“Protecting the ocean so that it continues to protect us, covering all its extent from the coast to the deep sea, requires a multidisciplinary approach and appropriate governance. Navigating the Future VI, with its four outward-facing chapters linking to topics that any audience can identify with (People, Climate, Fresh Water, and Biodiversity), takes the next step towards these challenges and considers the role of the ocean and marine science in the wider Earth system,” says Dr. Gilles Lericolais, Chair of the publication working group and Chair of the European Marine Board (2019–2024) in the foreword.
Research Requirements
At important junctures for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) and the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and waters (2021–2027), NFVI outlines key knowledge gaps and research and policy recommendations to ensure the objectives of these important initiatives are achieved. It discusses the need to manage ocean interactions, what is needed to achieve an ocean that is no longer warming, how to ensure that clean and safe waters are available to all communities, and how to have a biodiverse ocean that continues to provide ecosystem services.
Drawing together messages from the four thematic chapters, the publication concludes that to ensure the ocean continues to provide the services the Earth and society require, the following is needed:
- Specific research on the impact of multiple stressors on the ocean and its inhabitants;
- Substantial private ocean finance for projects that are really sustainable, avoiding greenwashing;
- Sustained and long-term research funding;
- Sustained ocean observations, open, accessible, and digitized data, and their integration into Digital Twins of the ocean;
- Increased technical and financial resources to meet the growing monitoring requirements;
- Harmonized governance, standards, policies, and monitoring across the land-coastal-ocean interface; and
- Scientists and policymakers who are trained to work in cross-, inter-, and trans-disciplinary ways, as well as trained specialists in critical fields.
NFVI also takes an introspective look and recommends that the marine science community should operate in a more sustainable and equitable manner to lead by example.
Collaborative Effort
The publication has been a collaborative effort over two years, starting in October 2022. The Working Group comprises 33 experts from 16 European countries, covering a wide range of marine natural and social science backgrounds and career levels.
