The policy and scientific needs for coordinated, worldwide information-gathering on ocean acidification and its ecological impacts are now widely recognized. The importance of obtaining such measurements has been endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly, as well as by many other governmental and non-governmental bodies.
The Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON), a collaborative international network of 367 members representing 66 nations, is committed to increasing global ocean acidification observing capacity in support of SDG target 14.3: Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations.
To achieve this commitment, GOA-ON and its partners are expected to continue to develop and nurture this global network. Importantly, we plan to work to build capacity in regions that currently have limited observation records and little ocean science capacity by conducting targeted training workshops on ocean acidification monitoring and experimentation best practices. We are committed to distributing sensor kits that will allow scientists in resource-poor countries to collect reliable data and so contribute to the global ocean acidification monitoring effort.
We also plan to provide stipendiary support to maintain those kits, and create international networking opportunities for early-career and experienced scientists through the GOA-ON Pier2Peer program (http://goa-on.org/GOA-ON_Pier2Peer.html). Sensor kits are to be distributed to scientists in Fiji, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, and in several Caribbean nations by 2019.
Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON), The Ocean Conference (official website), May 2017. Statement.
