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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS)

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Scientific community
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    Description
    Description
    The aim of a World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) is to provide an authoritative and comprehensive list of names of marine organisms, including information on synonymy. While highest priority goes to valid names, other names in use are included so that this register can serve as a guide to interpret taxonomic literature.The content of WoRMS is controlled by taxonomic experts, not by database managers. The WoRMS has an editorial management system where each taxonomic group is represented by an expert who has the authority over the content, and is responsible for controlling the quality of the information. Each of these taxonomic editors can invite several specialists of smaller groups within their area of responsibility to join them. It is a voluntary-based initiative, that receives (in)direct support from different institutions supporting the taxonomic editors, and of the Data Management Team (DMT) members at the Flanders Marine Institute, Belgium.

    This register of marine species grew out of the European Register of Marine Species (ERMS), and its combination with several other species registers maintained at the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). Rather than building separate registers for all projects, and to make sure taxonomy used in these different projects is consistent, VLIZ developed a consolidated database called Aphia. MarineSpecies.org is the web interface for this database. The WoRMS combines information from Aphia with other authoritative marine species lists which are maintained by others (e.g. AlgaeBase, FishBase). Resources to build MarineSpecies.org and Aphia were initially provided mainly by the EU Network of Excellence Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning (MarBEF), and also by the EU funded Species 2000 Europe and ERMS projects. Today, the WoRMS is hosted and maintained by VLIZ.
    Partners
    Partners that support the taxonomic editors, contributing to the databases; e.g. Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (Canada), Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada, Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) UK, National Science Foundation (NSF) USA, and others.

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.a Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
    launch of new website
    publication on 10 years of WoRMS
    In-kind contribution
    hosting the WoRMS secretariat
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Taxonomic experts, IT experts, IT support, Data management team
    Other, please specify
    LifeWatch contribution
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Timeline
    01 January 1970 (start date)
    01 January 1970 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ)
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    Oostende, BELGIUM
    Ocean Basins
    Global
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology
    More information
    Countries
    N/A
    Contact Information

    Ann-Katrien LESCRAUWAET, Dr.