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Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

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is currently no regional agency tasked to co-ordinate, monitor and advise on<br />

MSR issues relating to this diverse biota.<br />

By identifying a regional agency, which has capacity to co-ordinate<br />

research cruise activities [which involve biological sampling], collect data and<br />

resulting information, promote and encourage biological sampling at known<br />

PMS sites, PICs will be able to encourage research organisations to work on<br />

the hydrothermal vent communities situated within their EEZs.<br />

Further, such research will undoubtedly lead to a better understanding<br />

of the biota and determine their significance as a potential economic resource,<br />

as well as provide opportunities for PICs to benefit from data and resulting<br />

information that would otherwise be out of reach due to limited national<br />

capacity and funding constraints.<br />

3.2 Marine Scientific Research – SOPAC Databases<br />

3.2.1 MSR Cruise Database<br />

SOPAC’s mandate to coordinate MSR cruises extends to collecting,<br />

managing and distributing data, for its member countries. The SOPAC<br />

Regional Data Centre collates, maintains and continuously updates the<br />

database as new MSR data and information is received. Figure 3 shows the<br />

level of reported research cruise activity [based on density of ship tracks] in<br />

the SOPAC region.<br />

The Data Centre is able to use the cruise database to produce [upon<br />

request] special reports, maps and data in a format that is user friendly for its<br />

member countries and other customers such as research organisations.<br />

As custodians of large volumes of invaluable data, which SOPAC<br />

collects, maintains and stores for its member countries, SOPAC has deemed it<br />

pertinent to develop a GIS and Remote Sensing policy to establish a<br />

framework for the sound management of these databases. The Policy<br />

addresses all aspects of data standards, data confidentiality and data<br />

exchange, for the databases that SOPAC maintains for its member countries.<br />

Essentially, data is categorised as being either, confidential, regional, country<br />

or in the public domain. For country-specific data, the release of data to a<br />

INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 896

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