The Ocean Decade and Indigenous Knowledge
The Ocean Decade supports the principle that transformative ocean science needs to be co-designed and co-delivered in a multi-stakeholder environment and needs to involve the generators of knowledge and the users of knowledge and embraces local and Indigenous knowledge holders, among other principles. To tackle the ocean challenges, it is key to recognize, respect and engage local and Indigenous knowledge holders.
The important role of Indigenous knowledge in the sustainable development of oceans is recognized in Decade Objective 1: to identify the required knowledge for sustainable development and increase the capacity of ocean science to deliver needed ocean data and information.
This objective includes sub-objectives related to the provision of knowledge for regular integrated assessments of the state of the ocean and of ocean science capacity, promotion of new technology and increased access to technology, enhancement and expansion of observations infrastructure and development of mechanisms to optimize citizen science initiatives and the recognition and inclusion of local and Indigenous knowledge.
The Decade Actions are supposed to be always in collaboration with and engaging local and Indigenous knowledge holders, who could contribute their knowledge to meet the challenge presented by the Ocean Decade and play unique roles in the capacity development, promoting the process of ocean science transformation.
LINKS and IOC collaborate to develop the Framework agreement with Indigenous Peoples for the Ocean Decade, to advance national capacity on ILK related to the ocean, as well as to contribute to setting an enabling environment for the integration of ILK holders in the Decade collaborative Centres and Communities of Practice, in cooperation with key regional stakeholders, such as the Pacific Community (SPC), as well as Member States.
Guiding Principles and Framework
The Ocean Decade Implementation Plan emphasizes that Indigenous and local knowledge is an integral part of the co-designed ocean science that the Decade aims to deliver. Therefore, it is important that the Ocean Decade establishes an enabling environment and framework for ethical engagement and equitable capacity exchange with Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLC), where different knowledge systems can be woven together and be respected equally valid.
The Ocean Decade is committed to an ethical approach for working with IPLC through establishing the following guiding principles:
1. Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC): To ensure that ILK is shared in a non-extractive and respectful way, the Ocean Decade will firmly adhere to the FPIC principle when it comes to working with knowledge holders and rights holders.
2. Adherence to FAIR and CARE data practices: The FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable) and CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance (collective benefit, authority to control, responsibility and ethics) should be respected. Operationalizing the CARE principles contributes to the self-determination, rights, and innovation of IPLC.
3. Co-design, co-production, and co-dissemination: The Ocean Decade promotes the development of co-designed and co-delivered ocean science that encourages IPLC involvement, for relevant Decade Actions, through each phase of the project.
4. Inclusive capacity exchange and benefit to IPLC: Capacity exchange reflects the need to ensure that IPLC contributing to the Ocean Decade experience the benefit from it. The Ocean Decade capacity development offorts will also focus on supporting the Global South, including Small Island Developing States, in addition to ensuring gender and intergenerational equity.
5. Minimizing duplication of efforts: The Ocean Decade pays particular attention to ensuring that IPLC representatives are not overburdened by the various demands coming from multiple ocean science stakeholders. Therefore, all Ocean Decade participants are encouraged to join their requests and work together, where possible, to limit duplication of engagement efforts.
6. Accountability: The Ocean Decade is committed to establishing mechanisms to deliver on its promises to embrace ILK. This will occur through the Monitoring and Evaluation process, resource mobilization, gap analyses, and facilitating entry points into the Ocean Decade framework.
The science we need for the ocean we want
This workshop brought together more than 90 Pacific Ocean scientists, youth representatives, private sector, government, traditional knowledge holders, partner organisations and global partners driving the development of a relevant, robust and innovative way forward to understand, sustainably use and protect our ocean.
Decade collaboration centre for the pacific islands region of the pacific ocean (DCC-PIR-PO)
The Pacific Community (SPC) is recognized as the principal scientific and technical organization in the Pacific Islands region. The Pacific Islands Ocean Decade Collaborative Center (DCC) is aligned with existing SPC initiatives, and SPC established the Pacific Community Centre for Ocean Science (PCCOS) within its structure in 2019 to:
- strengthen collaboration, coordination and integration of ocean science at SPC;
- provide integrated ocean science and services to SPC members; and
- develop partnerships with international and regional partners in ocean science.