1. S. Grimes, WMO Marine Meteorology and Affairs Division
World Meteorological Organization Working together in weather, climate and water
WMO
WMO and FAO
Proposal for RFMOs
S. Grimes, WMO Marine Meteorology and Affairs Division

2. WMO Climate and Marine Services
Improving climate and marine forecasting, and marine safety for people at sea or on the coast
GOOS : Global Ocean Observing System
Ocean observations through a network of fixed or drifting observation devices
Sustained monitoring of the state of the ocean (physical, biological & chem)
Essential Ocean and Climate Variables
WMO Technical Commissions
Joint WMO and UNESCO/IOC: Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM)
WMO: Agricultural Meteorology (CAgM)

3. RECENT FOCUS: WMO & FISHERIES
Some questions/ideas:
How does marine data support ecosystem based fisheries management ?
Developing climate services for fisheries,
Encouraging fisheries management bodies in making and reporting relevant marine meteorological and oceanographic observations.
Joint CAgM & JCOMM Task Team: Weather, Climate & Fisheries (2013)
Assessing likely impact of climate variability and change on oceanic fisheries

4. Marine & Climate Data for Fisheries
Observations: eg. sea surface temperature, salinity, winds, waves
Data collection: * it would be good to extend the observation and data collection network with assistance from fisheries bodies
Data products / decision support tools:
eg marine and climate forecast models, helping to improve prediction of fish stock movement
Marine safety –eg. improved forecasting to inform fishing boats at sea….

5. WMO & FAO – Exploring possibilities
Explore the possibility of RFMOs of informing their members about the advantages of reporting relevant marine meteorological and ocean observations to the various WMO observation and information systems;
Recognize the time-sensitivity of these observations and to develop mechanisms on exchanging these data while respecting the mandates of RFMOs and their members;
Develop possible guidelines and standards in collecting and transmitting these observations;
Obtain feedback from RFMOs on improving weather and climate products that are used to protect the safety of marine fleets and possible movements of fish.

6. Additional issue
Vandalism (deliberate and unintentional) damage of ocean monitoring equipment is a particular issue
Buoys are often used to moor or fix fish nets etc. without awareness of their value for safety or marine forecasting.
WMO recently asked to develop a regionally relevant education and outreach strategy, for discussion (in 2017), that could be jointly implemented by IOC, WMO, FAO, RFMOs and their respective Members, the fisheries sector and other relevant organizations in order to substantially reduce damage through vandalism or interference with ocean data buoys