BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 3. Digital tools
could help Caspian countries bring different forms of information
together for marine planning and management.
IOI Managing Director Antonella Vassallo and CSI Director Murad
Atajanov said this in a joint exclusive interview with Trend, answering a question
about digital tools and management approaches with practical value
for Caspian countries.
“The most valuable digital tools will be those that bring
different forms of information into a common planning environment,”
they said.
The experts said this could include technologies for spatial
planning, environmental observation, data access and real-time
monitoring.
“GIS-based marine spatial planning platforms, remote sensing,
satellite monitoring, open data portals, real-time environmental
and vessel monitoring, oil-spill and marine-litter modelling, and
biodiversity databases can all contribute to better-informed
decisions,” they said.
They noted that the Caspian Sea Digital Twin is of significant
importance.
“The Caspian Sea Digital Twin, endorsed by IOC/UNESCO, is
particularly relevant because it can integrate information on water
levels, salinity, biodiversity, shipping, infrastructure and
climate into a shared analytical environment,” they said.
At the same time, the experts said the practical value of the
Digital Twin would depend on the quality of the information behind
it and on how regional institutions use and exchange data.
According to the experts, these digital tools should form part
of broader approaches to marine management rather than operate
separately from them.
“These tools should support broader management approaches such
as ecosystem-based management, transboundary marine spatial
planning, cumulative-impact assessment, adaptive management and
networks of marine protected areas,” they said.
The experts also stressed that technology alone would not be
enough to ensure effective use of these tools. They said regional
cooperation and institutional arrangements would also be required,
alongside long-term development of relevant expertise.
“Technology alone is not sufficient. Effective use also requires
data-sharing protocols, institutional cooperation and sustained
capacity development. This is an area in which IOI’s training
experience, global network and alumni community do provide
practical support,” they said.
For reference, the International Ocean Institute (IOI) is an
independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization focused on
ocean governance, training and capacity development. Its
headquarters and secretariat are located at the University of Malta
in Msida, Malta, where the institute’s Managing Director Antonella
Vassallo is based.
The IOI runs training programmes on ocean governance in
different regions and lists Turkmenistan as an IOI Training
Partner. Its global programme portfolio includes the “Sustainable
Development and Governance of the Caspian Sea” course, organized in
partnership with the Caspian Sea Institute.
The Caspian Sea Institute was established in Turkmenistan in
2019 to promote cooperation in the Caspian region, conduct marine
scientific research and contribute to the development of
international and national legal documents related to the Caspian
Sea. It also reviews the implementation of relevant international
agreements concerning the Caspian.
The institute is headed by Myrat Atajanov, who was appointed its
director in August 2019. According to the press service of the
Turkmen government, the institute also works on marine studies,
methodological and informational materials and cooperation on
Caspian issues.
