How can a new UN ocean treaty change the course of capacity building?

Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 32(5), P. 907 - 912

Published: March 1, 2022

Abstract Few States are able to undertake scientific research in the half of planet that lies marine areas beyond national jurisdiction. Capacity building is therefore a key part development new international legally binding instrument for conservation and sustainable use biological diversity jurisdiction, under United Nations Convention on Law Sea (BBNJ Agreement). The final negotiations BBNJ Agreement scheduled early 2022, after almost two decades development. There an urgent need address remaining questions relating capacity secure effective equitable outcome from this process safeguard global ocean commons. Persisting gaps cast doubt adequacy past current approaches implement long‐standing commitments. build partnerships long‐term outcomes. As instrument, critical opportunity change course by strengthening legal framework, including funding, information‐sharing, monitoring decision‐making. This rapidly closing window develop obligations, collaboration frameworks funding mechanisms relevant not only commons, but also sustainability more generally as UN Ocean Decade begins.

Language: Английский

---

Low-Cost, Deep-Sea Imaging and Analysis Tools for Deep-Sea Exploration: A Collaborative Design Study

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: Aug. 11, 2022

A minuscule fraction of the deep sea has been scientifically explored and characterized due to several constraints, including expense, inefficiency, exclusion, resulting inequitable access tools resources around world. To meet demand for understanding largest biosphere on our planet, we must accelerate pace broaden scope exploration by adding low-cost, scalable traditional suite research assets. Exploration strategies should increasingly employ collaborative, inclusive, innovative methods promote inclusion, accessibility, equity ocean discovery globally. Here, present an important step toward this new paradigm: a collaborative design study technical capacity needs equitable deep-sea exploration. The focuses opportunities challenges related data collection artificial intelligence-driven analysis. It was conducted in partnership with twenty marine professionals worldwide, covering broad representation geography, demographics, domain knowledge within space. results include set requirements low-cost imaging sensing systems automated image analysis systems. As result study, camera system called Maka Niu prototyped is being field-tested thirteen interviewees online AI-driven video platform development. We also identified six categories open implementation questions highlighting participant concerns potential trade-offs that have not yet addressed current projects but are as considerations future work. Finally, offer recommendations outline work

Language: Английский

---

Exposing inequities in deep-sea exploration and research: results of the 2022 Global Deep-Sea Capacity Assessment

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: Aug. 9, 2023

The 2022 Global Deep-Sea Capacity Assessment is a baseline assessment of the technical and human capacity for deep-sea exploration research in every coastal area with deep ocean worldwide. From 200 to nearly 11,000 meters below sea level, encompasses single largest—and arguably most critical—biosphere on Earth. Globally, two-thirds all exclusive economic zones combined have water depths between 2,000 6,000 meters, making this particularly critical depth range access. This study includes information 186 countries territories, analyzed by subregional, regional, income groups. data were collected through both an online survey manual research. We found that globally, 52% respondents agreed considered important their community. A third they had in-country technology conduct research, half expertise. Survey results revealed challenges worldwide are funding, access vessels, capacity. top three global opportunities training opportunities, less expensive collection technology, better analysis tools. provides necessary strategically develop, equitably implement, quantitatively measure impact development over coming years. It now possible evolution next decade, indicator progress during UN Decade Ocean Science Sustainable Development.

Language: Английский

---

The emerging picture of a diverse deep Arctic Ocean seafloor: From habitats to ecosystems

Elementa Science of the Anthropocene, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Interest in the deep Arctic Ocean is rapidly increasing from governments, policy makers, industry, researchers, and conservation groups, accentuated by growing accessibility of this remote region surface vessel traffic. In review, our goal to provide an updated taxonomic inventory benthic taxa known occur relate habitat diversity. To achieve goal, we collected data for metazoan deep-sea open-access databases, information facilities, non-digitised scientific literature, limiting collection area north 66°N below 500 m depth (excluding all shelf seas). Although notable progress has been made understanding using novel technologies infrastructure, gathering shows that knowledge communities remains very limited. Yet, through compilation maps, show contains a high diversity geomorphological features, including slopes, basins, submarine canyons, ridges, seamounts, as well chemosynthesis-based biogenic (biologically engineered) ecosystems. analyse taxon richness density, both morphological molecular data, compiled 75,404 faunal records with 2,637 taxa. Phyla most were Arthropoda (21,405), Annelida (13,763) Porifera (12,591); phyla documented (956), (566) Mollusca (351). An overview dominant groups inhabiting different features highlights regions where are particularly scarce increased research efforts needed, basins central Ocean. This scarcity biodiversity creates bottleneck developing robust management measures changing region, leading call international collaboration shared ensure preservation these fragile

Language: Английский

---

Towards equity and justice in ocean sciences

npj Ocean Sustainability, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 2(1)

Published: Dec. 13, 2023

Abstract The global scientific community is currently going through a self-reckoning in which it questioning and re-examining its existing practices, many of are based on colonial neo-colonial perceptions. This particularly acute for the ocean research community, where unequal unbalanced international collaborations have been rife. Consequently, numerous discussions calls made to change current status quo by developing guidelines frameworks addressing key issues plaguing our community. Here, we provide an overview topics that has debated over last three four years, with emphasis research, coupled actions per stakeholder groups (research institutions, funding agencies, publishers). We also outline some missing suggest path forward tackle these gaps. hope this contribution will further accelerate efforts bring more equity justice into sciences.

