceanographic data and data products including forecasts. These include:

• WESTPAC/SEA-GOOS (South East Asian GOOS) - generates data products such as ocean forecasts • WESTPAC/NEARGOOS (North East Asian Reginal GOOS) • Japan COAST GUARD - a maritime domain awareness initiative for the Japanese area, data products available • ODIN-WESTPAC Ocean Data Information Network • Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center of Ocean Megascience – releasing compilations of all available global oceanographic

data. Recent releases include databases of ocean temperature and salinity dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. • JAMSTEC 4D Earth Simulator - working to develop more comprehensive data products • NOAA Tsunami Forecast System – detects tsunami waves and develops tsunami forecasts for the Pacific region • NOAA Argo Program – generates physical ocean measurements for the upper 2000m of the ocean from autonomous floats and

makes all data available as soon as QA/QC operations are complete • NOAA Ocean Drifter Program – deploys surface drifters for measurement of surface physical properties and surface motion

and makes all data available as soon as QA/QC operations are complete


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3.4 Access to Ocean Biological Data There is a need for increasingly complex ocean biological data to support the sustainable use of ocean resources. This present tremendous challenges for data archiving and timely dissemination. Discussions identified several international collaborative programs that are addressing this challenge:

• Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) – a growing global initiative brings together regional networks of scientists, resource managers, and end-users working. MBON aims to “integrate data from existing long-term programs to improve our understanding of changes and connections between marine biodiversity and ecosystem functions”.

• Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) – a global collaboration that provides free and open access to information on the geographic distribution of marine life. OBIS is evolving to accept new forms of biological data such as imagery.

• Global Omics Observatory Network (GLOMICON) – This ocean-focused initiative’s mission statement is to federate omically-enabled observatories and create an integrated, global system of multi-omic monitoring to enhance our capacity to understand, investigate, and monitor the biosphere.

3.5 Capacity Building As discuss above, the group concluded that capacity building is required across the entire spectrum of ocean information activities. The group also noted that many agencies were involved in capacity building at different points illustrate in Figure 1, and that it was difficult to determine which agencies were contributing to which level(s) of capacity development, and in which countries. Important capacity building activities identified included the Ocean Teacher Global Academy programme delivered in the North Pacific by Malaysia and the WESTPAC Regional Network of Training and Research Centers (RTRCs) on Marine Sciences. Future investments in capacity building would benefit from an overall assessment of current activities in the region. 4.0 Recommendations The final product of the WG 6 discussions was a series of recommendations for future actions. Time did not permit further discussion of scientific opportunities related to the unique capacities and features of the, although it was noted that these could serve as a focus for future scientific and data sharing initiatives. Based on discussions of data system and knowledge gaps and capacity building needs, WG 6 recommends that the IOC and regional actors in the North Pacific:

1. Begin exploring pragmatic ways to implement the 2003 IOC data policy that will lead toward greater data sharing,

2. Develop some powerful examples of the benefits of open data sharing (and perhaps negative consequences of not making data open) that can be used to convince governments and other data holders to share more ocean data.

3. Work with partners to accelerate efforts to bring the complete spectrum of biological data into ocean data systems.


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4. Consider mechanisms for aggregating data from BBNJ areas.

5. Aid large Decade projects by providing internationally supported data technicians that can foster the development of easy

submission processes.

6. Begin working with other UN bodies to determine how to connect ocean science data with other types of data necessary for these studies and assessments (e.g., economic data, demographic data, etc.).

7. Develop mechanisms and outreach to use ODIS to enhance participation and use of data systems.

8. Develop capacity-building activities to accelerate the development of national ocean data systems.

9. Undertake ocean science capacity building enabled by the opportunity of the Decade and to be informed and prioritized by

national capacity assessments (people and technology) across the full spectrum of the value chain from 'ocean observing requirements' through to 'delivery of ocean information & knowledge to society'.

10. Undertake a national capacity assessment demonstration project in a single nation

11. Develop a clearing house for capacity building activities to help match capacity building with specific needs, and identify

gaps.


