From Scientific Knowledge to Local and Regional Ocean Policies

1. Introduction

Any country or region in the world, including the landlocked, have interests and invaluable resources to be developed in oceans, lakes, navigable rivers, inter-oceanic communication zones, or in the Arctic or Antarctic. This is a valuable set of interests that should be evaluated and managed in a systematic and sustainable way.

The ocean, which is subject to complex interdependent processes, requires planning and implementing of local and regional policies to allow management and development in a sustainable manner, rational use on an ecosystem basis, and, consistent with global responsibility, to secure benefits to present and future generations.

Focusing on this objective, the ¨Academia del Mar¨ has prepared the "Guidelines for a National Ocean Policy in Argentina," a document that aims to help policymakers, managers and others stakeholders in our society promote essential State Policy. In this paper I will try to share these ideas, which are centered in the best use of scientific knowledge and in a systematic and trans-disciplinary approach, as a contribution to other locations or regions.

2. Development of the Guidelines

The guidelines expressly avoided controversial issues and focused the proposals on matters that could be described as basics or as just descriptive, but are still pending in many national agendas for development. The basic idea is to start on possible and simple things and then go to complexities and divergent interests.

The level of development in a society can be assessed by the capacity and potentialto design and implement a desirable future. In this sense, these Guidelines are presented as a contribution to identify and build a desirable future, linked with the ocean and associated with economic and social development.

These guidelines begin with the grounds on which the sea should be considered a permanent and vital interest to any society in the 21st century and accordingly identifies a number of principles that serve as the foundation for the development of necessary local or regional policies for the sea.

• the use of scientific knowledge
• interdisciplinary and systemic approach
• the oceans as a safe and healthy environment for ourselves and future generations
• exploration, evaluation, development and utilization of the resources of the sea and the coast within a framework of sustainable economic development
• dialogue between government and nongovernmental organizations, individuals and the private sector
• participation and cooperation in international forums
• adoption of the precautionary principle
• capacity building
• maritime education and awareness raising activities

Action Plan

With a systemic sense and pragmatic and dynamic format, we try to develop an Action Plan that seeks to define and strengthen ¨Interests in the sea, sovereign rights and the development of a maritime awareness, to leverage existing resources and provide further a conceptual framework for the protection, preservation and sustainable use of the sea¨. The Action Plan provides essential content grouped in the following areas:

• Develop and integrate the various observation initiatives systematically, involving both remote sensing and in situ observations. These observation initiatives will be oriented towards analysis of environmental aspects of direct and indirect uses of maritime areas and assessment of renewable and nonrenewable resources. The integration of all information should be able to feed predictive models for major oceanic, climatic, economic and social phenomena. These observation initiatives will also serve to develop and make monitoring and information technologies available for all uses of the sea.
• Incorporate advanced technologies into the basic and applied sciences in all marine subjects. Consider influence of the new technologies on operational activities (systematic observations).
• Link marine scientific research and operational oceanography (marine observations).
• Keep a continuous evaluation of stocks and potential resources of the sea and its coasts, encouraging exploration and rational exploitation.
• Strengthen national and regional data systems for the sea.Develop a marine energy matrix.

• Incorporate ocean and coastal issues into national and regional planning.
• Integrate marine spatial planning with land use planning.
• Carry out both quantitative and qualitative performance monitoring, incorporating concepts of assessment. Adopt indexes for health evaluations of the coastal and marine areas.
• Plan in an integrated manner and manage in a decentralized way, with strong community participation.
• Create a strategic vision for marine energy.

• Confer equivalent relevance to maritime and land spaces.
• Integrate the management of coastal areas and marine protected areas.
• Adopt coordinated regional policies and strategies to keep similar positions in all forums related to the sea.
• Implement a mechanism for economic evaluation of marine activity suitable for quantifying local and regional efforts related to the ocean.Establish local and regional agencies to manage ocean policies, calling for government agencies, NGOs and the private sector to have a common commitment to the theme of the sea.
• Coordinate economic sectors linked to the sea (such as fishing, aquaculture, mining, energy__ including offshore oil and renewable energy, water transport, shipbuilding, tourism, cultural activities, etc.).
• Develop waterways and port facilities to take advantage of navigation (river and ocean) with respect to other modes of transport (both in costs and in environmental impact).
• Promote nautical sports and port development.

• Incorporate issues related to the sea, the environment and marine technology in school curricula.
• Educate and act in pursuit of sustainable development of marine regions based on economic, environmental and social/cultural pillars.
• Develop regional cultural activities such as conferences, scientific programs, museums, aquariums and preservation of underwater heritages sites.
• Promote the creation of institutes, laboratories and research centers in regions with maritime interests.

• Develop a versatile system to respond to different types of oceanic emergencies (severe storm, flood, red tides, etc.).
• Global climate change monitoring through data and analysis from multiple sources, developing prevention measures and mitigation and adaptation plans.
• Combine prevention and control of marine and terrestrial sources of pollution in marine and coastal areas.

• Security and defense of the areas and resources under local or regional jurisdiction.
  Ensure the protection of human life at sea
• Protect marine biodiversity
• Contribute to the management of regional and global spaces.
• Promote the peaceful uses of the sea, including respect for the nuclear-weapon-free zones established by international treaties.

• Disseminate marine data and information, so that they can be incorporated as elements of analysis and decision support in the public and private sectors.
• Link nautical charts with marine spatial planning and integrated coastal management.
• Encourage the participation of the local and regional population in marine issues.
• Identify, protect and enhance the marine and underwater heritage.

Conclusion

This Action Plan should be read as a guide to realizing the sea of our dreams, enabling the future to be associated with sustainable development, protection of biodiversity, and the incorporation of scientific knowledge in all decision-making processes related to the ocean.

All the points listed in this plan can be adapted or supplemented in order to achieve a better future.