THE UN ATLAS OF THE OCEANS

John T. Everett Fisheries Resource Division

Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN Via delle Terme di Caracalla,

1-00 100 Rome, Italy E- mail: john.everett@fao.org

Peter Pissierssens Head, Ocean Services IOC

IOC of UNESCO 1 Rue Miollis

Paris, France 75732 E-mail: p.pissierssens@unesco,org

What are its features?

Based on FA0 Community Directory Server (CDS), with development shared by 5 programs; Dedicated collaborative network on global oceans; Information is organised and maintained by a hierarchy of editors f rom the ocean community; Web-based publication by UN and partners;

An organised database on ocean information;

Integrated source of knowledge and policy advice; Communication support for ocean communities;

Intuitive user and management interface;

Rapid downloads to CD-ROMs.

By whom is i t being operated? I

Initiated by UN S/Cmte on Oceans and Coastal Areas;

Developed by 6 UN Agencies with mandates on oceans plus CBD;

Led by FA0 Fisheries Department;

Co-funded by UN Foundation and the 7 UN agencies with NOAA support;

I n collaboration with non-UN Partners: e.g., NGOs, private sector, NOAA, HDNO;

Editors are mostly staff from partners with some volunteers from the ocean community.

How is it used?

Information important for .Coasts and coral reefs; understanding Early explorations; the oceans.

Education and training;

The focus How oceans are changing; How oceans were formed;

encyclopaedia of International cooperation; information relevant to .Maps, statistics, databases;

sustainable development. .Monitoring & observing sys.;

.Ocean-atmosphere interface;

t

Uses of the Oceans

Information on the Disposal of waste from uses of the oceans land;

Energy;

The focus is on Fisheries and Aquaculture; information relevant Human Settlement on to sustainable Coast; development, resources, Marine biotechnology;

technology, Non-consumptive uses) sector Ocean dumping & ship

issues. wastes;

Offshore Oil, Gas and Mining; R ~ r r ~ a t i n n 8, Tnl rriqm

Issues in the Oceans

Broad, cross-cutting aclimate Change; ocean issues - such as sustainability, Economics;

food security, global .Emergencies; change, and

.Food Security; pollution.

*Governance;

The focus is on .Human Health; information relevant .Pollution to sustainable

Degradation; development of the oceans. *Safety at Sea;

.Sustainable Develop.

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Where do we stand? 1

The software is operational and tested, but still advancing as more programs join its use;

The overload during the opening weeks is solved;

The information structure is stable;

UN, NOAA and NGO staff are principal editors;

Much information is in place but more arrives daily;

The CD-ROM generator prototype (for mirrors of the site) is developed;

Routine maintenance began November 2002;

UN Partners have signed long-term agreements.

On the First Anniversary

All reviews have been positive. Stories have run in major languages, all over the world;

Many educational and ocean sites have linked;

Russian Atlas of the Ocean Maps are uploaded;

Most empty outline topics have been filled in;

Membership has grown from 30 to about 1400;

Over 1,000 pages per day are served on average;

There are 3,100 knowledge items in addition to the 1050 Topic Pages and their See Mores;

UN Partners have signed long-term agreements.

What are t h e plans?

..Recruiting Topic Editors outside the UN system to maintain and improve the Atlas

Init iate series of CD-ROMs for consumers and educators by publisher

Pursue linking throughout the ocean and educational community

I s s u e s for t h e future

Further institutional mainstreaming within the UN and the Partners Securing long-term funding Keeping pace with technological progress Equitable access (web, CD, languages) Expanded collaboration across all sectors to further develop the Atlas Co-operation with other global projects

An exciting challenge!

For further information contact