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UN Decade of Ocean Science workshop report
Introduction
The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable report forms part of the workshop output and
Development (hereafter the Ocean Decade) presents a detailed overview of the workshop
challenges nations to identify the ‘science we need discussions. It is accompanied by a short synthesis
for the ocean we want’. It seeks to strengthen of the high-level findings of the workshop. The
international collaboration to build a shared workshop agenda and attendees list can be found
framework, across the science-policy interface, for in Annexes B and C, respectively.
the sustainable management of global oceans for
the benefit of humanity. The workshop was split into four sessions. Session
1 brought together speakers from international
In October 2020, the Royal Society’s Global organisations and UK Government departments to
Environmental Research Committee hosted a introduce national and international perspectives
virtual workshop, which brought together on the Ocean Decade. Session 2 then invited
representatives of the UK’s ocean research, policy researchers to outline pressing science issues in
and funding community to discuss how the UK can line with Ocean Decade requirements. This
make a successful research contribution to the foundation was used by participants in sessions 3
Ocean Decade. Presentations, panels and group and 4 to collaboratively prioritise and further
discussions identified priority research areas to develop the research themes and approaches
provide advice to funding organisations, needed to meet the objectives of the Ocean
Government, and research institutions. This Decade.
Image: James Cook JC156 voyage to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
© Alessandro Tagliabue.
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UN Decade of Ocean Science workshop report _ published 8th June 2021
Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1
Session 1: International context and policy needs for evidence - talks .............................. 3
Session 2: Identifying research questions – panel discussions .......................................... 7
Panel Discussion 1: Marine habitats ..................................................................................... 7
Panel Discussion 2: Challenges and threats in the marine environment .................................. 7
Panel Discussion 3: Ocean-based opportunities, solutions and management .......................... 7
Sessions 3 and 4: Prioritising and Developing Research Questions - breakout discussions .. 8
Essential Elements for Ocean Decade Research ............................................................ 17
Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 17
Annex A: Acknowledgements ...................................................................................... 18
Annex B: Agenda for GERC workshop on UK research priorities for the UN Decade of Ocean
Science for Sustainable Development .......................................................................... 19
Annex C: Attendees List .............................................................................................. 22
Annex D: Session 2 - Identifying research questions ...................................................... 24
Panel Discussion: Marine habitats ...................................................................................... 24
Coastal oceans .............................................................................................................. 24
Coral reefs and associated systems ................................................................................. 24
The deep sea ................................................................................................................. 24
Panel Discussion: Challenges and threats in the marine environment ................................... 25
Sea level rise ................................................................................................................. 25
Impacts of climate change on the high seas ..................................................................... 25
Plastic pollution ............................................................................................................ 25
Panel Discussion: Ocean-based opportunities, solutions and management ........................... 26
Marine resource governance .......................................................................................... 26
Blue carbon solutions .................................................................................................... 26
Sustainability of marine food supply ............................................................................... 26
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UN Decade of Ocean Science workshop report _ published 8th June 2021
Session 1: International context and policy needs for evidence - talks
Session 1 included four talks introducing Ocean Decade objectives, providing examples of national and
international actions around the Ocean Decade, and outlining the science that policy makers need to
address critical ocean challenges. Below is a synthesis of the key information shared by the talks.
Talk 1: Introducing the Ocean Decade: ● Collaboration and co-operation; both
context and personal perspective - Professor internationally and between disciplines.
Angela Hatton, Director of Science and ● The ability to inspire and engage the next
Technology, National Oceanography Centre generation.
● A transformation in the way we work;
This talk introduced the UN Ocean Decade and its embracing new technologies.
objectives. ● Clear communication of ocean knowledge.
● Natural and social scientists and ocean
There is only one ocean. The ocean represents stakeholders working together to design and
roughly 96% of the habitable space on Earth and deliver solution-orientated research.
provides the primary protein source for roughly 1 ● Capacity development.
billion people. It is vital for the functioning of our ● Commitments from Governments and policy
planet; it absorbs and redistributes carbon, excess makers.
heat, and nutrients. ● Funding and calls for action.
In addition, the ocean is fundamental to These needs can act as guiding principles to help
economies and livelihoods. In 2016, the OECD us meet the objectives of the Ocean Decade.
forecast the ocean economy would double by
2030, from $1.5 trillion to $3 trillion per year1. Talk 2: Efforts underway outside the UK:
However, this relies on healthy marine Action from global to national scale - Julian
ecosystems. Barbière, Head of Marine Policy and Regional
Implementation, Intergovernmental
Protecting and enhancing the ocean relies on Oceanographic Commission - UNESCO
collective global efforts to investigate the changes
affecting our oceans. Large scale research, This talk provided an overview of how the
observation, prediction systems, and data sharing development and implementation of the Ocean
are essential to help policy makers make Decade is progressing at global, regional, and
evidence-based decisions about the ocean. national scales.
Science is at the heart of the Ocean Decade, but The Ocean Decade was developed to be a non-
science is broad. We must bring together the prescriptive, adaptive framework which allows
natural science and social sciences to deliver large diverse actors at all scales to create programs and
scale, transformative, solutions-driven research. projects. The Ocean Decade Implementation Plan
The Ocean Decade is an opportunity to help identifies a variety of mechanisms to enable
influence funding calls so that funding supports multi-level engagement.
the science we need for the ocean we want.
The implementation plan outlines ten Ocean
The Ocean Decade has set out Decade outcomes, Decade challenges. These cover the most
and Decade challenges. In addition to this, there immediate priorities for the Ocean Decade and
are a number of underlying needs which can be can be translated into action across scales to
identified: achieve the Ocean Decade outcomes and build
‘the ocean we want’.