Language: Английский

---

Institutionalising science and knowledge under the agreement for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ): Stakeholder perspectives on a fit-for-purpose Scientific and Technical Body

Marine Policy, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 161, P. 105998 - 105998

Published: Jan. 5, 2024

The use of science, scientific information, and other knowledge to inform decision-making is increasingly recognised as an integral feature environmental governance – a principle which reflected in the new agreement for conservation sustainable marine biological diversity areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). To support integration science knowledge, BBNJ Agreement establishes Scientific Technical Body (STB) confers task finalising formulation function this advisory body Conference Parties once enters into force. Therefore, it critical time careful consideration what needed achieve effective STB. However, date, there limited research on fit-for-purpose STB would involve or operationalise practice. As such, we aim fill gap by providing insights garnered from semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. Using qualitative content analysis, identify examine eight characteristics that stakeholders deem important qualities encompass, well challenges opportunities operationalising these Our findings indicate extends mere production high-quality advice - also necessitates inclusion due fundamental such inclusivity equity, transparency, flexibility, synergy existing framework, amongst others, proactive trade-offs associated different design choices. These are pertinent forthcoming endeavour designing implementing under Agreement, more generally, provide normative perceive science-policy interfaces.

Language: Английский

---

Big enough for an extra-large meal: a review on predation upon large animals by benthic cnidarians

Hydrobiologia, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 851(18), P. 4307 - 4323

Published: April 17, 2024

Abstract The feeding upon large animals—even larger than the predator—by benthic cnidarians has been reported from many ecosystems but never exhaustively studied to date. By reviewing 38 papers on this topic, review aims recap observations predatory behaviour of polyps, establish plasticity boundaries and understand contribute trophic strategy benthic–pelagic coupling. reviewed documents published increasingly during last two decades mostly heterotrophic Anthozoa in shallow collected through photo/video records. main prey items are represented by gelatinous zooplankton echinoderms. lexical discordance considered highlights need standardize terminology describe Cnidaria, opportunistic characterized a strong plasticity. Given importance cnidarian trophism, we proposed an unambiguous that will help online search literature address future studies. We suggest identifying micro-predation (predator/prey size ratio ≥ 5:1) macro-predation is ≤ 1:1) as distinct modalities, because capture involves peculiar movements such stretching retracting column tentacles pull towards mouth.

Language: Английский

---

Applying environmental DNA approaches to inform marine biodiversity conservation: The case of the Ocean Twilight Zone

Marine Policy, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 165, P. 106151 - 106151

Published: May 6, 2024

Effective governance of the global ocean under accelerating environmental and social changes depends on sufficient scientific knowledge that unravels complexity dynamic marine ecosystems. In case vast remote twilight zone (OTZ), management is particularly challenged by lack data. Traditional biodiversity monitoring methods are unable to scale efficiently or effectively address these gaps new technologies needed inform policy. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has quickly gained traction in recent years as an enabling technology for conservation will play a transformative role OTZ high seas general. Through comprehensive review science policy literature analysis existing data, we discuss importance OTZ, gaps, summarize developments eDNA research. We identify key components framework implications relevant Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement. show integrated science-policy approach based transdisciplinary research essential achieving sustainability 30×30 target conserving biodiversity.

Language: Английский

---

Hope for an accessible ocean: Blue justice and ocean science diplomacy central to the outcome of the UN Decade of Ocean Science

Marine Policy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 176, P. 106639 - 106639

Published: March 4, 2025

Language: Английский

---

First records of the blurred lantern shark Etmopterus bigelowi from the Cayman Islands, Western Atlantic

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: April 21, 2023

The genus Etmopterus is the most speciose group of small bodied deep-sea sharks found throughout tropical and subtropical Western Atlantic. Despite exhibiting a global distribution at genus-level, blurred lantern shark ( Etempoterus bigelowi ) known only from few records in Southern Atlantic Ocean. Through in-situ video observations using landers, we provide two new locality deep waters off Cayman Islands, Caribbean Sea. Three unique individuals were recorded across separate deployments between 653m – 668m. These first this species Sea, adding to minimal knowledge species’

Language: Английский

---