Areas beyond national jurisdiction are data poor. How can we identify EBSAs without all the necessary scientific data?
Due to the high costs and logistical difficulties in the exploration of deep seas and open oceans, most ocean data come from areas closer to shore. Data are thus scarcer in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction. Additionally, most of the poorly sampled marine areas are found in the southern hemisphere and in lower and higher latitude regions. Much of GOBI’s momentum comes from the fact that during the last 10 years a significant effort was made to redress these facts. The Census of Marine Life (www.coml.org/), a network of researchers in more than 80 nations, has significantly increased the availability of data and information on the biology of the ocean. Biological data holdings in the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) (www.iobis.org/) increased more than five times, from 5 millions in 2005 to 27, 7 millions in 2010. Nevertheless, it is very important to make the best use of what data do exist by making them publicly and readily available. Some gaps can be addressed by
Related Questions
- Is it really necessary to acquire accurate-mass fragmentation data? Why isn the accurate mass of the whole compound sufficient to identify it?
- How can I use Jet Fill tensiometers to identify good and poor growth areas within my crop?
- Will the resulting distribution data identify areas that are absent of salmonids?