● Leadership; people, communities and
organisations who can make things happen.
1
OECD (2016), The Ocean Economy in 2030, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264251724-en.
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UN Decade of Ocean Science workshop report _ published 8th June 2021Several global initiatives to facilitate the Ocean research areas, investments and ocean
Decade objectives will be implemented, most management practices.
notably the Global Stakeholder Forum (due to be
established in 2021) and the Ocean Decade A major recent output has been their position
Alliance. The former will organise communities of paper entitled ‘Navigating the Future V: marine
practice around the Ocean Decade challenges. science for a sustainable future’. This focusses on
The latter is a large-scale resource mobilisation envisioning a 4D ocean, in which changes over
mechanism. space and time were predicted.
Initiatives to facilitate the Ocean Decade The paper highlighted several priorities for the
objectives also exist at the regional scale, for Ocean Decade:
instance: the Arctic Ocean Plan; the West Tropical
Atlantic Taskforce; the Pacific Regional ● A clean ocean – tackling pollutants;
Programme; and the African Action Plan. Regional ● A safe ocean – the ability to understand and
platforms can be registered as Ocean Decade predict extreme events;
stakeholder networks and can enable regional ● A healthy ocean – an ocean that is
actors to identify priority issues to meet regional interconnected and functioning;
needs. ● A transparent ocean – accessible and real
time data.
Finally, national level initiatives exist in the form
of National Decade Committees. These are multi- The European Marine Board also acknowledged
stakeholder platforms which co-ordinate between that ecosystem models can help meet the goals of
regional and global initiatives, design and develop the Ocean Decade. Ecosystem models must be
Ocean Decade actions, facilitate access to Ocean connected to other models, such as physical
Decade outputs, and leverage funds and models, food models, socio-economic models,
resources. Currently, there are National Decade and biogeochemical models, as well as addressing
Committees in Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, uncertainty and multiple spatial and temporal
Germany, Italy, India, Japan, Norway, Portugal, scales.
the UK (see talk 4) and the USA, with more
planned including in Egypt, Iran, and Russia. The Finally, the European Marine Board has been
exchange between these committees will be working to highlight the interlinkages between
facilitated by the Intergovernmental ocean health and human wellbeing, notably
Oceanographic Commission (IOC) governing through the SOPHIE Project. The European Marine
bodies and the Global Stakeholder forum. Board use the work from the SOPHIE Project
alongside wider research on the interrelations
Talk 3: Relevant efforts for the UN Ocean between human and ocean systems to inform the
Decade - Ocean Decade.
Professor Sheila Heymans, Executive Director,
The European Marine Board Talk 4: Evidence Needs for Policy Making:
Defra perspective - Professor Gideon
This presentation introduced the European Marine Henderson, Chief Scientific Advisor at Defra
Board and outlined the work the organisation is
undertaking in support of the Ocean Decade. This talk outlined some thoughts on the UN Ocean
Decade from a Defra perspective, and highlighted
The European Marine Board is a European knowledge gaps that should be addressed to
partnership between major marine and enable evidence-based policymaking in critical
oceanographic institutes, research funding areas.
agencies, and networks of universities. It focuses
on science strategy and foresight, and provides Defra is committed to ensuring that outputs of
advice through published materials targeted at the UN Ocean Decade will be transformational in
the European Commission and Parliament, the ensuring a sustainable ocean for all, and are
science community, and the public to shape
4
UN Decade of Ocean Science workshop report _ published 8th June 2021liaising with international partners to facilitate nutrient cycles; disease risk; and invasive species
increased collaboration on the Ocean Decade. and ecosystem disruption. Better understanding
these areas individually and in relation to each
The Blue Planet Fund, set to launch in 2021, was other is needed to meet the desired Ocean
noted as the flagship scheme which aligns with Decade outcomes.
Ocean Decade goals. It will provide £500 million
of UK development assistance to support the Finally, understanding the sources and impacts of
protection of the marine environment and pollution, including plastics, metals, and organics,
reduction of poverty in developing countries, is needed to address the Ocean Decade’s
including through investment in marine science. It objectives. The impact of pollutants on catalysing
aims to: improve marine biodiversity and antimicrobial resistance is of particular
livelihoods; resilience, adaptation to and importance. Research will be needed on the role
mitigation of climate change; reduce marine of pollutants from emerging sources, including
pollution; and ensure sustainable use of marine offshore wind development and
systems. The Fund marks an important decommissioning, and carbon capture and
contribution to achieving the goals of the Ocean storage.
Decade.
It was noted that the UK has major strengths
There are several areas in which greater which it can bring to the Ocean Decade. Such
understanding of foundational science is needed strengths include capacity building, technology,
for policy making. modelling and ocean observation, and existing
networks (such as the Commonwealth and the
A major area in which more research is needed is Science and Innovation network).
Blue Carbon and the role of nature-based
solutions. Coastal ecosystems are important for To close, it was acknowledged that the Ocean
carbon sequestration, in addition to protecting Decade is broad and international. To make
communities against climate change by providing progress and emerge as a leader in Ocean Decade
coastal protection and food security. Conserving progress, the UK could set a specific agenda,
coastal ecosystems is an integral part of nature- focussing on smaller and realisable goals.
based solutions to tackling climate change and its
impacts, and meeting the Ocean Decade Talk 5: Evidence needs for policymaking:
challenges for sustainably managing coastal FCDO perspective - Lowri Griffiths, Head of
systems and better understanding ocean-climate Ocean Policy Unit, FCDO
interactions.
This talk provided an overview of the role of the
A second area where more evidence is needed is FCDO Ocean Policy Unit and the Marine Science
science of marine protection and the Coordination Committee (MSCC) within the Ocean
effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Decade.
MPAs can form a cornerstone for meeting the
Ocean Decade challenges. Research questions The Ocean Policy Unit (formerly the Maritime
include: do Marine Protected Areas work? What Policy Unit) is centred on the implementation of
are the ecological, social, economic, and cultural the UN Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). UNCLOS has two
costs and benefits of MPAs? What technologies parts of relevance to the Ocean Decade: part 13 is
can we use to implement management and dedicated to marine scientific research, and part
conservation measures? What framework can be 14 is dedicated to the development and transfer
used to establish MPAs on the high seas? Can of marine technology. These outline the
MPAs tackle pollution from a variety of sources international rules and obligations that must be
and materials or is a new framework needed? adhered to by Ocean Decade programmes, as well
as policies related to ocean research and
Thirdly, more research is needed on the science technological development and transfer.
for adaptation and resilience to: extreme
weather; sea level rise and coastal flooding; ocean
acidification, deoxygenation and changing
5
UN Decade of Ocean Science workshop report _ published 8th June 2021The Ocean Policy Unit is involved in two The MSCC is a body that aims to align UK marine
international negotiations. The first is Biodiversity science to inform policy and implement the UK
Beyond National Jurisdiction legislation. Two Marine Science Strategy. It has been designated
research questions which could support the as the UK’s national co-ordination committee for
development of this multilateral agreement are: the Ocean Decade, ensuring relevant information
is made available to the UK science community.
● How to identify and establish effective The MSCC will maintain a log of the UK projects
MPAs? endorsed as Decade programmes and
● How best to undertake modern communicate Governmental priorities for the
environmental assessments in marine Ocean Decade, to help researchers align their
systems? work with policy objectives.
A second multilateral agreement in development
relates to regulation of deep-sea mining in areas
beyond national jurisdiction. Scientific evidence is
important to developing and implementing
regulation which takes into account the likely
damage caused to ocean health by deep sea
mining.
Image: A deep sea ecosystem. Photo courtesy of the NERC funded Deep Links Project – University of Plymouth, University of Oxford, the British
Geological Survey, and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
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UN Decade of Ocean Science workshop report _ published 8th June 2021Session 2: Identifying research questions – panel discussions
Session 2 featured nine short talks across three panels, which together provided an overview of marine
habitats, outlined major challenges facing the ocean, and offered possible solutions. Details of each talk can
be found in Annex D.
Panel Discussion 1: Marine habitats extent of sea level rise, long-term impacts of
Panel 1 explored a range of ocean systems, from plastic pollution, and biological and
coastal oceans and coral reefs to the deep sea. biogeochemical changes were outlined as
The discussion drew links between ocean and frontiers for impactful research.
human systems, highlighting their
interdependence. Understanding the multifaceted impacts on
ecosystem services, weather, infrastructure, and
The multifaceted impacts of climate change on geomorphology from sea level rise was
ocean physics, and the subsequent consequences acknowledged as an important emerging area of
for fish stocks in coastal systems, were identified research. The impacts of climate change on
as a priority area for research. Coral reef and carbon sequestration and food supply were also
mangrove systems support the lives and found to be significant. Finally, it was agreed that
livelihoods of over 100 million small-scale fishers, strategies to reduce the long-term accumulation
but these systems are in serious decline due to of nano and microplastics in the oceans are
over-extraction, climate change and pollution. In pivotal.
these contexts, understanding the drivers of
change and developing bespoke solutions were Understanding complexity and broad systems
agreed research foci. thinking was a prominent theme, from exploring
the varied trade-offs involved in addressing plastic
The deep sea was noted as having high pollution sources on land, to understanding the
biodiversity, despite comparatively little being full suite of impacts on ocean systems from ice
known about it. Improved exploration of the sheet melt.
dynamic relationship between the deep sea with
other Earth systems and human health was Panel Discussion 3: Ocean-based
outlined as a frontier for research. opportunities, solutions and management
Modelling, data gathering, local empowerment, Governance, equity, and partnership building
data democratisation, and interdisciplinary across scales featured prominently in the final
systems were highlighted as the primary panel discussion. Understanding the multifaceted
mechanisms for understanding these complex trade-offs between the environment, society, and
interrelations and developing solutions which will the economy, in addition to the interests of
be context appropriate and effective over space. decision makers, countries, industries,
The UK was discussed as being particularly well communities, and individuals was identified as an
placed to play a leading role in this research, due area which needed to be more carefully
to its strong transdisciplinary research base, considered.
overseas territories, and international
partnerships. Better understanding of trade-offs can enable
integrated management and help build optimal
Panel Discussion 2: Challenges and threats in and equitable solutions to major challenges. It
the marine environment was noted that questions of equity and
partnership building are an important tenet of the
Panel 2 addressed major uncertainties around Ocean Decade and should be integral to future
challenges and threats faced by the ocean, and, in research designed to contribute to the Decade.
turn, the consequences to human society. The
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UN Decade of Ocean Science workshop report _ published 8th June 2021Sessions 3 and 4: Prioritising and Developing Research Questions - breakout
discussions
The outcome of session 2 was used to design international partnerships, most notably overseas
eight research ideas for discussion in session 3. territories and Commonwealth countries.
