Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs) and SIDs

Transcription

1 Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs) and SIDs Dr. Judith Gobin Faculty of Science and Technology, Dept. of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies.

2 JGobin s Profile Senior Lecturer (Oceanography and Marine Biology and Coastal Ecosystems Management) in the Dept. of Life Sciences, UWI, St. Augustine Campus Published widely in scientific areas in international scholarly refereed journals Prior to the UWI- worked (16yrs) at the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) Trinidad, in the Environmental Quality Research (EQR) Group as a Research Scientist Member of the Environmental Commission (Court) of Trinidad and Tobago (2000 to 2006 and 2013 to 2016)

3 Caribbean 23 Pacific- 20 AIMS- 9 Small Geographical location Vulnerable /Small_Island_Developing_St ates

4 SIDs are high biodiversity sources with POTENTIAL BENEFITS (MGRs) which include: Pharmaceuticals (drugs, cosmetic products); Biomaterials bioplastics, biopaints, antifouling; Industrial bio-processes - enzymes, solutions; Novel species aquaculture (microalgae); Bio-refineries and CO2 capture - microalgae; Agricultural pest control & fertilizers (bioactive materials)

5 Ships of Opportunities Often SIDs not aware! Methane hydrate (ice-like substance) Sediments rich in organic carbon (org C) undergo microbial or thermal degradation to form a gas Pressure & temperature conditions stabilize this hydrate

6 Challenges the Caribbean & other SIDs ABNJ challenges = Deep Sea (DSea) challenges Unknown biodiversity of Deep Sea & ABNJ Few Dsea/ABNJ scientists Lack 0f Funding Access to materials & Access to data- difficult Lack of sophisticated/hightech equipment Lack of scientific opportunities (DSea research vessels difficult to get onto

7 SIDs Challenges-the Science DSea & ABNJ access- limited opportunities on ocean-going ships Data availability lacking- substantial progress through international projects (Census of Marine Life, the Ocean Biogeographic Information System & World Register of Marine Species Data storage- lacking IT infrastructure- Modern image data (video and stills), 2D & 3D seismic data & molecular data generated need data storage & analysis, new approaches to information architecture Data analysis computationally demanding with significant advances in data analyses approaches

8 SIDs challenges: Expensive sampling gear - AUVs and ROVs (deep submergence vehicles) fitted with high definition cameras, can map extensive seafloor habitats & define megafaunal species distributions (high resolutions) Acoustic & sampling devices; multi-beam echo sounding, acoustic underwater positioning systems (for deep-water mapping) High-resolution, large-scale & long-term data collection& state-ofthe-art technical equipment; Ship-time, Equipment, Technology,

9 Technology-deficient SIDs Few institutions involved in MGRs MGRs often difficult to access High costs of research Commercialization- few & far between Need for genomics research skills eg. Molecular tools- offer great promise for high-resolution observation (microbes to larger invertebrates) & allow sequencing of DNA in situ Inability to manage the whole value chain of an MGR (But these capabilities exist in developed countries)

10 SIDs Challenges are similar to those of developed countries Access to finance Support for research, development & innovation Need to bridge gaps (science/industry/education) Need to improve understanding: of the value of ecosystem services & of seabed resource mapping for sustainable exploitation of marine resources Need to fill gaps in knowledge & data about the oceans, seabed resources & ecosystem services Lack of scientists, engineers & skilled workers who are able to apply new technologies ( Rogers et al. August Delving Deeper: Critical challenges for 21 st century deep-sea research European Marine Board Position Paper 22)

11 Access is a SIDs challenge (DSea & ABNJ) Marine bio-discovery depends upon access to MGRs < 5% ocean s biodiversity is known, but only 1% of known biodiversity is being used DSea mapping & data gathering are crucial for continued development of a sustainable blue biotechnology worldwide Some areas well known (Europe, NA) while others are not (Indian Ocean, Caribbean etc.) & coverage (northern/ southern hemisphere) is uneven DSea/ABNJ knowledge decreases with increasing depth Patterns of biodiversity, evolution, gene flow & genetic structures of the of DSea & ABNJ are unknown

