Small island states should lead, not just participate, in ocean-related scientific research

PHOTO: AFP via The Straits Times (straitstimes.com)

NICE, France – Small island developing states have been the subjects of ocean research for too long, and should start to lead – not just participate in – scientific research that would help them better understand the marine environments they depend on.

Though they are the custodians of 30 per cent of the ocean under national jurisdictions, small island states lead just 0.3 per cent of UN-endorsed decade of action projects on ocean health, said Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on June 9. Ocean decade actions are science-based programmes, projects or activities endorsed by the UN to improve ocean health.

“Small island developing states have been the subjects of ocean research for too long, the observation points in data sets, the case studies in reports, and the vulnerable communities in impact assessments,” Dr Balakrishnan said on the first day of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France.