Serving the Global Village through Public Data Sharing as a Mandatory Paradigm for Seabird Biologists and Managers: Why, What, How, and a Call for an Efficient Action Plan

Abstract

The ocean and most of its ecosystem components are in a crisis. For instance, 16 out of 18 Albatross species are of serious conservation concern, and many polar species share a similar status. Public data sharing has yet to be established among seabird biologists towards the creation of an efficient management scheme. Here I outline in relevant detail the overall context of global data sharing, and the issues specifically focusing on seabird data and metadata. For the first time, the goals, detailed database and online technicalities and required formats for sharing seabird data are outlined with pros and cons. Finally, an action plan is discussed on how to move towards a new ocean and seabird culture, which has global data sharing and sustainability as its prime goals.