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Appendix I - Convener Analysis of Questionnaire Responses and Related Comments from WG 6 Participants Questionnaire Participation Country Number of responses Bangladesh 1 China 4 Indonesia 1 Japan 7 Korea 1 Malaysia 1 Philippines 1 Russia 1 Thailand 2

TOTAL 19 Q1 - Knowledge gaps/scientific questions/priority areas Convener Summary of Responses The conveners grouped responses to this question into two categories: 1) Data

• growing ocean data volume is barrier to information transfer: need to improve access to relevant ocean data; • priority areas for cap building: regional data centers, data analysis training

2) Observations and monitoring: • Lack of ocean monitoring in developing countries and on high seas; • need standardized ocean health monitoring and reporting

Comments/feedback from participants:

• There many ocean data portals. Where to begin? • Let’s not forget the availability of extensive satellite data, in addition to in situ data collection – covers high seas


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• Does data analysis include data processing? • Observations and monitoring – capacity challenges for data collection in North Pacific marginal seas and EEZ’s – can UN

facilitate observations in key regions? • Large scale ocean data vs local level (variations in data – micro or nano scale data). Which types of local data might be

important globally that the Decade should consider? For example, local situations (e.g. wind variation) might be important for local needs (e.g. transportation and risk of accidents at sea) but would be of less interest for understanding large scale phenomena.

Q2 - Existing initiatives in North Pacific regions that address gaps Convener Summary of Responses The conveners extracted three main points from the responses to this question:

• Respondents listed many existing organizations/initiatives in region that could address gaps. These include Ocean Sites, GOODS (Global Open Oceans and Deep Seabed) Biogeographic Classification, GOOS, IODE, NOWPAP, Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP), The System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA), SEAGOOS (which could expand ocean forecasts into climate forecasting, microplastics, HABs and corals, acidification and hypoxia teams), MOSAiC: Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate, NPOCE: Northwestern Pacific Ocean Circulation and Climate Experiment, ODINWESTPAC, POGO, PICES, IQuOD, CLIVAR, Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network, PEMSEA

• Is there a regional ocean data distribution network: inter-connection between program databases would be desirable? • What about industry and NGO participation?

Comments/feedback from participants: Participants identified additional organizations that could address gaps:

• The University of Hawaii provides satellite data fields and North Pacific data • NOWPAP data center • NEAR GOOS – environmental data

How do we integrate data/information from so many data platforms /structures? Aggregating in data products to meet user needs makes more sense than simply pointing users to all of these data sources.


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Q3 – New or rejuvenated initiatives to address gaps Convener Summary of Responses The conveners identify four main needs for new initiatives in the responses to this question:

• Establish multi-disciplinary communities of experts for analyzing/interpreting ocean data • Encourage cooperation in developing tools for ocean data visualization • Establish partnerships for data sharing • Initiate a North Pacific Transparent Ocean Project


• Group of experts that include others with less capability could also provide training and capacity building opportunities. • Skeptical about willingness of researchers to contribute substantial time to expert group activities when their career progress

depends on generating publications. • Multi-disciplinary experts -- Limited numbers in the region • What about Artificial Intelligence technologies? • Experts tend to be large institutions but capacity is not available anywhere

Q4 – Roles of cross-cutting themes Convener Summary of Responses The conveners grouped and summarized responses for each of the four cross-cutting themes:

• Capacity building - should focus on early career researcher training in data analysis; enhancing ocean observing infrastructures; outreach to share ocean knowledge with public and develop ocean literacy

• Partnerships and financing - support needed to increase access to data, information, knowledge. What about UN development accounts and other accredited international instruments?

• Access to data, information and knowledge - ARGO program as a model of international collaborative partnerships; operational data sharing may be a good starting point to develop partnerships

• Communication and awareness raising - Ocean advocacy identified as critical to mobilizing resources for Decade. Is there a role for citizen science in the Decade?



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• With all of the data generated, some data are still lacking – economic and social impacts – policy choices are more sustainable – impacts to vulnerable groups – implications to access to data – disadvantaged groups that may be affected can also access/use data

• Consider super computers, data technology, data centers, data storage, data analysis • ARGO is a good model because all participants of ARGO agreed to a data sharing policy at the beginning of the programme –

98% of data collected are shared. How to improve data sharing in the region will require more detailed discussion • The collection of ocean data is expensive – if we join the data sharing project, can we get a better price of observation

instruments through partnerships with instrument manufacturers? • Need to build more partnerships across disciplines in oceanography.

Q5 – Additions to R&D Priorities in Decade Road Map Convener Summary of Responses The conveners summarized responses as follows:

• Establish transboundary MPA’s • Establish Ocean economic development zones • Develop citizen science • Integrate Local and Indigenous Knowledge • Encourage technological innovation • Identify key challenges and develop action plans


• The Decade will end in 10 years but ocean science will go beyond – what kind of data we be collecting at the end of the decade?

