Ocean
Research and Policy
If we want to slow down and ultimately reverse the key global drivers of biodiversity loss in the ocean, there is an urgent need to promote fundamental research and underlying, systemic changes in policy. Gaining funding and support for this type of work is challenging: this strand focuses support on research and policy areas in which small but effective organisations are carrying out vital, yet often overlooked and underfunded work. The key focal areas for this strand include the high seas, the deep ocean and fisheries subsidies.
The current system of governance for the vast area of ocean that is the high seas is inadequate. To protect marine biodiversity and reduce abuses at sea, a global biodiversity treaty for the ocean is urgently needed.
Image © Shutterstock/Nico Faramaz
We promote complex but vital work to protect ocean biodiversity by:
Supporting the voice of civil society in high-level decision-making processes.
Civil society plays a key role in holding decision-makers to account at local, national and international levels. It is vital that this voice is loud, but also coordinated, strategic, and inclusive, to ensure that the most important messages are delivered effectively.
Supporting policy change and implementation.
While policy ‘wins’ are welcome, without continued pressure from civil society they can often be ineffective. We therefore specifically support implementation alongside policy change.
Supporting research and increased transparency within management systems.
We support our partners to carry out the research needed to back up effective campaigning and to push for transparency and inclusivity within decision-making spaces.