Figure from Ramirez-Llodra et al. 2011. PLoS ONE.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0022588
Human activities in the deep ocean are accelerating rapidly, mostly out of sight. As climate change reaches into deep waters, pH is decreasing, oxygen is declining, waters are warming and the resilience of deep-sea ecosystems and the key services they provide are compromised. Deep-ocean biodiversity supports critical ecosystem functions and services including nutrient regeneration, carbon sequestration and a storehouse – a living library – of genetic resources that may hold benefits to humans and the key to future adaptation. Therefore, it is imperative to manage the deep ocean from a global, multi-sectorial and cross-disciplinary perspective, to safeguard the marine environment for current and future generations while enabling its sustainable use.
Gaps abound in deep-ocean governance: most legal frameworks, both national and international, lack essential mechanisms to manage and protect ocean resources. Many countries with deep-water resources lack the expertise to support sustainable management and protection while in international waters, there is no consistent application of environmental assessment approaches. There is a real risk that the deep ocean will become further industrialized without sufficient environmental planning.
The Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI) is a network of over 650 experts from 50 different countries who practice deep ocean science, governance and other activities, although predominantly deep-sea ecology. We were born from collaborations formed during the Census of Marine Life (2000-2010) and the desire among several deep-ocean scientists to make their research count at the policy level. This network formed to develop new ideas for sustainable use and management of deep-ocean resources. The DOSI Core Team serve on a voluntary basis in their personal capacity. The team is made up of 5 Executive Board Members, 16 Advisory Board Members and 19 Topic (Working Group) Leads who collectively oversee, guide and support the work of DOSI . Joining is free and information relevant to deep ocean science-policy engagement is shared. Our guidance and terms of reference documentation is available for further information.
DOSI works by assembling experts to address priority areas, to develop tools, strategies and resources to maintain ecosystem integrity, and to develop programs that promote sustainability and responsible use of the deep ocean, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (e.g. SDG13 and 14). DOSI engages with industry and national, regional and global policy makers, scientists, educators, NGOs, economists and civil society to increase awareness and build capacity for support of initiatives that will lead to sustainable use and management of deep-ocean resources now and for future generations. DOSI acts through multi-stakeholder workshops, briefings, publications, surveys, assessment contributions, online resources and engagement at key meetings – especially at the United Nations.
DOSI has identified and is currently working on the following:
Without the generous support of our funders, we would not be able to carry out this important work brining impartial science advice to policy makers. We would like to thank:
