The Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) of GEO BON and ProtectedSeas recognize the need for globally coordinated and sustained ocean and biodiversity observing and data collection systems. Such systems are urgently needed to systematically assess the state of the ocean’s biodiversity including biological resources and ecosystems, and how these will change in the future.
A coordinated global ocean biodiversity observing system, especially one that includes regulatory data, would provide the data, information and knowledge needed to inform the progress towards, for example, the global 2030 targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (including SDG 14), targets and indicators of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and activities related to UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
The agreement between MBON and ProtectedSeas recognizes ongoing cooperation to reinforce ocean biodiversity observing capacity and use the best available resources and expertise. By collaborating on data, biodiversity, and levels of fishing protection interpretive needs, we can improve data and information sharing. This will result in more robust data that can be used for evaluating and assessing existing and future MPAs.
Virgil Zetterlind, Director of ProtectedSeas said: “It has been our delight to share the regulatory data we have available for 21,700 Marine Protected Areas, in 200 countries and territories, and translated into 25 languages with MBON, as their team has been adept at amplifying this resource among its vast network of international practitioners.”
“The MBON is excited to collaborate with ProtectedSeas to support the international science and operations community to better understand marine protected areas through a regulatory perspective and inform map assessments,” says Joana Soares, Executive Secretary of MBON.
