The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO  announced that Alcatel Submarine Networks , a private-sector company specialising in the manufacture and installation of trans-oceanic telecommunications cables, has joined the Corporate Data Group of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the first company to do so

The Corporate Data Group is established jointly by IOC-UNESCO, which is responsible for implementing the Ocean Decade, and Fugro, an Ocean Decade Alliance member specialising in industrial ocean data, who has offered its expertise to support the Group’s efforts.

The generation, sharing, and management of ocean data, information and knowledge are cornerstones for the Ocean Decade’s success and will be essential to reverse the cycle of decline in ocean health, and contribute to an equitable and sustainable ocean economy. The overarching purpose of the Corporate Data Group is to develop strategies, equitable frameworks, mechanisms and best practices for industrial companies to provide public access to their privately held ocean data.

“We are very pleased to join the Corporate Data Group and to support the goals of the Ocean Decade. Efforts to address today’s ocean challenges are vital to society, and we thank IOC-UNESCO for the opportunity to contribute ASN’s expertise in ocean data to this important initiative.” said Jérémie Maillet, VP of Marine Operations for ASN.

“The Ocean Decade is about creating transformative collaboration amongst science, industry and governments through joint initiatives that will deliver new ocean knowledge and information to support all stakeholders involved in the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean. ASN joining the Corporate Data Group is a good example of such a collaboration and, I believe, the first of many to come.” said Julian Barbière, Head of Marine Policy at IOC and the Global Coordinator of the Ocean Decade.