12 Lessons Learnt: Access not always = Benefits Ships that Pass in the Night Typical research in DSea and ABNJ SIDs scientists often not involved & not included eg. authorship of scientific papers (i) Caribbean Sponges and Pharmaceuticals- Value chain is external (ii)craig Venter Institute researchers (2003/4) collected > 150 seawater samples (200 l every 200 miles) from 34 countries (eg. Ecuador, Mexico, North America, Canada, French Polynesia, Vanuatu, Tanzania, Seychelles, UK) & International waters MOU with Ecuador: information shall be published in scientific forums, shall be acknowledged that the information obtained is part of the genetic patrimony of the state of Ecuador etc. 34 co-authors in main scientific paper-28 (USA), no Ecuadorian researcher listed Projects tend to omit direct benefits at least in terms of the research training and the transfer or exchange of knowledge or technology Source: Quotation for Case Study: Nemogá-Soto G.R.; D. A. Rojas Díaz y O. A. Lizarazo Cortes Biodiversity research in megadiverse countries: strategies for scientific and technical alliances. In: Rios, M. and Mora, A. (Eds.) Access to Genetic Resources in Latin America and the Caribbean: Research, Commercialization and Indigenous worldview. IUCN-UNEP/GEF-ABS-LAC. Quito, Ecuador. Pp

13 What is needed? Benefit Sharing with SIDs Structured framework (global level) to manage & promote diverse benefit sharing activities Include non-monetary & monetary benefits to SIDs from MGRs in ABNJ Monetary benefits to SIDs (from a multi-lateral fund?) where/when products are commercialized or through royalties Exclusivity fee where samples and/or data need to be protected & not in the public domain eg. for IPR (in situ & ex situ MGRs from ABNJ) Non-monetary benefit sharing already exists (eg. data sharing)- but may be limited due to SIDs resources & geographic location Scientific authorship needs to be extended to active SIDs participants

14 What is needed?- Technology Transfer Active networking to involve SIDs scientists in large DSea/ABNJ research projects Innovative funding mechanisms to address knowledge gaps Advance progress towards internationally coordinated sampling (eg. mapping of the deep sea floor & other Dsea/ABNJ Research Projects) ENABLE ACCESS through Codes of conduct, Monitoring and Notification Promote communication & Education on the importance of the Deep Sea eg. Nautilus Live (video, audio and data) & Science Communication Fellowship (OET) & Learning Resources & Events (Ocean Networks Canada) Educated community will connect & better understand the need for investment in Deep Sea research towards conservation & management

15 Capacity Building Global Research clusters to achieve internal & external integration (industry, government, Res. Institutes, universities etc.) Promote/expand training & career opportunities for scientific research, policy & industry Financing & Funding mechanisms; scholarships, training workshops, exchange research visits Develop Science & Technical/IT expertise Range: Education & institutional capacity-building to more specific MGRs training

16 SIDs & Partnering with Industry The SERPENT (Scientific and Environmental ROV Partnership using Existing Industrial Technology) Project Network of world-class scientific research groups (global oil and gas) Use industrial ROVs for deep sea science (National Oceanographic Centre, Southampton) 400 global site visits, approx. 100 peer-reviewed publications, Excellent example of collaboration between Industry and Science

17 Global effort- scientists, lawyers, economists, (9 working groups) DOSI Deep-Sea Genetic Resources Working Group (2013) GOAL Explore and identify options to: Conserve and sustainably use deep-sea marine genetic resources (MGR) Include access and benefit sharing of marine genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) Image credits: Michael Ströck via Wikimedia Commons (top); H Harden-Davies, 2016 (middle); Shealah Craighead, 2006, via Wikimedia Commons (bottom)

18 SUBMISSION TO PREPCOM: DEEP- SEA RESEARCH FOR BENEFIT SHARING 1. Support deep-sea marine scientific research in ABNJ 2. Enhance international cooperation in marine scientific research in ABNJ 3. Facilitate open-access sharing of deep-sea biological data, samples and knowledge. 4. Avoid excessive bureaucratic burdens that could hamper marine scientific research. 5. Improve marine scientific research capacity building of SIDs 6. Build on best-practice in deep-sea scientific research for accessing MGR in ABNJ 7. Support mechanisms that facilitate the sharing of expertise and methodologies, international cooperation for access to research vessels, equipment and other resources as well as costs of undertaking research and support capacity development through increased opportunities to participate in research cruises.

19 Thank You All Special thanks to: Kristina Gjerde (Senior High Seas Adviser, IUCN, Global marine and Polar Program), DOSI and the MGRs Working Group, Prof. Marcel Jaspars (University of Aberdeen) Funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/ under grant agreement n PharmaSea ) EV Nautilus and the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET)- Deep Sea photocredits The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus