About this Research Topic

Background

“The Anthropocene is changing our relationship with the planet and we must determine how to assume this responsibility” (Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom, 1933 -2012). Humanity must be the steward of the planet's natural resources and all stakeholders must participate to reduce anthropogenic damage to the environment.
Ethical behavior is necessary to ensure the sustainable use of our planet and our oceans. As a consequence, it is our responsibility to apply ethical fundamental core values, identify and promote Sustainable Ocean Principles, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Responsibility is one of the core values that humans accept as universally representative of individual and social good in terms of honesty, justice and respect for life and the environment. The responsibility of scientists and industry is to take necessary actions to secure a healthy and productive ocean. Industries and researchers must ensure that the effects of their actions do not destroy the autonomy, dignity, integrity of future humanity, especially under climate change challenges.

Ocean Ethics emphasizes reflection and reasoned actions based on scientific advances to develop the exploration and exploitation of the oceans. It involves social, scientific, environmental, legal, political, industrial and associative actors to adopt commendable and responsible behavior that will support the sustainability and stability of our oceans and support the resilience of the Earth system.
This Research Topic will provide a platform to publish research, recommendations and guiding principles on the many ethical challenges and issues that scientists and industries may face when conducting research activities or develop innovation at sea. This includes protecting and respecting natural processes and phenomena when planning and implementing environmental interventions; sustainability of economic and social activities linked to energy and other natural resources; advance ocean education and awareness to promote sustainable economic development, prevent and mitigate environmental risks, environmental protection, and improve the resilience and well-being of societies; respect different cultural interest in the oceans; prevent unfair advantages or benefits for one or more parties over others; developing clear, transparent and traceable procedures regarding the exploitation of natural resources; ensure the effectiveness of decision making to prevent duplication of effort, minimizes investments and environmental impact, and ultimately reduces service and maintenance costs.

We invite manuscripts that cover research, recommendations, and guiding principles on Ocean Ethics. The different scientific scopes include:
· Ocean observation (e.g. animal tagging, dispels of assets, seabed impact)
· Capacity development (e.g. transfer of knowledge, education)
· Marine biotechnology (e.g. exploitation, access, and benefit-sharing)
· Coastal management (e.g. cultural conflicts, conflict of use, societal acceptability)
· Marine Biodiversity (e.g. underwater noise, pollution, plastics)
· Climate change (e.g. impact on low-income societies, carbon capture and storage, coral bleaching, acidification)
· Sustainable Development Goals (Life Below Water, Good Health and Well-being, Responsible Consumption and Production, Partnerships to achieve the Goal, reduce inequality, Climate Action, Quality Education)
· Laboratory experiments (e.g. waste management, use of GMOs)
· Ocean Governance (e.g. new modes of governance, multi-centric approaches, governance adapted to socio-ecological systems, stakeholder engagement)
· Blue economy (e.g. Benefit-sharing, circular economy)

Dr. Michèle Barbier is the founder of the private Institute for Science and Ethics. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic theme.

Keywords: Ethics, ocean observation, marine biotechnology, biodiversity, aquaculture, sustainability, challenges, innovation, ecosystem, governance

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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