The later focussed on identifying four salient
The following four questions were identified as
research areas using a set of criteria:
priority research areas to: advance the science
(i) Fit to the remit of the Ocean Decade; needed for the Ocean Decade; expand the impact
(ii) Transformative nature; of UK science in partnership with international
(iii) Need for a large-scale research colleagues; and to address pressing challenges
programme; facing the UK and Commonwealth countries.
(iv) Opportunity for the UK to make a leading
Overall, those ideas not selected to be taken
contribution; and
forward were felt to be key components of either
(v) the opportunities for international
the framing of all Ocean Decade work or could be
connections and synergies.
encompassed within the four chosen themes.
Session 4 took the four priority research areas and
further structured and developed them. The Four research priorities for the UN Ocean
guidelines used for the refinement of ideas during Decade
session 4 were: What is the science necessary to deliver a
(i) Statement of the idea, the research needs breakthrough in our understanding of how
to address the idea, and its outcomes; coral reef socio-ecological systems respond
(ii) Potential research sub-themes; and and adapt to climate change and other
(iii) Links with UK and international capacity, stressors?
as well as potential funders.
Coral reefs and associated coastal systems, like
A key recognition emerging from the discussion in mangroves, are the most biodiverse marine
session 3 was that priority research areas are ecosystems. It is estimated that approximately
those which are both poorly understood and have
850 million people worldwide (many of whom are
complex interactions within and between
among the world’s poorest) derive benefits from
ecosystems and societies. These priority research
areas examine uncertainty at the society- reef ecosystems2. They are therefore both
environment interface, looking at how human ecologically and socially important. However,
impacts affect ecosystems, and how ecosystem these systems are very sensitive to climate change
changes in turn affect society. In particular, and human impacts. In recent decades,
priority research areas rely on engagement with approximately 50% of these ecosystems have
local communities, moving away from top-down been severely degraded to non-coral dominated
research and integrating the knowledge and systems through human and environmental
experiences of communities who live at the pressures. There is therefore a pressing need to
forefront of ocean ecosystems. better understand these ecosystems and their
relationship with human societies to address the
It was felt that the UK is particularly well Ocean Decade objectives.
positioned to tackle each of the priority research
areas, due to the breadth and standard of UK
research expertise and the track-record of strong ‘Socio-ecological systems’ (SES) refers to the
complex and dynamic interrelations between
ecosystems and human society, outlining that the
2Burke,L., Reytar, K., Spalding, M. and A. Perry. 2011. Reefs at Risk Revisited. World Resources Institute, Washington
DC, USA.
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UN Decade of Ocean Science workshop report _ published 8th June 2021two are not independent of one another, but in Research in this area could help deliver a number
fact inextricably interwoven. This is particularly of impacts:
clear for coral reef SESs: many societies
• Forming the basis for stronger coastal
worldwide depend on the biodiversity of reef
ecosystem management.
ecosystems for food and livelihoods, and, in turn,
reef ecosystems are highly sensitive to direct and • Supporting the SDGs and wider societal
indirect human pressures. outcomes.
• Development and roll-out of technologies and
This research question was found to be of great approaches to enable measurement of coral
priority in driving the science needed to meet the coasts both by local communities, as well as at
Ocean Decade objectives, benefitting ecosystems the national level.
and communities worldwide, and further • Greater data generation at a global scale,
developing the impact of collaborative UK which could be democratized and shared. This
research. may prove to be a diplomatic boon for the UK.
At its core, this research question depends on • A better understanding of ecosystem tipping
participatory action, bringing together place- points and the associated human vulnerability
based managers, scientists, and local communities to tipping points.
who directly depend on coastal coral ecosystems,
hold traditional knowledge and expertise, and are It was felt that the UK is very well placed to
best placed to manage these systems. address this research question. For instance,
overseas territories and associated Exclusive
To capture the need for participatory action and Economic Zones (EEZs) contain a vast array of
the fact that coral SESs extend to wider coral coast systems. UK Non-Governmental
ecosystems, such as mangroves, the question was Organisations (NGOs), universities, social
restructured as: scientists, and Government agencies are currently
working on a breadth of topics which relate to this
Accelerating participatory solutions to the rapid
theme.
changes facing coral coast ecosystems and
dependent communities.
What is the key fundamental knowledge
A number of research angles and needs were required to manage and monitor human
identified as being necessary to address this impacts on deep sea ecosystems?
question:
• A better understanding of the sensitivities and The deep sea is very much ‘out of sight’, yet is an
stressors faced by coral coast systems. essential marine ecosystem which interacts with
• A better understanding of the global and local the rest of the ocean. For instance, exchanges of
stressors relevant to different coral coasts energy, mass and nutrients between the open
across space. ocean and the ocean floor, known as bentho-
• The need for real-time monitoring and data pelagic coupling, is a globally important
gathering in coral reefs, deep-water corals, relationship between the deep sea and wider
and wider coastal ecosystems to better ocean. It is also fundamentally tied to the global
understand the stressors faced by these carbon cycle, helping to ‘lock away’ carbon and
systems at different scales. therefore regulating Earth’s climate. However, the
deep sea is facing substantial, and rapidly
• Social science approaches, alongside physical
increasing human pressures. There is a risk that
sciences, to integrate local historical
the sea floor and its associated ecosystems will be
knowledge. Doing so can help identify past
devastated before we knew they existed or how
biodiversity and therefore predict future
they worked, with unknown knock-on effects on
trends.
wider ocean health.
