The Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE) recently organised a national workshop on Indian Ocean Biodiversity Information System (IndOBIS) at Kochi. IndOBIS is the Indian regional node of the global Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). Hosted by CMLRE, IndOBIS collects data on marine species in the Indian Ocean and contributes to OBIS. OBIS is a large global repository containing millions of marine species records from various contributors across the world. It provides detailed information on species distribution, habitats and environmental data across the world’s oceans. OBIS provides tools to search, visualise and download biodiversity data.
Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, India congratulated CMLRE for successfully organising this national workshop and said that it is of utmost importance for the overall success of India’s Deep Ocean Mission for exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity. This workshop aims to enable researchers to present scientifically standardised marine biodiversity data and contribute to the global knowledge pool.
Indian Ocean Biodiversity Information System
- Indian Ocean Biodiversity Information System (IndOBIS) is the Indian regional node of the global Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS).
- It is operated by the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi.
- The main objective of the Indian Ocean Biodiversity Information System (IndOBIS) is to collect and analyse data related to the occurrence and distribution of marine species in the Indian Ocean region.
- The data it provides is incorporated into the network of the Global Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS), which serves as one of OBIS’s 30 regional nodes.
Global Ocean Biodiversity Information System
- It is a highly comprehensive and important global database of marine species information.
- It contains millions of records from thousands of datasets provided by researchers, governments and organizations around the world.
- It provides detailed information on the distribution of marine species, their occurrence, habitats and environmental parameters.
- OBIS is supported by a network of about 30 regional points, which contribute data, ensuring data quality, accessibility and overall reliability.
- It is established by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and is now an integral part of IOC’s International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE).
Importance and scope of Indian Ocean Biodiversity Information System (IndOBIS)
- Indian Ocean Biodiversity Information System (IndOBIS) plays a major role in data collection, analysis and management of marine biodiversity in the Indian Ocean region. This system not only ensures scientific quality-control and geotagging of data, but also provides valuable information for various purposes through it.
Which are as follows
- Playing an important role in collecting and analyzing data on the occurrence and distribution of marine species: Indian Ocean Biodiversity Information System (IndOBIS) collects and analyzes data on the occurrence and distribution of marine species. This data is extremely important for scientific research, identification of species distribution patterns and monitoring environmental parameters.
- Identifying and studying climate change and biodiversity hotspots: Data from Indian Ocean Biodiversity Information System (IndOBIS) is used to track species expansion, identify biodiversity hotspots and assess the impacts of climate change. This study helps in understanding the response of marine ecosystems to climate change.
- Being a valuable platform for training and capacity building: Indian Ocean Biodiversity Information System (IndOBIS) workshops provide a valuable platform for training and capacity building in data acquisition, analysis and management. This is particularly important in the area of marine biodiversity in the Indian Ocean, where expertise is required for research and monitoring.
- Playing a key role in sustainable management and conservation: Indian Ocean Biodiversity Information System (IndOBIS) data are used to develop adapted management strategies and support sustainable fisheries. It plays a key role in the sustainable use and conservation of marine resources.