Statement on the Promoting Interdisciplinary Marine Research in Japan and Establishing OneArgo: An Integrated Global Ocean Observation System.

September 20, 2024

The oceans are undergoing rapid changes due to influences from global warming and human activities. As supporters of OneArgo in Japan, we are actively incorporating Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 into our initiatives to conserve and sustainably utilize marine resources. SDG 14 specifically targets the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

OneArgo is a new ocean observation system proposed by the Argo Project at the OceanObs ’19 conference, which brought together ocean experts from around the world. This system aims to support our mission of integrating SDG 14 by providing essential and useful ocean data. OneArgo is initiated to expand Argo float observation, which actively started to deploy since 2000 for the purpose to construct a vital platform for ocean research. Its activities include measuring water temperature, salinity, and six additional biogeochemical variables from the surface to the deep seafloor globally, ensuring uniform data quality control, and providing open access to the data.

OneArgo conducts its observations through collaborations with other platforms, such as ships, mooring systems and satellites. This collaboration approach greatly promotes the scientific understanding on climate change and its variability, extreme events, the ocean carbon cycle, hypoxia conditions and marine ecosystem responses. By providing reliable scientific data, OneArgo’s findings can support broader societal and industrial applications associated with aquaculture, such as fisheries, shipping, and disaster risk reduction.

Additionally, data from OneArgo will contribute to the assessment process of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and discussions at the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC-COP). This data will provide a scientific basis for policies on climate change adaptation and mitigation measures implemented by each country. Because of the project’s significance, the development of OneArgo has been endorsed as a project of the UN Ocean Decade. It was also selected as a priority topic for the G7 Future of the Seas and Ocean Initiative (FSOI).

Regarding the information mentioned above, we are striving to achieve results as soon as
possible by implementing several key initiatives: advancing interdisciplinary and integrated academic research on the ocean; promoting technological innovation and cost reduction in advanced hardware and software; providing high-precision data through strong partnerships with on-site facilities and research institutions; improving the accuracy of future climate and marine environment predictions through collaborative modeling; circulating information with policymakers, society, and industry sectors; fostering collaborative relationships among industry, government, and academia; and supporting the development of a new generation of early career researchers and engineers across disciplines.

Through these initiatives, we are committed to promoting the importance of advancing OneArgo and deepening people’s understanding of its significance. Our goal is also to lead global efforts in support of OneArgo. As a result, this will enhance the research and development capabilities of the marine community and elevate Japan’s international presence.

The supporters of OneArgo in Japan issue this statement in the hope that, with generous support, OneArgo will continue to advance swiftly. This statement is endorsed by Japan Liaison Council for Fisheries and Marine Science Research, its 17 member societies, and the participants of the symposium ‘Promoting Interdisciplinary Marine Research in Japan and Establishing OneArgo: An Integrated Global Ocean Observation System.’

＜Organizations that support our statement＞

• Japan Liaison Council for Fisheries and Marine Science Research
• The Japanese Society of Fisheries Sciences
• The Oceanographic Society of Japan
• Japanese Society of Fisheries Oceanography
• Japanese Society of Fisheries Engineering
• The Sessile Organisms Society of Japan
• The Japanese Society of Fish Pathology
• The Itchthyological Society of Japan
• Japan International Fisheries Research Society
• Japanese Association of Benthology
• The Japan Regional Fisheries Society
• La Société Franco-Japonaise d’Océanographie
• Japanese Society for Aquaculture Science
• Japanese Society for Marine Biotechnology
• The Plankton Society of Japan
• The Japanese Society of Fisheries Economics
• Japanese Society of Phycology
• Japan Society of Ocean Policy

Participants of the symposium ‘Promoting Interdisciplinary Marine Research in Japan and Establishing OneArgo: An Integrated Global Ocean Observation System.’