Ocean Science Diplomacy can Be a Game Changer to Promote the Access to Marine Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

Ocean science is central in providing evidence for the implementation of the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention. The Convention’s provisions on transfer of marine technology to developing countries aim at strengthening scientific capabilities to promote equitable opportunities for these countries to exercise rights and obligations in managing the marine environment. Decades after the adoption of the Convention, these provisions are under implemented, despite the efforts of international organizations, such as IOC-UNESCO. Latin America and the Caribbean struggle to conduct marine scientific research and seize the opportunities of blue economy due to the limited access to state-of-the-art technology. Ocean science communities in these countries are subject to constraints not foreseeing in international treaties, such as unstable exchange rates, taxation, fees for transportation, costs of maintenance and calibration of technology, challenges to comply with technical standards, and intellectual property rights. Action is needed to overcome these challenges by promoting a closer tie between science and diplomacy. We discuss that this interplay between science and international relations, as we frame science diplomacy, can inform on how to progress in allowing countries in this region to develop relevant research and implement the Convention. We provide concrete examples of this transfer of marine technology and ways forward, in particular in the context of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030).

The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate in Latin America: Knowledge Gaps and the Urgency to Translate Science Into Action

“…Science diplomacy, the interrelation between research and international relations, can reduce inequalities and bridge communities by aiding in the implementation of international provisions aimed at leveraging scientific capabilities in LAC (Ruffini, 2018;Salpin et al, 2018;Polejack and Coelho, 2021). By incorporating scientific literature in other languages, other sources of knowledge, and regional input, global assessments like SROCC reduce most of its imbalance.…”

The South American Advances in Submarine Canyons Studies and Their Link to the Ocean Decade

“…According to Polejack and Coelho (2021), the lack of investments is hampering studies in Latin America and the Caribbean from accessing and using marine technologies to develop the science needed to inform decisions and international negotiation processes on an equitable basis. They also emphasize that researchers from developed countries often access funding and infrastructure to conduct research in Latin America and the Caribbean waters.…”

“…However, researchers usually apply only a small portion of the funding in the foreign field, leaving local contributors with limited access to research equipment. Most marine research in the southern hemisphere has a limited research budget with highly fluctuating exchange rates, that is spent in keeping up with international standards which determine data accuracy, thus allowing replicability and comparison (Polejack and Coelho, 2021). As a gap, the lack of investments can be observed in almost all submarine canyons studies in SA, influencing the smallest NUPPY of Group 2 seen in Group 1 (Figure 3) and diversity of studies per country (Figure 5).…”

“…Economic activities within the Blue Economy are fundamental for the investment of new perspectives for canyons studies throughout the world. Although, Latin America and the Caribbean struggle to conduct marine scientific research and seize the opportunities of Blue Economy due to their limited access to state-of-the-art technology (Polejack and Coelho, 2021). The Blue Economy has contributed to the development of submarine canyons studies as well as the formation of the Ocean Decade Challenges based on seven most urgent social outcomes.…”

“…The Ocean Decade (2021-2030) appears as an aspect oscillating between gaps and forecasts because it is structured as the main vector that will lead the evolution of the relationship between humans and the sea, although it is still in the beginning development process (Ryabinin et al, 2019;Heymans et al, 2020;Polejack, 2021;Polejack and Coelho, 2021). As a gap, the Decade Challenges as seven outcomes are still obstacles to be overcome, and probably the change will not occur only within the given period.…”