Q6 – Institutional and national commitments to Decade Convener Summary of Responses The conveners noted that most responses to these question (with the exception of one response from China) proposed categories of institutional and national commitments that should be made, rather than offering commitments.:

• Transparent Ocean flagship project for region (China) • Develop ocean forecasting


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• Ocean governance/marine spatial planning initiative • At-sea training opportunities for early career scientists • Conservation and pollution awareness programmes • Committing resources to R&D priority areas • Connecting new observing infrastructure, data centres and AI development • Blue-carbon project to connect field observations to policy development


• Sharing of ship time would augment opportunities for data collection.

Q7 – Who should be involved in preparing and implementing the Decade? Convener Summary of Responses

• Major Chinese oceanographic institutions • ASEAN, IOEA, UNDP • UN Statistics Division & Global Ocean Accounts Partnership • Nippon Foundation and other private foundations • Private sector • Local people

Comments/feedback from participants: No additional points were offered by participants.


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APPENDIX II - Existing North Pacific regional initiatives that could address knowledge gaps and priorities. List developed from responses to WG 6 questionnaires and discussions during WG 6 discussions. Ocean Sites GOODS GOOS IODE NOWPAP Global Ocean Accounts Partnership The System of Environmental-Economic Accounting SEAGOOS MOSAiC ODIN WESTPAC POGO PICES IQuOD CLIVAR Global Ocean Acidification Observation Network PEMSEA


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APPENDIX III – COMPLETE QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES COMPILED BY QUESTION

1) To achieve A transparent and accessible ocean, what are the knowledge gaps/ scientific questions/ priority areas that should be addressed in the region through the Decade?

Response: 1 Big data, AI, data transfer 2 International cooperation of observation and data sharing

Response: Gaps in the knowledge still in the level of basic ocean data (in series) that

statistically sound. The question is how detail the grid size for each of those data. Priorities areas should be at the boundaries between or among countries such as in the South China Sea. In addition, local data also need to be collected and then aggregated national scale then to regional.

Response: Lack of monitoring in developing countries and the high seas.

Response: For sustainable uses of the oceans, we should know about where and when the

development and fishing activity have significant impacts on the whole ocean. However, I feel that we have enough knowledge about it.

Response: Under which conditions interventions/capacity building/technology transfer

will bring about a positive change (what works, what doesn’t work and why so) Comprehensive inventory of ocean data/information. How do we harmonize existing information to better inform decisions? Not only is there a need for more ocean information, there is a much need for more harmonized ocean information

Response: The increasing volume of various dataset, model output, remote sensing data

becomes a great barrier to transfer information.


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Response: New research interest should be focus on pollution, climate impact and social science/governance. Increase data collection and accesability to data. Important to focus on how to build a data centre.

Response: Few countries have a minister of oceans, and administration by multi

departments in overlapping or unmanaged managements. To break down barriers to access data. To pay a significant attention on the role of regional oceans in the global ocean and global change.

Response: • Lack of standard protocols on data collection, storage and analysis.

• Restrictions to access to datasets in different countries. • Data fusion of multiple subjects and methods.

Response: It seems that the purpose of this chapter is data policy and transfer issue.

While, the future ocean observation system design should also be emphasized since the data we received are all from observation activities and observation systems.

Response: There should be capacity building for not only data and knowledge sharing, but

also how to utilize data (analysis, interpretation, and implementation of data).

Response: Not only knowledge but interest gaps between data managers and data users may be addressed for effective data transformation.

Response: What needed are probably systems rather than knowledge gaps/scientific

questions to address the WG6 theme. The priority area is to establish frameworks/systems to effectively transfer scientific data to useful information for decision making. Some may already exist (see below) but those functions could be strengthened and more streamlined).

Response: Improve ability of gathering and managing data.

Share information among relevant region and prepare legal framework and guideline for that.


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Response: The effective use of new technology with digital application such as big data,

artificial intelligence etc. Installation of online networking suitable for (big) data exchange between nations and institutions must be considered

Response: R & D needs in the East Asian Seas, as identified in the Sustainable

Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia Implementation Plan 2018-2022, the recommendations from the 2018 East Asian Seas Congress and pipeline of approved projects and concepts that PEMSEA will be coordinating and implementing with various partner agencies and countries in the EAS Region for consideration in the next 10 years include the following: • Regional knowledge sharing, education and capacity building platform • Certification systems for integrated coastal management (ICM) managers

and sustainable business award • Traineeship for young professionals including the PEMSEA Network of

Young Leaders, for visiting scholars/postdoctoral research programs • Massive online courses for special skills training • Targeted research projects providing scientific data, tools and

methodologies to PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC), Regional Centers of Excellence (RCoE), scientific institutions and universities

• Mentoring and twinning between the PNLC and PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) for Sustainable Development, across MPA networks, river basins, etc.

