Building capacity for effective ocean management in the Atlantic region: Examples from iAtlantic

Summary:

• The availability of accessible, user friendly and cost-effective deep-ocean technology that can be easily deployed and efficiently maintained is essential in supporting countries’ contribution to global ocean sustainability goals.
• Co-designing research programmes and creating collaborative and supportive networks across the Atlantic region is critical to maximise the impact of scientific research, translate it into ‘actionable knowledge’ and shape ocean policy and governance regimes at ocean basin scale.
• Research expeditions are crucial for collecting deep-sea data but the high cost of seagoing research creates an imbalance in research opportunities, disadvantaging scientists based in countries without access to research vessels.
• Enabling researcher mobility supports the exchange of knowledge and skills between individuals and research groups, helps to build new and strengthen existing networks, facilitates collaboration and broadens the horizons of individual researchers.
• A standardised approach to deep-sea data collection and open-access storage in centralised long-term data repositories and catalogues is essential. User friendly and accessible platforms and tools that can be used by stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to share data and fulfil commitments to diverse policy initiatives are key.
• The communication gap between (ocean) researchers and decision-makers is a recognised challenge that can hinder progress in achieving sustainable ocean management. Improving scientists’ understanding of policy needs and priorities, as well as policymakers’ understanding of scientific challenges and limitations is crucial in addressing this lacuna.