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UN Decade of Ocean Science workshop report _ published 8th June 2021The technological challenges of studying the deep • A better understanding of a ‘frontier’
sea means there remains a lot of fundamental ecosystem, and its relationship to human
knowledge to uncover about this important society, can be used to underpin
ecosystem. Research is essential to understand management.
how the deep sea will be impacted by human • Addressing the above research sub-themes
activity, as well as the knock-on impacts on the will help us develop frameworks for the
wider ocean and human society. sustainable use of the deep sea.
• Deeper understanding of the stressors on the
Industry is increasingly active in the deep sea;
deep sea, including what impacts and
collaborating with industry is essential to progress
stressors are the most salient, and which
this research area, as is working collaboratively
areas of the deep sea are most important to
with nations and organisations around the world.
protect from such stressors.
To strengthen the applicability of this area to the • Greater knowledge of the physical interaction
Ocean Decade, and to highlight that the deep sea between the deep sea, ocean circulation and
is interconnected with the rest of the ocean as the global transport of heat and carbon, to
well as human society, the question was reframed improve projections of future climate.
as: • Better collaboration with other countries.
• Better data to conduct future research.
Connecting the deep sea to society to support
sustainable development.
The UK is one of the few countries with both the
Several research sub-themes are valuable to expertise and existing technological capabilities to
engage with this area in the context of the Ocean access and monitor the deep sea; there is
Decade: therefore an opportunity for the UK to become an
even more prominent leader in deep sea
• The response of the deep sea environment to research. Indeed, the UK is already a leader in this
human and climatic pressures. field, operating the few existing long-term time
• Better understanding the processes and series data on the deep sea. UK universities have
mechanisms governing the response of the extensive research using paleo records which can
deep sea to external pressures. complement understanding of historic deep sea
• The links between the deep sea and society: changes to inform possible future change. All this
quantifying the impacts on ecosystem services considered, the UK is in a good position to enable
will enable better understanding of the capacity building in this space and to lead this
impacts of deep sea change on society. component of the Ocean Decade.
• Study of past oceanic change using archives
from the deep sea, to inform the changes that
may occur in the future. What breakthroughs are required to
• Incorporating traditional and indigenous revolutionise our ability to reduce
knowledge to inform sustainable uncertainty on how sea level rise impacts the
management. coast under different societal choices to
• Understanding the vulnerability of bentho- facilitate adaptation in the most vulnerable
pelagic coupling systems, to help understand communities and beyond?
possible consequences of human disturbance
Sea level rise (SLR) is a critical indicator of climate
for the cycling of carbon, nutrients and
change and will impact the lives and livelihoods of
pollutants.
hundreds of millions of people globally. Coastal
cities, low-lying deltas, and small islands are
Research in this area could help deliver a number
particularly vulnerable. It will impact coastal
of impacts:
environments, ecosystems, assets and economies
across the world.
10
UN Decade of Ocean Science workshop report _ published 8th June 2021While the challenge is global, the type and scale of thresholds and impacts on vulnerable
impacts and, therefore, their solutions are often ecosystems. Coastal ecosystem modelling and
specific to local geographies and regions; not computational fluid dynamics will be useful to
everywhere will experience the same impacts of this research.
SLR, nor have the same capacity to respond. As • The amount of saltwater intrusion and its
such, research to understand the impacts of SLR impacts on drinking water availability and
over space must integrate regional and local irrigation.
realities and priorities. • The possible impacts on human health from
coastal flooding.
There are three interrelated areas of uncertainty
• The resilience of coastal infrastructure.
under this research theme: uncertainty
• Understanding the role of nature-based and
surrounding the level of SLR itself; uncertainty
technology-based solutions (and hybrids of
about how coasts and ecosystems will respond
the two) for adaptation will be crucial, and the
(e.g. can corals keep up with sea level and still
efficacy of each will vary spatially.
provide for and protect communities?); and
uncertainty over how people and the economy • Better understanding of the amount of
will respond (e.g. where will people migrate? habitat loss and change in coastal ecosystems,
Where and how might they adapt?). Addressing and the associated impacts on societies, can
this research theme under the context of the help develop adaptive management
Ocean Decade requires an approach that frameworks for coastal areas.
considers all three.
A number of impacts can occur from engagement
The research question was reformulated to with this research area:
heighten focus on the tools needed to better
predict sea level rise for the support of • Better communication of the impacts of SLR
sustainable adaptation approaches. Sea level rise to decision makers.
is a global challenge, requiring adaptation which is • Scientific evidence integrated into risk
appropriate and sustainable in local contexts: management strategies for SLR and
associated hazards and impacts.
Improving our capacity to understand and • Better-informed resilience strategies,
predict sea level rise and its extremes to enable underpinned by interdisciplinary research.
sustainable adaptation. • Future coastal management and urban
planning will be informed with more certain
There are several areas of research which can
knowledge.
contribute to this research theme and address
these three areas of uncertainty:
This cross-cutting question relies on both the
• Enhanced modelling of SLR will help define physical, biological and social sciences to design
space-specific management strategies. and deliver solutions-focused research. The UK
Modelling will be dependent on data has excellent research capacity in each of these
availability and, where more localised areas. However, the UK must work to develop the
management strategies are considered, infrastructure needed to address this question,
access to local observational data. including access to suitable observational
• The consequences and magnitude of ice loss platforms and monitoring equipment, a global
and glacier collapse for SLR. digitized tide gauge network and data, and
• Better prediction of extreme weather events greater continuity and interoperability of satellite
under a changing climate will help those in measurements. Working with other nations will
vulnerable areas anticipate the impacts of be needed to help bridge these gaps.
SLR-related hazards.