• Monitoring, evaluation and reporting and preparation of ecosystem-health report cards, State of the Coasts reports incorporating SMART indicators

• Training of Trainers • Translation of guidelines, handbooks and manuals into Chinese, Bahasa,

Vietnamese, etc. • Communication planning • Business plan development • Technology transfer and cooperation


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• Development and dissemination of knowledge products to support replication and scaling up of best practices

Response: 1) A significant gap is the weak analytical research base. More emphasis is

placed on the accumulation of new data through new field observations, etc. But there is no system of chronological integrated analysis of already accumulated knowledge and data. A well-structured analytical framework is required with a focus on clearly defined specific tasks to address specific ocean problems to understand the global processes such as climate change and its impact on the ocean. It is important to find the relationship between the individual areas (fields) of knowledge and data. It is necessary to expand the layer of science-holders who are able to see the problem field entirely (undividedly) or at least work in the direction of finding patterns of natural processes. Analytical work is desirable for each large marine ecosystem as a whole. 2) To date, the space impact on climate change and the ocean has been poorly studied. It is extremely important to develop this research direction in the modern time of climate change if we want to learn how to predict and correct ecosystem changes along with human impacts. 3) Today, there is a very weak link between politics and science. Along with scientific analytical research, it is necessary to simultaneously solve the geopolitical problems of the countries in the direction of achieving sustainable development in the regions. It is necessary to create a unified geopolitical approach to the use of interconnected water areas taking into account scientific research and recommendations.

Response: The bridges between scientists and policy makers and the bridges between

scientists and citizens are missing. Science communicators are needed to communicate between stakeholder, citizens, and nations. 2-way communications are also needed. At present, it is only 1-way communication without knowing the thought/ understanding of the other sites.


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2) What are the existing international initiatives/ programmes/ partnerships in this region that could help address these knowledge gaps/science questions?

Response: Ocean Site, GOODS

Response: The existing international initiative tend to be limited, patchy, not yet systematic to address problem related to data transparence and accessibility. For example, bilateral program only applied for certain period of time. There is a need to establish more long terms program.

Response: GOOS、IODE、NOWPAP etc.

Response: With respect to data publication, I think that there is no international

programmes, except for specific data collection project such as Argo project.

Response: Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) The System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA)

Response: All programs, as far as I know, have a good database system, and

interconnection between systems becomes next issue.

Response: SEAGOOS can expand Ocean forecast system into climate forecast MICroplastics group, HAB’s group and Coral’s group, Oc. Acidification and Hypoxia team is there to address the issue

Response: SOOS: Southern Ocean Observation System, MOSAiC: Multidisciplinary drifting

Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate, NPOCE: the Northwestern Pacific Ocean Circulation and Climate Experiment.

Response: • ODINWESTPAC: refer to www.odinwestpac.org

• Northwestern Pacific Ocean Circulation and Climate Experiment (NPOCE): refer to http://npoce.org.cn/

• POGO


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• IQuOD

Response: CLIVAR

Response: North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network

Response: I do not know international programmes for data distribution service, however,

members of Japanese project “MDA Situational Indication Linkages” might support the Decade programme.

Response: Not to address these knowledge gaps/science questions, but can we expect the

leadership of IOC (WESTPAC) and regional UNEP office to be strengthened? Also, regional components of the WOA (not the second process, but from the third process for 2021-2015) could function better for this.

Response: Many initiatives and programmes are in progress.

To avoid duplication of effort, it is important to ensure cooperation among relevant organizations and also use the know-how and ability of private sector.

Response: IODE

PICES

Response: • PEMSEA is currently implementing a GEF-funded project involving 8 countries (Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam) with 3 countries (Japan, RO Korea, Singapore) participating on a cost-sharing basis – one of the component outcomes is knowledge management and capacity building. The project is due for completion in August 2020.

• PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers (PNLC) comprising of 16 university partners from 9 countries

• 3 Regional Centers of Excellence (RCOEs) with specialization on marine pollution; climate change/disaster risk reduction; marine protected area and coral reef research and marine protected area management


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Response: Collaboration between all international initiatives/programmes/partnerships in

the region will be useful but only in the frame a unified accepted and approved analytical approach or strategy. Examples of organizations/programmes: NOWPAP (the North-Western Pacific Action Plan of UNEP), PICES (North Pacific Marine Science Organization), NEAR-GOOS (North-East Asia Regional - Global Ocean Observing System), PEMSEA (Regional Programme on Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia). A common integrated scientific matrix is needed to develop a unified approach.

Response: NGOs - they usually have good programs / strategies to help in addressing the

science questions.

3) What potential international initiatives/programmes/partnerships in the region could be developed, established, rejuvenated or explored to address these knowledge gaps/science questions?

Response: We propose the ‘Transparent Ocean’ project.

Response: CTI (coral triangle initiative) that involve several countries in the region is a potential platform that need to be rejuvenated, energized and extended to cover gaps in ocean data transparence and accessibility.

Response: Regional Hub of Ocean Acidification under GOA-ON (North-West Pacific).

Response: A research area that we are interested in is closely related to another area that

is also interesting but is not transparent (within foreign EEZ) for us. More open data center of each country and/or something like their union that publish data collected within EEZ is needed.

Response: Community of experts around science, statistics (SEEA and ocean accounting)

and governance.


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Response: All programs, as far as I know, have a good database system, and interconnection between systems becomes next issue.

Response: Data Centre and management. Organizing systematic data System for

standardize accessibility

Response: GOA-ON: Global Ocean Acidification Observation Network, AMAP-AOA: Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program-Arctic Ocean Acidification, pAOA-ON: Ocean Acidification Observing Network in the Pacific Arctic and Antarctic Oceans.

Response: • Regional international program in the Indo-Pacific convergent area (IPCA).

• Regional partnership in data-sharing and deep-mining

Response: There should be a network or platform of scientists in regional areas such as Asia, where they share know-how of data analysis, interpretation, and implementation.

Response: International programmes for data visualization should be established to

improve data analysis technics which are useful even in least developed countries.

Response: Strengthen cooperative system among researchers, date managers and

technology developers, including private sector.

Response: Approved projects with components on knowledge management and capacity building that PEMSEA will be coordinating or participating which may provide additional platforms for further promoting a transparent and accessible ocean include the following: ▪ GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Project on Reducing Pollution and Preserving

Environmental Flows in the East Asian Seas through the Implementation of Integrated River Basin Management in 7 ASEAN Countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam); 2019-2023


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▪ ASEAN-Norwegian cooperation project on local capacity building for reducing plastic pollution in the ASEAN region; 2019-2021

▪ ATSEA-2 Project on the Implementation of the Arafura and Timor Seas Regional and National Strategic Action Programs (Indonesia, Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea); 2019-2023

Project under appraisal stage: ▪ IKI Project on Blue Solution for reducing maritime transport GHG emission

through increased energy efficiency of ship and port activities in Southeast Asia (Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam with Japan, RO Korea and Singapore as partner/knowledge countries); 2020-2024

Projects under PIF and concept stage: ▪ GEF/UNDP Project on Effectively managing an ecological network of marine

protected areas in the large marine ecosystems in the ASEAN Region (ASEAN ENMAPS) in coordination with ASEAN Center for Biodiversity

▪ EuropAid Project on Ocean Governance: Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems, catalysts for building peace and security and fostering sustainable South Asia and Atlantic Ocean basin

Expanding the PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers and networking with the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (50 members from 10 countries).

Response: Development of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICM) / Marine

Spatial Planning (MSP) in the frame of the global strategy (approach) of the ICZM/MSP for Asia-Pacific region based on the common integrated scientific matrix.

Response: Citizen scientist programs in different areas of research.

4) Please elaborate on the roles of the following four cross-cutting themes in addressing these science questions, and share the best practice(s) if any. Four cross-cutting themes: a. Capacity building and technology transfer b. Partnerships and financing c. Access to information, data and knowledge


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d. Communication and awareness raising

Response: (a) a Building the Chinese ‘Transparent Ocean’ (b) b International Joint Initiatives, such as International Laboratory for High-

Resolution Earth System Prediction, IHESP, by the Qingdao National Lab for Marine Science and Technology (QNLM), NCAR, Texas A&M university.

(c) c In change of data center in the Ocean University of China and Qingdao National Lab for Marine Science and Technology

(d) d Global Ocean Summit

Response: (b) Capacity building and technology transfer will help in extending greater participation and speed up the data collection, analysis and distribution.

(c) Partnerships and financing will ensure the sustainability of data and information.

(d) Access to information, data and knowledge will solve and delivery the concern of the parties involves.

(e) Communication and awareness raising will bring parties involve closer in filling the gaps and achieving the transparent and accessible ocean data.

Response: Marine Crisis Watch website.

https://www.marinecrisiswatch.jp/mcwatch/index_en.html

Response: For transparent and accessible ocean, data publication is important. This is c itself and should be based on a and b. Based on data publication, d will be stimulated.

Response: (a) To assist countries in improving information and action and test the

scientific/statistical methodologies; to share experiences among countries • ESCAP has long and in-depth experiences in technical and institutional

capacity building (b) An enabler for accountability and progress

• UN Development Accounts, global/regional partnerships, development banks are some good examples.


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(c) Crucial success factor. It includes access to information between government departments, between government and academic institutions, and between countries • One could think of One Data/Open Data initiatives.

(d) Much advocacy and investment are needed to accomplish this outcome. Communication and advocacy will play an important role. • ESCAP organizes technical workshops and high-level conferences that

lead to further action and investment commitments.

Response: I can talk about b. Partnerships and financing.

Response: (b) develop interest in young scientist with ocean science critical topics. Provide accessibility for new equipment or analysis technique through regional training

(c) Increase seed money for specified research topics to support them. (d) Data sharing is always a problem. Create new program such as ARGO floats,

a collaborative partnership amongst countries in the region (e) science communication is the key, but scientist need this skills. Provide

training for scientist

Response: (a) Developing multi-parameters underway measurement system, and buoy and glider system, hosting trailing workshops for ASEA and South-South countries.

(b) Multinational cooperation and multichannel financing supports, (c) Developing a sharing base of information, data and knowledge, (d) Building multi-ways for communication and awareness exchanges.

Response: (a) Capacity building and technology transfer

• Deep sea observation and data collection. (b) Access to information, data and knowledge

• Ocean observation data are often difficult to collect, and data from a single project or a specific region are not enough to fulfill the requirements in oceanographic studies. It’s important to integrate data from different sea areas, countries and disciplinary, and to promote


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data-sharing, to make full use of the ocean observation data. IPCC, for example, has in-cooperated ideas of scientists from different countries and subjects, and the data of numerical simulation and field observations from the land and the oceans, to prepare IPCC report. This is a successful case we could follow in ocean data-sharing and analysis.

Response: Capacity building can include a broad range of activities including partnership

(e.g. joint research), access to information (e.g. data sharing), and awareness raising for multiple stakeholders (e.g. children, educators, scientists, government and industry officials). In other words, four cross-cutting issues are linked with each other, and this linkage needs to be reflected in capacity building activities. The Ocean Foundation (based in US) is active in capacity building in Pacific Region, where they collaborate with multiple local stakeholders to work on ocean acidification issues from both science and policy perspectives. Their work covers wide range of activities including what is mentioned as cross-cutting themes.

Response: Capacity building and technology transfer of digital information much depend

on machine environment. To access and analyze easily from least developed countries, spread of computers with easy interface and network cables are crucial. Technical partnerships and financing are necessary.

Response: n.a. (this WG itself is to address these four themes?)

Response: A new web-GIS system called the MDA Situational Indication Linkages (MSIL)

was released by Japan Coast Guard on April, 2019. This web-GIS system gathers 200 information from 13 different organizations and visualizes global real-time data in one screen. Anyone can access to this system freely.

Response: • Theme a: Opportunities for providing in-situ observational training,

intensive education of data analysis etc to under-developing countries


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• Theme b: International cooperation is essential because of increasing difficulty to conduct MSR in the EEZ. Resource (R/V, instrument etc) sharing is important.

