Project Document for the Ocean Data and Information Network for the Black Sea Region (ODINBLACKSEA)

Abstract

The IOC’s International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) is established to enhance marine research, exploitation and development by facilitating the exchange of oceanographic data and information between participating Member States and by meeting the needs of users for data and information products. The main objectives of the IODE Programme are: (i) to facilitate and promote the exchange of oceanographic data and information; (ii) to develop standards, formats, and methods for the global exchange of oceanographic data and information; (iii) to assist Member States to acquire the necessary capacity to manage oceanographic data and information and become partners in the IODE network; (iv) to support international scientific and operational oceanographic programmes of IOC and WMO and their sponsor organizations with advice and data management services. Recognising that the lives of at least 160 Million people are profoundly influenced by the Black Sea and considering that all riparian countries depend to a large extent on marine and coastal resources, the ability to acquire, manage, archive and disseminate data, as well as the capacity to generate products and services in support of decision making and management of the Sea and Coastal Zones is of vital importance. The Ocean Data and Information Network for the Black Sea Region (ODINBLACKSEA) Pilot Project is proposed to respond to these needs through: (i) providing assistance in the development, operation and strengthening of National Oceanographic Data (and Information) Centres and to establish their networking in the region; (ii) providing training and education in marine data and information management, taking into account the requirements of operational oceanography; applying standard formats and methodologies as defined by the IODE; (iii) enhancing national and regional awareness for Marine Data and Information Management; (iv) assisting in the development and maintenance of national and regional marine data, metadata and information databases; (v) assisting in the development and dissemination of marine data and information products and services, meeting the needs of user communities at the national and regional levels, and responding to national and regional priorities; (vi) undertaking the ODINBLACKSEA activities in close collaboration and networking with other relevant organizations, programmes and projects operating in the Black Sea region; and (vii) undertaking the above activities applying modern technologies for data collecting, processing, storing and disseminating. In addition, ODINBLACKSEA will satisfy the requirements of the other IOC programmes (e.g. BlackSeaGOOS), as well as other organizations (e.g. Commission on Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution, Black Sea Economic Cooperation), programmes and projects (e.g. BSERP, ASCABOS, SeaDataNet, BlackSeaScene, ECOOP, SESAME, ESONET) active in the region, in terms of capacity building, and management and exchange of oceanographic data and information. Development and implementation of the ODINBLACKSEA project will be based on the success and lessons learnt from the other IODE ODIN projects, in particular, ODINAFRICA, ODINCARSA (Caribbean and South America region) and ODINCINDIO (Central Indian Ocean region). First the ODIN idea was implemented in the IOCINCWIO region as from 1996 when the IOC, with funding from the Government of Flanders, started the development of the Ocean Data and Information Network for Eastern Africa (ODINEA). The innovative model of these project was the linking of provision of equipment, training and operation support in a regional context. The ODIN projects focus on building capacity at the national level and the development of products and services at the national and regional scale. Training courses are organized at the regional level and follow-up support by a training consultant is provided. It is worth noting that all ODIN networks are now being developed in close collaboration with GOOS (and other programmes). An excellent example is ODINAFRICA III, which has been developed as a cross-cutting project involving data collection (GOOS), data and information management (IODE), and product/service development (GOOS, ICAM). The ODINBLACKSEA proposal was discussed first in the frame of SIBEMA project. The idea was supported by Dr. Patricio Bernal, Executive Secretary of IOC, and discussed in details through electronic communications with all IODE national coordinators in the Black Sea region. They agreed that ODINBLACKSEA should become a capacity building instrument for further development of NODC structure in the region and will support BlackSeaGOOS and other regional initiatives. All of them expressed their support for the establishment of ODINBLACKSEA (see Appendix 1).