• Acronym: WG 52 (WG-DATA)
• Parent Committee: TCODE
• Term: PICES-2023 – PICES-2026
• Co-Chair: Mr. Brett Johnson <Brett.Johnson@dfo-mpo.gc.ca>
• Mailing List

The PICES Data Management Working Group (WG-DATA) is established to address the need for an enhanced data, metadata, and information management and data sharing plan within the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES). The WG-DATA will build upon the recommendations of the Study Group on Encouraging Data Awareness and Increased Transmission and Accessibility (SG-DATA) and provide a comprehensive strategy for modernizing and streamlining data and information management and sharing practices within PICES. By aligning with international standards and promoting a culture of data sharing, PICES aims to enhance the accessibility, reach, and utility of its scientific data, fostering collaboration and advancing marine science in the North Pacific region.

1. Revise and update the PICES Data Policy. Revise and update the PICES Data Policy to align with international standards (UNESCO IOC and UN Decade of Ocean Science), incorporate FAIR and CARE principles, promote data sharing culture, and recommend data repositories and open data licensing options.
2. Promote a culture of data sharing within PICES. Promote a culture of data sharing within PICES such as by identifying and addressing data sharing barriers through an annual survey to PICES members and other related organizations, offering education and training resources, developing a data management road map, creating an inventory of data assets, identifying novel ways to incentivize data sharing, and encouraging 'data publications' adhering to open data licensing and DOI citation standards.
3. Recommend data management platforms, standards, and technologies. Identify, recommend and support data management platforms, standards, and technologies aligned with open data principles and internationally supported ocean data standards. Modernize PICES data management by developing accessible data management templates, facilitating report publication to repositories, evaluating the TCODE Catalog, promoting DOIs and data licensing, identifying collaborative word-processing tools, and establishing a PICES Data Stewardship Officer (DSO) for coordinated data management.
4. Develop a data, metadata, and information (reports/pubs) flow diagram from expert groups, PICES members, summer schools, and other associated initiatives across the PICES network to a final repository (e.g. recommended databases, searchable catalogs, and metadata catalogs).