Evolving roles of observing systems and data co-management in Arctic Ocean governance

A rapidly changing Arctic challenges government agencies and the research community to provide data products that address stakeholder and citizens' information needs as well as scientific priorities. Observations and data co-management can help achieve this goal by linking scientific research to services the Arctic system provides, which in turn affect outcomes desired by stakeholders. Co-management builds on (i) defining problems originating from rapid Arctic change in terms of services disrupted or affected and (ii) mapping data, modeling activities and prediction efforts onto these services, such that resulting information products can directly inform stakeholder responses. The context for this approach is explored for different component elements with a focus on the U.S. maritime Arctic: (i) information needs of Arctic Indigenous Peoples and communities; (ii) data generated through marine scientific and operational research as defined in the context of UNCLOS; (iii) guidance on data collection and use in the context of Arctic Council Working Groups; (iv) international private sector agreements such as ISO codes. Based on this analysis we outline a path towards effective co-management regimes.