Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystems Project

The National plan should incorporate national mechanisms for data management and the archiving of new ASCLME data in national data centres. Networks and systems implemented by other projects, particularly ODINAFRICA (IOC/UNESCO), SWIOFP and WIO-LaB (through the Nairobi Convention) should be incorporated into the plan to be used as necessary (eg UNEP/GEF WIO-LaB Project 2006).

National data and information plans should be based on the regional D&I framework, taking into account country-specific information. These national plans should just contain supporting information for the process of working with (accessing or archiving) data / information during the process of compiling the national Marine Ecosystem Diagnostic Analyses (MEDAs).

Table of Contents for National data and information management plans

1. National D&I Coordinators
Institutional and coordinator contact details

2. Specialists for the MEDA
Lists of suggested (initial list) specialists for MEDA themes within each country

3. Institutional sources of information for national MEDAs
Name and thematic area of responsibility of national institutions

4. List of national state of the environment reports (or similar) that have been produced over the past 50 years.

5. List of marine of coastal projects currently underway that may be related in some way to the ASCLME project, through direct collaboration, data exchange, or as interested parties in the TDA/SAP process.

6. Archiving and long-term data management of new ASCLME data in national data centres
National plan for the archiving of sectors of new data coming from the ASCLME project within each country. These allocations should not be arbitrary, but must be based on national mandates and international agreements. For example IOC member states must use data centres linked to IODE’s NODC and WDC network as long term repositories for oceanographic data (IOC Oceanographic Data Exchange Policy - RESOLUTION IOC-XXII-6)

Examples of data categories are:

6.1 Specimens from ASCLME expeditions
1.1.1    Fish specimens will be curated at xxxx
1.1.2    Invertebrate specimens to be curated at xxxx

6.2 Oceanographic data from ASCLME expeditions will be archived at xxxx

6.3 Fisheries data from ASCLME expeditions will be submitted to xxxx

7. National metadatabase
7.1 General description (software, location, funder)
7.2 Field names and access controls
7.3 Flagging system for ASCLME-specific metadata
7.4 Requirements for modification for ASCLME purposes

8. Meeting and reporting schedule
For implementation of national activities in support of the MEDAs.

9. Financial arrangements
(with specific reference to co-funding and other funders)