Mission Ocean

INDEEP is a long-term initiative, set up at the start of 2011 (and a legacy of the 10 year Census of Marine Life Programme), in order to develop and synthesise our understanding of deep-sea global biodiversity and functioning. Alongside fundamental research and development of research tools, a key aim is to provide a framework to bridge the gap between scientific results and civil society to aid in the formation of sustainable management strategies. The DOSI programme is closely linked with INDEEP and is taking on this latter role. The GOC has developed key proposals to address the main challenges and threats to the high seas and seabed beyond national jurisdiction. The research and activities undertaken by INDEEP and DOSI are directly relevant to many of the high-seas issues mentioned in the report and they are keen to help coordinate the provision of robust scientific information and expert knowledge from a variety of disciplines, sectors and jurisdictions towards some of the ambitious goals of the GOC and Mission Ocean in terms of ensuring the long-term health, productivity and resilience of the deep ocean and marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction.

INDEEP works towards providing scientific tools, data and literature on the fundamentals of ecology of our deep ocean. The main foci are: (1) Taxonomy and Evolution, (2) Biodiversity and Biogeography, (3) Population Connectivity and (4) Ecosystem Function. DOSI seeks to integrate science, technology, policy, law and economics to advise on ecosystem-based management of resource use in the deep ocean and strategies to maintain the integrity of deep-ocean ecosystems within and beyond national jurisdiction. Both INDEEP and DOSI regularly inform the deep-sea community about issues that maybe of interest, both from a scientific perspective and otherwise. These networks facilitate the provision of deep-sea expertise to engage with other stakeholders on a variety of topics.