Since its inception in 1999, the Sea Around Us has strived to make its data and methods available to everyone, especially to developing countries. This is to foster access to and use of reconstructed fisheries catch statistics and -when possible- so that they start carrying out reconstructions themselves.
The Sea Around Us research initiative, based at the University of British Columbia and with a recently-opened ‘branch’ at the University of Western Australia, is turning 20 years old this June.
Initially proposed by Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008, this day celebrates the ocean and its importance for all living creatures.
World Oceans Day provides also an opportunity for researchers, policymakers, and environmentalists to highlight the most urgent issues affecting the planet’s largest waterbody.
Since this June the Sea Around Us is celebrating not only World Oceans Day but also its 20th Anniversary, it seemed appropriate to reflect on the importance of paying attention to marine fisheries.
Fishing spheres. Photo by Psyberartist, Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
The Sea Around Us’ Project Manager, Deng Palomares, and Principal Investigator, Daniel Pauly, published an editorial in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science highlighting the importance of a long-term perspective when evaluating the status of fisheries.
How is a gender-balanced world good for science?
The answer to this question is complex and multi-layered. From more equitable policies to different ways to interpret data, from fairer workplace environments to more breakthrough discoveries. For the Sea Around Us team, having more #WomenInScience would translate into benefits for science itself, the scientific community and society as a whole.