Topic: The UN Decade of Ocean Science

The Ocean Science Decade aims to promote new scientific knowledge that can be used to strengthen the management of ocean and coastal areas worldwide. This is necessary for us to enjoy and benefit from the ocean both today and in the future.

The Earth is primarily an ocean planet, and billions of people around the world depend on the ocean for food, health, jobs, transport, recreation, raw materials, and much more. With a growing population and pressure on land areas, the ocean becomes even more important.

For instance, more of the world’s food supply must come from the ocean through sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. This requires knowledge across the entire chain, from the state of ecosystems through to catch and management, to nutrition and health.

By ensuring clean and rich oceans, we can create a better future for the entire planet. For this, we need knowledge about the ocean and how best to use it.

Why a Decade of Ocean Science?

On 5 December 2017, the UN General Assembly decided to organize a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The decision was made based on an increasing understanding of the ocean’s role in the Earth’s future.

The initiative came from the Ocean Commission in UNESCO, IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission). IOC is also responsible for developing and following up on the plans for the decade in collaboration with member countries and other international actors.

The vision for the Ocean Science Decade is “The science we need for the ocean we want.” IOC has defined six areas where the Ocean Science Decade will deliver concrete results for society:

• A clean ocean, where we identify and reduce or remove pollution from the ocean.
• A healthy and resilient ocean, where marine ecosystems are mapped and protected.
• A predictable ocean, where we can understand and foresee changes and consequences for society.
• A safe ocean, with protection against hazards on the coast and at sea.
• A sustainable and productive ocean, ensuring food supply and livelihoods for people.
• A transparent and accessible ocean, where everyone has access to ocean data and information as a basis for their decisions.

Read more: The Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (oceandecade.org)

How can the ocean contribute to sustainable development?

The Decade for Ocean Science aims to help achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that the global community has agreed upon. These goals are to be met by 2030 and ensure social, economic, and ecological sustainability.

Sustainable Development Goal number 14 focuses on life below water: conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources. However, the ocean and marine research are also crucial for achieving the other goals. Here are some examples:

• Food from the ocean can play a significant role in the fight to eradicate hunger and achieve food security and better nutrition (Goal 2). This requires knowledge about fish stocks, nutritional content, and contaminants, which is often lacking in poorer countries today. Here, the Ocean Science Decade intersects with the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition, 2016–2025.
• Promoting marine research and ocean management helps countries gain better control over their own resources. This also promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions (Goal 16).
• Offshore wind and other renewable energy production can contribute to providing clean energy for all (Goal 7) and combating climate change (Goal 13). However, this cannot be done without investigating how such installations affect wildlife, the marine environment, and opportunities for other industries.
• Experiences provided by the ocean contribute to good health and well-being for many (Goal 3).

What do Norway and IMR contribute?

Norway has the highest number of marine researchers per capita in the world and is one of the largest contributors to the Ocean Science Decade. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is the high patron of the Ocean Decade Alliance, of which Norway is also a member.

As one of the largest marine research institutes in Europe, with over a thousand employees and a wide range of expertise “from sea to plate,” the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) will be a key player in implementing the decade’s ambitions both nationally and internationally.

Norway supports marine research and ocean management in developing countries through the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) with programs such as Ocean for Development and Fish for Development. IMR participates in the EAF Nansen programme and operates the research vessel «Dr. Fridtjof Nansen» in collaboration with Norad and FAO, and has bilateral collaborations with several countries.

IMR leads the FAIROD project (FAIR Data in the UN Ocean Decade in support of integrated ecosystem assessment) , which is part of the Ocean Decade. This project aims to support sustainable ocean management through the use and sharing of data.

The Research Council of Norway is responsible for coordinating and following up on Norway’s efforts in the Ocean Science Decade. An expert group launched a plan in October 2020 focusing on ten areas:

• Interaction between climate and environment. Goal: The ocean’s role in the climate is well understood, and we have a cleaner ocean with healthy ecosystems.
• Integrated ocean management. Goal: The world has a comprehensive understanding of how the ocean should be managed.
• Healthy and safe seafood for all. Goal: Food from the ocean constitutes an increasing part of our diet.
• Renewable energy from the ocean. Goal: The ocean is a significant supplier of renewable energy.
• Environmentally friendly maritime transport. Goal: New transport and technology solutions have made maritime transport environmentally friendly.
• An ocean of data. Goal: Collaboration on the collection, storage, analysis, and sharing of data is the norm.
• Who should own the ocean? Goal: The ocean and the value creation from the ocean benefit everyone.
• The Arctic fully and completely, not piecemeal. Goal: An Arctic Ocean that is understood and managed from a holistic perspective.
• Global ocean economy and aid. Goal: Norwegian marine research and management have increased access to, and fair distribution of, marine resources worldwide.
• Everyone can ocean! Goal: Everyone understands the importance of the ocean and the opportunities that sensible use and protection of the ocean provide.