• Identifying tipping points of environmental
systems impacted by SLR will help understand
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UN Decade of Ocean Science workshop report _ published 8th June 2021How can we transform our understanding of broader integrated research themes which serve
multiple concurrent environmental changes to link the physical sciences with the human
to enable prediction and forewarning of the dimension. These include an assessment of:
impacts on marine ecosystem services?
• What the non-climate anthropogenic
pressures on marine ecosystem services are
There are many interlinked ocean ecosystems
(such as sediment influx and pollutants), and
which provide ecosystem services to society.
how these pressures might change in the
Direct and indirect stressors compound to affect
future.
these ecosystems and, in turn, impact society.
• How land-use change affects blue carbon
Such stressors, compounding effects, and impacts
ecosystems (such as coral reefs, fisheries,
on environmental and human systems vary
seagrass ecosystems, mudflats, and maerl
geographically, and each ecosystem and society
beds), and associated impacts on the blue
will have differing levels of vulnerability.
carbon sink.
This research theme is cross-cutting and broad, • The impact of expansion of ocean-based
taking a holistic approach to the challenges faced activities including offshore renewable energy
by ocean ecosystems and the knock-on impacts infrastructure and deep sea mining.
on livelihoods, health, and economies worldwide. • The impact of human behaviour, such as
As environmental change continues, ‘shifting baseline syndrome’, and how this
understanding how these challenges manifest needs to be mitigated in management
over space and time will underpin work to better strategies.
our ocean, meet international objectives like the • The role of local knowledge and traditional
SDGs, and benefit human wellbeing. expertise.
The question was restructured to highlight three • New frameworks and data for conducting
complementary tenets for addressing marine multi-stressor experiments and models.
pressures: understanding, forewarning and • Developing indicators of ecosystem health
mitigation. and vulnerability. This requires gathering time
series data for multiple stressors over space.
Understanding, forewarning and mitigating the
impacts of multiple pressures on marine Focussing the research regionally could help to
ecosystems and the services they provide narrow the scope of this broad theme and create
outputs applicable to different locations. Specific
This research theme relies on modelling, questions that need addressing include: where are
observation and laboratory-based work. In stressors causing the most change? where could
particular, an ensemble of models that enables marine ecosystems be most rapidly restored? at
forewarning of hazards could underpin adaptation what rate are stressors having an impact on
and mitigation strategies, and can help inform ecosystems and communities? To address these
policy and sustainable management of natural spatially focussed questions, integrating local
capital. Such models would require: knowledge and expertise is essential.
• Process studies and mechanistic Research under this theme could have several
understanding, supported by strong benefits supportive of the Ocean Decade
theoretical frameworks. objectives:
• Integrated human behaviour and local
knowledge. • Better understanding and forewarnings of the
• Representation of terrestrial activities and pressures that ecosystems face, and the
land-sea interactions. subsequent risks to communities dependent
on these systems.
While modelling has a role to play, addressing this • Improved models that can better inform
research under the Ocean Decade also relies on policy.
12
UN Decade of Ocean Science workshop report _ published 8th June 2021• A better understanding of how marine biota Four research questions not taken forwards
responds to concurrent and compounding to session 4
pressures, and the resultant implications for The following four research questions were
ecosystem services. identified as important areas for future research,
• Assessment of cumulative effects of multiple but were not selected as priorities in the context
stressors. of the Decade because they either represented
• Assessment of the efficacy of potential higher level cross cutting comportments of UN
interventions in different ecosystems and Decade Science or could be encompassed in the
regions around the world. four priority areas.
• Stronger engagement with local people and
communities.
How do we fully integrate the changing
• Management interventions, including
physio-chemical environment into our
adaptation and mitigation strategies,
understanding of the dynamics of fish stocks
underpinned by evidence-based advice.
to significantly enhance sustainable
management strategies in key regions
The UK has excellent modelling capabilities,
worldwide?
including the NERC funded Marine Ecosystems
Research Programme (MERP), supported by
Sustainable management of fish stocks is essential
expertise in long-term monitoring and time series if we are to ensure a healthy ocean which can
data gathering. UK researchers are adept at support human needs. Understanding the
working across a range of scales and disciplines environments fish live within and interact with is
and integrating field-based observations with necessary to underpin evidence-based sustainable
experimental process-based work. This will enable management strategies.
research to more easily bridge terrestrial and
marine boundaries to assess impacts. This question focusses not just on fish stock
numbers and the science of primary production,
The UK has a strong track-record in experimental but rather how fish use complex and
observations and capacity to measure the interconnected environments. It aims to reframe
parameters needed for physical and environments through a holistic lens at a large
biogeochemical models, as well as good long-term scale, looking at the life course of fish and the
coastal benthic data, which is essential to this organisms and processes they depend on. For
field of inquiry. The UK also has a sensor and instance, consideration is needed of the many
platform base from which to undertake small factors controlling biogeochemistry, the transport
scale and wider observations. These will need to pathways for larvae and fish to and from
be equipped with new biogeochemical sensors, spawning grounds, the pressures on plankton, and
the life cycles of shellfish and fin fish, alongside a
imaging capability coupled with in situ
range of wider ecosystem processes. There is also
measurements that can be integrated on a variety
a need to link different ecosystems, such as the
of spatial and temporal scales. open seas and tropical shallow ecosystems.
It is important that adaptation and mitigation are
combined with an improved understanding of the Ocean and marine ecosystems are facing
substantial challenges from climate change, such
impacts of multiple pressures on marine
as temperature rises, de-oxygenation,
ecosystems and the services they provide to allow
acidification, and sea level rise. These will
better forewarning. drastically impact the ecosystems to which fish
belong. An ecosystem approach is therefore
critical to understanding how fish stocks may be
impacted in the future.
