The Data Validation Workshop for the Fisheries & Coastal Resources Thematic Group was successfully conducted

The Data Validation Workshop for the Fisheries & Coastal Resources Thematic Group was successfully conducted  in a virtual format, bringing together key stakeholders from relevant institutions.

The session focused on reviewing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators relevant to the thematic area, with particular emphasis on assessing current data availability, identifying gaps and inconsistencies in SDG reporting and highlighting priority areas for improvement.

Key discussions and recommendations included the identification of new indicators to strengthen SDG reporting, such as SDG 14.a.1 (proportion of total research budget allocated to marine technology research), as well as proxy indicators like the number of protected coastal wildlife habitats and the mapping of project-based datasets such as the Southern Region Ocean Health Index.

The discussion also emphasized the importance of breaking institutional silos in data reporting and exploring opportunities to develop composite indicators by integrating data from multiple institutions.

The session was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resources, the Marine Environment Protection Authority and the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency. The representative of the Department of Census and Statistics also attended as an observer to provide technical assistance in validating the data.