GEF International Waters Science Conference 2012 Bangkok, Thailand – 24 to 26 September 2012

Open oceans science in the GEFChris O’Brien FAO

5

Open ocean

10,000 m

200 m

Wikipedia

Open ocean: a history of open access

Overfishing of highly migratory species

Ocean fertilization

Extraction of hydrocarbons and mineral exploration

Maritime shipping Plastics in the

food chain

Marine debris and pollution

Physical and chemical changes in ocean waters

IUU Fishing

and multiple threats

ISA

UNGAIOC-UNESCO

IMO

FAO, UNEP, U

NDP UNDOALOS

ICP

IUCN

UN-Oceans

Rachael Koch

ISA

UNGAIOC-UNESCO

IMO

FAO, UNEP, U

NDP UNDOALOS

ICP

PERSGA, OSPAR, C

TI

Seascapes RFB / RFMOsLMEs

Regional SeasIU

CN

UN-Oceans

ISA

IOC-UNESCO

IMO

FAO, UNEP, U

NDP UNDOALOS

ICP

PERSGA, OSPAR, C

TI

Seascapes RFB / RFMOsLMEs

Regional Seas

CBD

CCRF

MARPOLCMS

UNCLOS

CITESGESAMP

IUCN. WW

F

IUCN

UNGAUN-Oceans

Open ocean science

NOAA

Open ocean science

• Oceanography• Climate• Fisheries• Seabed mining• Biodiversity• Ecosystem research

NOAA

The GEF open ocean science activities: • are few• answer governance questions• support other initiatives

GEF open ocean science activities: • species inventories• modelling ecosystems• oceanography• productivity

The open ocean science activities: Global sustainable fisheries management and biodiversity conservation in the areas beyond national jurisdiction

• basic ecological and biological data collection (incl bycatch)

• risk assessments of critical habitats

• technological development of electronic compliance techniques and bycatch mitigation

• social and economic analyses

The open ocean science activities:

Nothing is ‘off the table’

(if it answers a management question)

The open ocean science activities:

Nothing is ‘off the table’

(if it answers a management question)

but high cost of ocean research and long term commitments may limit GEF participation

IW Science Instructions:

• Give a synthesis of the science• Best practice examples• Reflect on portfolio performance and highlight

key persistent and emerging issues

IW Science Instructions:

key persistent and emerging issues

• climate change, acidification and atmospheric change

• life history, ecology and conservation of transboundary stocks

• multiple stressors, tipping points and resilience of coupled social ecological systems.

Emerging issuesIts not about the type of the science !Its about dry issues:• ensure the ProDoc and TDAs science is comprehensive

and interpreted correctly (scientific rigour)

• better coordinate and integrate the scientific activities of the different agencies involved

• improve the communication of scientific outputs to policymakers and managers

• Ensure essential information is collected analysed and used (ocean indicators)

Emerging issues• Adjust administration to encourage:

focal area funds to be combined

Contracts with ‘other’ bodies

support to agencies that undertake the required/desired programmes of work

beneficiaries to fund indicators science as part of

their cofinancing

Major science needs:

• improving understanding of critical natural processes

• effective governance

ISA

IOC-UNESCO

IMO

FAO, UNEP, U

NDP UNDOALOS

ICP

PERSGA, OSPAR, C

TI

Seascapes RFB / RFMOsLMEs

Regional Seas

CBD

CCRF

MARPOLCMS

UNCLOS

CITESGESAMP

IUCN. WW

F

IUCN

UNGAUN-Oceans

Rachael Koch