issues identified at meeting of 3 March, 2017

data

1) common standards

• SOA are examining Big Data solutions
• Marine observation data fusion technology；
• Marine satellite remote sensing data processing technology and satellite data exchange；c. Marine numerical forecasting model technology；
• ocean big data and cloud computing
• . Marine data public service system construction“

EMODnet has

• Allowed users to search for and download data from different countries
• built interoperability through open standards
• moved towards the Cloud (through SeaDataCloud project)

2) user friendliness

Common issues are

• calibration
• construction of data products( EMODnet finds that users often want products rather than data (eg topography maps rather than multibeam survey data)
• quality or confidence indicators
• making best use of the International Ocean Data Exchange (IODE)

3) for spatial planning

Spatial planning requirements for data are being fed into EMODnet. Many of the data layers distributed by the human activities partnership were chosen to meet the needs of spatial planning. A specific study has been done (although the conclusions are very general). This will be distributed as soon as it is finalised

The conclusions of the stress tests indicate that the EU still has some way to go – for instance in mapping fishing activity or vessel traffic

China has a concept where the allocation of priorities to certain areas depends on the "self-purification capacity" or “load capacity” of the ecosystem (for instance to absorb nutrients)

monitoring

4) technologies

SOA are

• linking their coastal observation system with their offshore system
• considering where to place their long-term monitoring systems
• adding active sensors (SAR etc) to the active (infra-red etc.) satellite range
• operating a real-time monitoring program on the land-based pollutants into the sea

EU have

• (from stress tests) identified coastal erosion, river input data as being inadequate
• undertaken a consultation on a European Ocean Observing System.

Both

• looking at sensors that measure chemical and biological parameters as well as physical

5) sea ice

Copernicus is EU's flagship satellite programme although the Cryosat satellite also contributes. Measurement of ice extent is relatively well advanced but thickness is more difficult because of the overlying snow

SOA collaborate with Norway and Iceland and are beginning to do so with Greenland. They are also interested in Antarctica (Ross Sea)

France and China cooperate on this issue

An exchange of experience between the Bohai Sea and the Baltic Sea, which share common characteristics, could be useful

indicators

6) environment

The EU has

• eleven descriptors for good environmental status
• prepared a Commission as to how these will be reported in terms of indicators. This will be distributed as soon as it is ready

SOA

• is interested in indicators for assessing the ecosystem health and the reactions of marine ecosystems to human pressure (e.g. river loads to a semi-enclosed sea)
• Monitoring and evaluation of marine environmental endocrine disrupting effects；
• Biological effect and toxic mechanism of marine micro-plastics;
• Marine environment quality benchmark and ecological risk assessment technology； Marine pollutant diffusion and fingerprint study

7) blue economy

EU and China use similar classifications for the blue economy sectors. A preliminary examination suggests that the fishing and aquaculture sector is proportionately larger than in EU and the petroleum and tourism sectors proportionately smaller.

SOA is interested in

• measuring natural capital and the value of ecosystem services
• assessing the value and adequacy of using marine data for blue economy
• form a blue economy working group, or a joint EU-China blue economy report

other

8) ocean literacy

EU SeaChange research project aims to establish a fundamental “Sea Change” in the way European citizens view their relationship with the sea, by empowering them, as Ocean Literate citizens, to take direct and sustainable action towards a healthy ocean, healthy communities and ultimately a healthy planet.

China (SOA General Office) is interested in learning European experience on building up ocean culture and public awareness to the seas

Public involvement in marine protected areas

9) Decommissioning oil platforms

China has about 4000 platforms in Bohai Sea, most of them are not productive anymore and now faced a problem of platform decommission

Issues include the law system, EIA, monitoring and evaluation of decommissioning

The European Marine Board will shortly issue a position paper