One-stop ocean data hub could be key to protecting the ocean and coastal communities. Defra recently published the findings of a joint project between the Marine Biological Association (MBA), Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and the Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN), reviewing the current landscape for marine social and economic data.
Funded by the Marine Natural Capital programme and recognising the importance of social and economic data in being viewed alongside and providing context to environmental observations.
As part of this review the accompanying stakeholder consultation led by PML, with the MBA, and MEDIN, highlights widespread support for a centralised directory of marine social and economic data, improved metadata standards, and the development of a dedicated Data Archive Centre (DAC).
Key findings include:
- Strong demand for a centralised directory: 94% of stakeholders support a single portal, ideally under MEDIN, to improve discoverability and integration with environmental data.
- Need for standardised guidelines and vocabularies: Stakeholders emphasised the importance of FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and harmonised metadata standards to ensure usability across sectors.
- Support for a dedicated DAC: While resource constraints remain a concern, most participants agree that a marine social and economic DAC is vital for long-term data preservation and accessibility.
- Call for an inclusive action plan: Stakeholders advocate for a collaborative roadmap involving government, academia, and industry to drive progress and overcome barriers such as resource limitations, ethical considerations, and fragmented data practices.
MBA’s Head of Data & Information, Dan Lear, commented:
“Marine social and economic data are fundamental to understanding how our seas support communities, economies, and culture. Without action to make these data accessible and interoperable, we risk making decisions with only partial evidence.
“The marine environment is under unprecedented pressure, and we need policymakers to have streamlined access to the full picture – environmental, social, and economic – to deliver informed solutions.”
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