Inclusion of fisheries notifications in the Database of Upcoming Expeditions to the Southern Ocean

Many international programs collect information on upcoming activities in the Southern Ocean, relevant to their communities. To support the sharing of this information, the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) has developed the Database of Upcoming Expeditions to the Southern Ocean, DueSouth (www.soos.aq). Developed by the Australian Antarctic Data Centre, DueSouth is an open-access resource for the community that supports the planning of collaborative field programs by providing basic information on future activities in the Southern Ocean. DueSouth currently shares information on planned voyages and flights by National Antarctic Programs, international oceanography programs, and tourist companies. The inclusion of industry vessels (e.g., Tourist and Fisheries) provide important “Ships of Opportunity” for deployment of observational platforms or collection of data from regions that may not be routinely visited by research vessels. Building on the 2018 endorsement by the Scientific Committee (e-sc-xxxvii_1.pdf paragraph 10.9) and the test case provided as shown herein, SOOS now requests formal approval for the inclusion of all Fisheries Notifications into DueSouth by the Commission.