TM25 | Connecting the Depths: Collaborative Deep-Ocean Networks Shaping Ocean Governance

TM25

Connecting the Depths: Collaborative Deep-Ocean Networks Shaping Ocean Governance

Convener: E. Escobar-Briones, Kelsey Archer Barnhill

Wed, 04 Jun, 09:00–10:00 (CEST)|Room 6

The deep sea is the world’s largest ecosystem and its integrity and functioning are crucial for the stability of planetary processes such as climate regulation and the sustenance of life; yet it faces growing threats from human activities. Maintaining deep-ocean ecosystem integrity and resilience is essential to meet SDG14 and the UN Ocean Decade Vision 2030. Scientific networks such as the Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI), the International Panel for Ocean Sustainability’s (IPOS) Global Deep-Sea Consultation, and the African Network of Deep-water Researchers (ANDR) are vital for connecting researchers and connecting researchers with policy processes. As human activities increasingly impact the deep ocean, formal and informal networks play an important role in ensuring that science informs policy discussions on pressing topics such as deep-sea mining, biodiversity conservation, fisheries management, and climate interventions. These globally-inclusive networks help translate complex scientific findings into policy-relevant insights, supporting discussions occurring across governance processes, including the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Agreement on Sustainable use and conservation of Marine Biodiversity in Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), among others. This Town Hall event aims to highlight the role of scientific networks in providing strategic science policy advice for ocean stewardship, showcasing collaborative successes across a range of deep-sea issues, and identifying opportunities for different networks to further coordinate efforts to enhance our science to policy impact.

Target Audience
The Town Hall will engage a broad audience, including policymakers, researchers, philanthropic organizations, stakeholders in ocean governance, early career ocean professionals (ECOPs), and representatives from international ocean initiatives. This event will provide valuable insights for those involved in or affected by decisions related to deep-sea governance, including professionals in marine conservation, resource management, and climate policy.

Expected Outcomes
By the end of the Town Hall, participants will have a clearer understanding of how deep-sea science networks operate and collaborate to inform global policy. The event will:

1. Highlight case studies demonstrating successful science-policy interactions across a range of ocean-governance fora;
2. Demonstrate how scientific networks amplify voices that may otherwise go unheard by providing formal platforms to incorporate diverse and interdisciplinary expertise into global ocean governance processes;
3. Facilitate dialogue on challenges and opportunities for improving engagement between the scientific community and decision-makers;
4. Foster knowledge exchange across scientific networks, to enhance and promote collaborative efforts to address deep-ocean environmental challenges.

Through short introductory presentations and participatory dialogue, the Town Hall aims to strengthen relationships between deep-sea research networks and global governance bodies, ultimately enhancing the role of science and knowledge in safeguarding the deep ocean's unique ecosystems.