A number of innovations can arise from research
in this area:
13
UN Decade of Ocean Science workshop report _ published 8th June 2021to help understand which processes are most
• Improved ecosystem modelling, directly important for shoal movement.
relevant to the prediction of fish stock size
Science outputs can then be democratised; for
and fish movement. Forecasting can link local
instance, forecasts of fish stocks can be sent to
climate to fish dynamics.
local fishermen to aid their fishing and support
• A transformation in how we understand
sustainable management strategies.
environments, not just for human value but
for marine value (which in turn can yield Closer integration of human systems, in addition
human value). to physical processes, would help further align
• The deployment of new technologies such as this research area to the Ocean Decade
automated sampling. objectives.
• An opportunity to link science with local
experts such as fishermen; moving science
‘from papers into pockets’. What is the science necessary for an
• Further evidence on the effectiveness of
integrated understanding of (and solutions
Marine Protected Areas. to) the long-term impacts of plastics and
persistent pollutants on ecosystems
Modelling is central to this research area. Physical throughout the ocean?
models of relevant processes exist but are not yet
able to go down to the 1 km scale relevant to fish Plastics and persistent pollutants are a significant
stocks. Linking existing physio-chemical models stressor in marine ecosystems and are important
like ERSEM-NEMO, food web models such as to the public and politicians globally. Pollutants
Ecopath, OSMOSE or Atlantis, and socio-economic accumulate in the environment, can damage
models would be a way to make meaningful ecosystems, and can harm human health by
progress under this research theme. A challenge entering the food web.
will be to ensure the models are dynamic and
interact with each other effectively, for instance This question has two main dimensions. The first
capturing how socio-economic changes can is how plastics and pollutants accumulate in the
impact fisheries and the food-web, and how ocean, the direct and indirect impacts of these
changes in the food-web can in turn impact socio- pollutants, and their synergistic effects. Impacts
economics. Using multiple models in an ensemble are not confined to the oceans; the effects of
approach can help quantify uncertainty in such microplastics and marine pollutants on human
work. health is receiving growing attention. Coastal
communities who depend on marine ecosystems
There is also a lot of existing data on fish stocks
are particularly vulnerable to this stressor.
and ecosystems; the challenge is to link up the
different researchers, organisations, industries Secondly, this research area also addresses the
and communities who are gathering this data to source of pollutants. Most plastics and pollutants
help contribute to holistic modelling. Improved originate on land. Therefore, there is a need to
data gathering, for instance through automated
adopt a systems approach, bringing together land
sampling, can help support models, but planning
and marine science, to better understand land
is needed before developing such data gathering
methods. and sea interactions. Research on the different
sources and flows of pollutants from the land
As with other research themes, bringing together would better inform strategies to reduce the
researchers and local communities can progress impacts of these pollutants in marine
understanding of this field. For instance, past environments. There are numerous sources of
research has found that fishermen are able to pollutants, driven by a variety of processes and
advise fish stock models by telling researchers entering the ocean via many different routes. For
what lines they take when on the water, and instance, agricultural chemicals can enter soils
researchers can align their routes with simulations and weathering can then lead to increased
14
UN Decade of Ocean Science workshop report _ published 8th June 2021sediment flux to river systems. Meanwhile, become increasingly seen as ways to reach net
microplastics may transfer to the ocean via the zero emissions. Some countries have already
atmosphere. Better understanding these included coastal ecosystems in their national
pathways and how they might change in the emissions inventories. However, the contribution
future can narrow the focus for policy of blue carbon solutions to climate mitigation and
recommendations. sustainable development depends on the health
of these ecosystems.
Tackling the sources of pollutants requires
engagement from organisations, governments,
and industries. It was noted that trade-offs exist in Research on this important question can help
managing the sources of pollutants; how must progress the Decade outcomes, but in order to do
society and industry change to minimise input of so it must go beyond the value of blue carbon as a
pollutants to the ocean, and how can we adapt to climate mitigation action and instead focus on the
the impacts of pollutants? numerous other services offered by these
ecosystems. There exist many different possible
Several research themes arise under this area: trade-offs; what may be beneficial from a climate
perspective may not benefit local communities or
• The primary pathways through which ecosystems. For instance, encouraging seagrass
pollutants enter the ocean, and the growth in areas where it does not normally grow
magnitude of each pathway. can sequester carbon, but will also disrupt existing
• The trade-offs and co-benefits of managing ecosystems. Therefore, blue carbon strategies
land-based pollution alongside industry, must be based in enhancing and protecting
governments, and wider society. existing marine ecosystems, for the benefit of
• How flows of pollutants vary geographically. local environments and communities.
• What the most important pollutants are,
There are many uncertainties in this area that
including which are most abundant, most
need addressing. Ecosystems are under pressure
toxic, and most challenging to remove. from climate change and human impacts. It is
• The ways in which different pollutants therefore important to understand the extent to
accumulate and behave in the ocean. which blue carbon can contribute to climate
• The synergistic and compounding effects of mitigation and support livelihoods while subject
multiple pollutants. to such pressures. Physical science on current and
• The impacts on human health. future carbon uptake, alongside social science on
development, can fill this knowledge gap.
The group agreed that this question could form a
component of the broader priority research area: Locally grounded research can help identify a
balance between climate mitigation and
Understanding, forewarning and mitigating the
adaptation aims, while also helping to identify
impacts of multiple pressures on marine
appropriate adaptation measures. Such research
ecosystems and the services they provide. should be conducted alongside local communities.
