{"id":8056,"date":"2021-09-02T10:06:59","date_gmt":"2021-09-02T14:06:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/edfish\/?p=8056"},"modified":"2021-09-02T10:06:59","modified_gmt":"2021-09-02T14:06:59","slug":"maximizing-benefits-considerations-for-oceans-technology-applications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/edfish\/2021\/09\/02\/maximizing-benefits-considerations-for-oceans-technology-applications\/","title":{"rendered":"Maximizing benefits: considerations for oceans technology applications\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

By Trudie Grattan and Melissa Mahoney<\/p>\n

When you hear the phrase \u201coceans technology,\u201d what comes to mind? Do you picture a futuristic device that\u2019s cleaning up the Pacific Garbage Patch? Smart cameras to see a fishing vessel\u2019s activity, fishing location and more? How about drones or autonomous underwater vehicles gathering oceanographic data previously thought unattainable? Even the most ubiquitous of tech devices \u2014\u00a0smartphones and apps \u2014 are increasingly used by small-scale fishers all over the world to record and legitimize their catch.<\/p>\n

To ensure the application of oceans technology is equitable and sustainable, we must consider the potential environmental and social impacts<\/p>\n<\/div>It is no secret that fisheries are making leaps and bounds in the digital revolution, with new and emerging technologies<\/a> offering greater opportunities to ensure fisheries are sustainable and productive for generations to come. The potential of oceans technology is only growing.<\/p>\n

But technologies can also bring costs, and many of these are not well understood. To ensure the application of oceans technology is equitable and sustainable, we must consider the potential environmental and social impacts, including those from production, end-of-life phase and applications across diverse communities. In doing so, people can take steps to mitigate these impacts throughout the design and implementation process, resulting in greater net benefits for fishers and coastal communities.<\/p>\n

Technology production <\/strong><\/p>\n

The manufacturing and production of technologies like smartphones and electronic monitoring systems \u2014 which are composed of hard drives, GPS, cameras and more \u2014 requires significant energy and resources. The manufacturing processes are largely powered by fossil fuels, adding to greenhouse gas emissions that pollute our air, warm ocean waters, alter currents and disrupt fisheries. The production of these technologies also relies on valuable, finite materials including gold, silver and other rare earth elements<\/a>. Historically, the methods to extract and process these materials require large inputs of energy, water and land, and often have an outsized impact on local communities.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>To ensure that the benefits of oceans technology are not offset by the costs of production, we must continue to identify opportunities to mitigate negative environmental and social impacts. Precious metals, for example, can be extracted from old electronic devices and reused (like\u00a0the medals for the 2020 Olympic games).\u00a0Organizations promoting the uptake of technology could choose to purchase from companies prioritizing fair trade practices: companies like Fairphone<\/a> are already prioritizing carbon neutrality and recycled materials for smartphone production. This commitment to reducing the environmental and social costs of technology production should be adopted throughout the oceans technology production sector.<\/p>\n

Proper disposal <\/strong><\/p>\n

Disposal is another important consideration. As devices reach the end of their life,\u00a0they become electronic waste, or e-waste, which is\u00a0currently\u00a0the fastest growing waste stream in the world<\/a>.\u00a0Right now, the oceans technology sector contributes a\u00a0tiny portion to the e-waste problem, but if we intend to scale up the use of technology across the world\u2019s fisheries, we would do well to consider disposal or up-cycling options as a fundamental part of early project design. Increased understanding of the resources necessary for production can result in smarter consumerism. While these solutions might not completely offset all costs of production and e-waste, mitigating the negative impacts from waste can make a substantial difference.<\/p>\n

The human context <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Three billion people across the globe rely on fisheries for food security, livelihoods, well-being and more, and digital technologies can help to improve these important services. But\u00a0each fishing\u00a0community\u00a0or region is unique, culturally and in other ways, and may face different challenges and opportunities. Not everyone is well-placed to receive the benefits new technology provides. Currently, only those who can afford it are the ones benefitting. And sometimes efforts to implement technology can occur on broad, national scales that fail to take into account local needs, customs and practices.<\/p>\n

Exploring ways to improve access to technologies to all ocean users through better financing and other funding mechanisms is essential for improving equity of access. And if technological and management strategies adapt to the context of specific communities through participatory processes such as human-centered design, we can help to ensure equitable outcomes for communities.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, technology alone will not\u00a0make\u00a0fisheries\u00a0more sustainable \u2014 people will.<\/p>\n

The path forward<\/strong><\/p>\n

As with any technological solution to an environmental problem, there are tradeoffs. New and emerging technologies have the potential to predict and prepare for climate change, protect human rights, improve well-being and foster greater environmental stewardship. As we strive for a sustainable and equitable ocean economy that empowers and improves the livelihoods of fishers and coastal communities around the world \u2014 facilitated through the uptake of digital technologies \u2014 decisionmakers and stakeholders need to account for the environmental and social impacts of these innovations and take steps to mitigate those impacts. In doing so, the net benefits of oceans technology will increase along with the potential it has to empower and improve the livelihoods of fishers and coastal communities around the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Trudie Grattan and Melissa Mahoney When you hear the phrase \u201coceans technology,\u201d what comes to mind? Do you picture a futuristic device that\u2019s cleaning up the Pacific Garbage Patch? Smart cameras to see a fishing vessel\u2019s activity, fishing location and more?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2974,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44,42656],"tags":[107610,107618,5211,107622,80,597,107617,107623,107619,107620,413,107621],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-8056","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-policy","category-scienceresearch","tag-coastal-communities","tag-digital-revolution","tag-diversity","tag-e-waste","tag-fisheries","tag-fisheries-management","tag-fisheries-technology","tag-human-centered-design","tag-oceans-technology","tag-recycling","tag-sustainability","tag-upcycling"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMaximizing benefits: considerations for oceans technology applications\u00a0 - EDFish<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/edfish\/2021\/09\/02\/maximizing-benefits-considerations-for-oceans-technology-applications\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Maximizing benefits: considerations for oceans technology applications\u00a0 - EDFish\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Trudie Grattan and Melissa Mahoney When you hear the phrase \u201coceans technology,\u201d what comes to mind? 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