• Theme c & d: International research collaboration and data sharing are required

Response: Below are some best practices for the four cross-cutting themes:

Capacity building: • 16 Learning Centers accredited and operational, offering PEMSEA-certified

ICM training courses/degree programs and specialized skills training • 3 RCOEs designated providing specialized/targeted research support • PEMSEA ICM Professional Certification and PEMSEA Sustainable

Business Award guidebooks developed; certifications systems to be piloted in 2019

• Targeted research/capacity strengthening in Cambodia and Vietnam with support from PEMSEA non-country partner (Plymouth Marine Laboratory)

Partnerships and financing ▪ Sustainable Business Roadmap developed which included interviews with

>20 companies in the EAS region ▪ Investment cases developed with partners on wastewater treatment

(ARCOWA), IRBM/waste management (GEF/UNDP/ASEAN), sustainable aquaculture (Blue you) and marine protection / eco-tourism (Blue finance)

Access to information, data and knowledge • Operationalization of the Seas of East Asia Knowledge Bank (SEAKB)

http://seaknowledgebank.net, which contains useful resources and tools on coastal and ocean governance and blue economy

• State of the Coasts reporting (Regional, national, local) • PEMSEA Network of Local Governments online tracking tool to monitor

progress and contribution of local governments to 4 SDG targets and blue economy growth at the local level

Communication and awareness raising • Partnership and outreach thru the bi-monthly Blue Economy Bulletin,

webinars on blue carbon, ocean plastic, sustainable seafood, etc. • Triennial East Asian Seas Congress; the 2018 EAS Congress was attended

by about 1,000 delegates from 19 countries


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Regular publication and dissemination of ICM solutions and knowledge products

Response: The roles of the following four cross-cutting themes are significant. But the

success of these cross-cutting themes is largely determined by the correct order of their implementation and interaction.

Response: Four cross-cutting themes:

a. Capacity building and technology transfer - More science communicators - Using social medias to reach out more people

b. Partnerships and financing - Have private sectors involves such as have CSR activities

c. Access to information, data and knowledge - Using more social media as tools

d. Communication and awareness raising - Need 2-way communication - Need hand-on experience for citizen science groups

5) Please identify, if needed, additions/modifications to the current R&D priority areas as formulated in the Roadmap, and any major marine science for sustainable development has not yet been highlighted in the Roadmap and the 1st Global Planning Meeting?

Response: Additional R&D priority areas that should be considered is establishment of joint Marine Protected Area (MPA) or Economic Development Zone in the boundaries between/among countries in the region, for example in South China Seas area.

Response: • Priority areas 2&4 could consider harmonization/standardization of

measures to make them ready for use. • Priority areas 3&4 could strengthen land-ocean inter-linkages. • Priority area 5 could link hazard warning with the desired outcomes (i.e.,

reduction of loss).


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• Priority area 6 could inventory and suggest a list of models for different purposes

• Priority area 7 could consider both scientific, statistical and governance literary.

• The Roadmap pays attention primarily to scientific community. There are benefits and opportunities to connect scientific community with statistical community.

Response: Corporation with citizen’s science

Indigenous/local knowledge.

Response: Stress a role of oceans in global change and marine atmospheric chemistry for obtaining significant impacts of climate sensitive chemical species on sustainable development. Global OA without boundary and polar OA rate faster than other oceans. To support “road &silk belt “countries to build up OA monitoring stations in coral reef regions using a updated extensible technology with high quality and low price.

Response: To emphasize methodologies of artificial intelligence in R&D priority Area 4

“Data and information portal”.

Response: The observation system design seems weak now and should be pay more attention.

Response: The Roadmap comprehensively addresses the priority areas. In addition, the

capacity building section should specify who to be targets of capacity building.

Response: For R&D Priority Areas 1 and 4, some notices for data security problem may be needed, especially for ocean mapping of depth and resources.

Response: Technological innovation. This is an overarching priority for most of all 7 R&D

priority areas, including (cost-effective) sensor development, use of AI, communication system etc, to make the four cross-cutting themes enable.


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Response: The R & D priority areas as detailed out in the roadmap are comprehensive and complete

Response: Every priority areas should have a focused hierarchical action plan to address

key challenges. Each such plan should include: - key tasks; - mechanisms of solution; - available and potential human, financial and scientific resources; - analytical support (allocation of interrelated research areas) and research management; - expected results. In other words, it should be clear what place these areas occupy in the general picture of the achieving sustainable development. In addition, it is important to increase the share of space impact research. Needs to investigate the relationship: space and ocean / space - human impact – ocean. It is necessary to develop an analytical system for each priority areas research by the way past-present-future.

6) If feasible, you may wish to provide some brief information about any willingness, or potential commitment(s) of your institution and/or your country, to the preparations for and implementation of the Decade.

Response: Yes, I wish to introduce the ‘Transparent Ocean’ Project in the QNLM.