Research sub-themes which emerge from this
What is needed to deliver better
question include:
quantification, management and
understanding of the benefits and • Linking marine and terrestrial ecosystem
vulnerabilities of blue carbon in the face of models, along with sea level rise models, to
ongoing climate change? identify pressures faced by blue carbon
ecosystems.
Blue Carbon is the carbon stored in marine
• Assessment of various adaptation strategies,
environments. It is an area of great interest to
and their efficacy into the long term, using
governments and industry, as nature-based
modelling and local expertise. This could be
solutions and approaches to valuing carbon
done for different emissions scenarios.
15
UN Decade of Ocean Science workshop report _ published 8th June 2021• Linking the global contribution of blue carbon based on aquaculture and reef fishing may
for climate mitigation and the local-scale harbour inequalities, in the same way globalised
usefulness for adaptation. systems of fishing and distribution contain
• Understanding the trade-offs between entrenched inequalities. Working alongside
different desired outcomes, against the governments, industries, and local communities is
necessary for building a sustainable and equitable
context of net zero and sustainable
seafood system.
development agendas.
• Developing approaches to carbon storage To meaningfully engage with this topic, the
assessments of different blue carbon following research areas were proposed:
ecosystems.
• The micronutrient content of different
The group agreed that this question could form a
species, and how species are consumed in
component of all of the broader priority research
different regions.
areas.
• The impacts of climate change and human
activities on both localised and global seafood
How can we catalyse a transition to an systems.
equitable distribution of the benefits from • The co-benefits of seafood systems, as well as
seafood systems among multiple users in a the trade-offs.
changing ocean? • The social science needed to ask why the
current system is structurally unequal.
‘Blue food’ is an increasingly important topic. Fish • The values and roles of communities to
are a major source of micronutrients for many of respond to and reshape their food systems, as
the world’s populations, especially those in well as the vulnerabilities faced by
coastal communities. However, distribution of the
communities by pressures on the system.
benefits of seafood systems is inequitable, and
such inequalities are expected to increase with
continued climatic and human pressures on the The group agreed that the challenges raised by
ocean. The question transcends many issues, this question should form an overarching
including nutrition, food security, poverty, and component of all priority research areas.
equity.
The research question has two complementary
aims. The first is how to create a sustainable
seafood system. The second is how to ensure
equitable distribution of the benefits of the
system. Ensuring equitable distribution is essential
to meeting the Ocean Decade outcomes as well as
broader development objectives such as the
SDGs.
The question not only relates to the open ocean.
Aquaculture accounts for approximately 50% of
global fish production, so there is a need to
ensure research considers marine and land-based
aquaculture, in addition to how the benefits of
these systems are distributed.
The question is inherently rooted in both global Image: A coral reef ecosystem. Image by Joakant, Pixabay.
and local nested systems. Local food systems
16
UN Decade of Ocean Science workshop report _ published 8th June 2021Essential Elements for Ocean Decade Research
The discussion of these research priorities 2. Deliver a step change in the predictive
highlighted the tools and evidence needed to capacity required for forecasting and
support a healthy ocean and to make progress management of diverse marine resources;
towards the Ocean Decade outcomes. From this
3. Link ocean and ecosystem services to the
discussion, five Essential Elements for Ocean
quality and equity of people’s lives and
Decade research were created. These elements
livelihoods;
mark a new approach to carrying out research and
can become a framework that distinguishes Ocean 4. Address human health and well-being in the
Decade research programmes. They are: context of the Decade outcomes;
5. Assess ecological and societal solutions,
1. Assess the changes to, and resilience of, including their equity and scalability, via
marine systems across different space (from ocean literacy actions.
local to global) and time scales;
More information on the Essential Elements can
be found in the accompanying summary paper.
Conclusion
The workshop successfully identified several create four holistic and broad priority areas
priority research areas through which the UK through which future UK research can begin to
could make a substantial research contribution to address the Ocean Decade. These are:
achieving the objectives of the Ocean Decade. It
also outlined how Ocean Decade research 1. Connecting the deep sea to society to
programmes could be supported and delivered. support sustainable development.
2. Accelerating participatory solutions to
Interdisciplinarity and international collaboration
the rapid changes facing coral coast
were the hallmarks of the most salient and
ecosystems and dependent communities.
pressing research needs. Research that can
support policy, deepen understanding of 3. Improving our capacity to understand
fundamental marine systems, integrate both and predict sea level rise and its
environmental and human systems, and extremes to enable sustainable
acknowledge trade-offs was identified as the most adaptation.
useful and of the highest priority to help the UK 4. Understanding, forewarning, and
contribute to wider Ocean Decade goals. The mitigating the impacts of multiple
Ocean Decade presents an opportunity for policy pressures on marine ecosystems and the
makers, researchers, industry, and local services they provide.
communities to come together and work towards
a sustainable and equitable ocean. In May 2021, Each of these areas are designed to be compatible
the G7 Ministers responsible for Climate and with existing UK research expertise, while also
Environment and the European Commission helping to further develop new UK research
issued a communiqué reaffirming their support expertise and provide opportunity for
for ocean action aligned with the objectives of the interdisciplinary and international work,
Ocean Decade. innovation, use of new technology, and
participatory research. Addressing these research
Priority research areas were designed through an areas in the future is a key opportunity for
iterative process encompassing sessions 1-4 of the effective engagement with the Ocean Decade,
workshop. Research needed to support policy, and will help the UK create a sustainable future
and fundamental research questions were used to for the ocean on which we depend.
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