An Emerging
Global Information System Will Dramatically Improve the Management of Worldwide Marine Living Resources
The world’s explosive exponential growth in the sheer volume
of data (information) that is becoming instantaneously available along with ever-improving
search and analytical tools will drive rapid and unprecedented advances in
humanity’s ability to sustainably utilize our marine living resources. The timing of this emerging Global
Information System will greatly aid us as we face a rapidly changing global
climate and an ever-increasing world population that both severely constrain the sustainability of our marine living resources.
Aspects of this emerging Global
Information System:
·
We are now in the era of “Big Data” in which
human knowledge is more than doubling every 12 months and as crazy as it
sounds, this doubling will happen every 12 hours as our Earth becomes covered with
ubiquitous high-tech sensors as the “internet of things (IoT)” expands. Please see our past blog about these high-tech
sensors and their relationship to fishery management.
·
Advances in algorithms and artificial intelligence driven by software programs and ever-increasing computer power
(keep an eye out for future quantum computing) are rapidly expanding our ability to utilize
this massive tsunami of data to enable the following actions:
- react in real time to changing
conditions
- better predict and anticipate
coming changes & mitigate “black swan” events
- formulate more efficient action
plans that consider the unintended consequences of our
decisions (that can produce the both
negative and positive feedback loops)
The main take-aways for our
seafood industry:
·
Better overall efficiency in fishery
management that will finally address discards and waste
·
Better control of IUU fishing and seafood fraud
·
Better control of human rights abuses on the
high seas and within foreign countries
·
Better fishery stock information provided to
developing nations enabling improve sustainability
In short, the most amazing aspect going forward may be
our utter awe at the incredibly rapid pace of change caused by this new era of “Big
Data”. Not only will our seafood
industry be impacted but also every aspect of our personal lives. Let us all bravely embrace the positive tools
that will be to our avail to drive a more sustainable and just future for all the citizen of our beautiful blue planet.
Go Blue! - For Our Environment - For Sustainability - For Our Health
Sincerely,
David Glaubke, Director of Sustainability Initiatives