Response: Actually, Government of Indonesia (GoI) has Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs. To my understanding, the country has a willingness to participate and carry out the Decade program. However, there is still problem of coordination at the national that need to be overcome. Perhaps with the Decade the country can pull its resource to address and contribute to the Decade.

Response: Cooperation at the UNFCCC COP and the UN Ocean Conference.

Response: We will sustain and develop the database system of oceanic data set.


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Response: We will help to lead this initiatives in our country (Malaysia). Our focus will be on Ocean Forecast and impact of climate on Ocea, and Ocean Governance, involving the social science aspect and Marine spatial planning.

Response: To trail young scientists from ASEA and South-South or North-South countries.

Welcome them to joint our voyages in the Arctic or Antarctic or western Pacific Oceans. And share our knowledge and equipment for them to improve their studies in Key Lab of Global change and Marine–Atmospheric Chemistry, Ministry of Natural Resources, China.

Response: The Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS) has

established an observing network of subsurface mooring array in the western Pacific, and a Big Data Center to deal with data collection, storage and analysis. Methods of artificial intelligence are under development to be applied in analysis of ocean observation data.

Response: FIO will continue to perform basic research and make contribution to UN

decade as well as in-situ observation.

Response: Our institute would potentially contribute to the implementation of the Decade through promoting a science-based policy making process. For example, We are now conducting the blue carbon project, where we are studying how to implement filed data to policy making. This project would be a model case, which would raise the awareness of the importance of science among policy makers and promote communications between public and academic sectors.

Response: Sorry I am not sure whether our institution will bring any commitment to the

preparations for and implementation of the Decade.

Response: JAMSTEC is conducting and will be conducting ocean researches relevant to most of R&D priority areas. We are very keen to contribute to implement the Decade in the relevant areas of SDGs by providing international community


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with rigorous scientific evidences which are indispensable for achievement of effective decision making.

Response: • PEMSEA is currently organizing the EAS Partnership Council meeting (24-26

July 2019; Surabaya, Indonesia) where mainstreaming of the Decade of Ocean Science agenda into the current plans and future plans and programs of PEMSEA is included in the discussion

• PEMSEA can also facilitate the introduction of the Decade to the country and local government partners during the conduct of national forums in 2019 and 2020 that will be organized in the 8 countries covered by the GEF project

Response: V.I.Il’ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute, Pacific Geographical Institute, Far-

Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pollution Monitoring Regional Activity Center of UNEP Action Plan for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Northwest Pacific Region (NOWPAP POMRAC) etc.

Response: At Chulalongkorn University, we are now addressing 2 topics: 1) Coral reef

conservation and restoration awarness, 2) marine debris and microplastic awareness. Thus, these can be used for implementation of the Decade.

7) From your perspectives, who else, or which institutions/programmes/networks shall be further engaged into the preparations for and implementation of the UN Decade?

Response: The QNLM should be involved in the implementation of the UN Decade.

Response: In my opinion, other institutions that should be asked to join and part of the Decade’s network are: ASEAN, IORA, and UNDP.

Response: United Nations Statistics Division

Global Ocean Accounts Partnership


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Response: Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources in China with multidisciplinary departments and 4500 tonnage research vessel to survey in wPO, South China Sea and India Sea.

Response: IOCAS,

IAP (Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Science)

Response: National Marine Information Center, China; NSFC

Response: The Nippon Foundation are conducting and funding several capacity building projects including the Capacity Building and Network Development at IAMU, NF-GEBCO Training Project, NF-UN Partnership Training Program on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, and Nereus Program.

Response: I do not know individual names to write here, but I hope some specialists of

data management to join to the UN Decade programme.

Response: More private sectors and new funders, e.g. philanthropic organizations although some may already be involved.

Response: IODE

PICES

Response: • National governments to ensure buy in and commitment to implement the UN Decade through mainstreaming of the Decade R & D priority areas in their respective long-term and medium-term development and investment plans.

• Local governments (and communities) as beneficiaries of the Decade’s societal outcomes and who are responsible (particularly in decentralized system of governments) in the implementation of programs and projects at the local level.

Response: The more we attract the attention of different nature users to the problems of

the ocean, the better.


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Response: More high ranking persons from government sectors such as Ministry

Local people- because they have significant roles in making, using and having an impact from this part.

Documents

Decade regional workshop for the North Pacific and Western ...file.iocwestpac.org/UN Decade Regional Workshop/documents/sum… · Societal needs observing requirements Data acquisition