We’ve been deep in the world of federated ocean data networks this month. And by data we mean beautifully documented, well-described datasets with machine-readable metadata and also … not that. We’re excited to see some new tools for searching and extracting data from the gargantuan mass of PDFs created by decades of compliance reports. While PDFs are sometimes unavoidable (see regulatory reporting requirements) it’s always better to publish data separately if you can, or even metadata only, if you can only do that. If you’re a nonprofit or social sector org that needs to release a PDF you can get a DOI for free at Issuelab, so people can find and cite it even if you move it around on your website.

Our trainings with Creative Commons on licensing data and working with licensed ocean data were a hit. One of the most popular parts was the CC license picker tool, which walks you through creating a license. We’ll share a link to the recordings in next month’s newsletter, but we’re already planning follow-ups, like working sessions where you can bring your thorny ocean data issues. Pro tip for government employees: if there’s a metadata element for a license, it’s great to add CC0 or a public domain dedication there rather than assume it will be marked as a public “government work.” As more search portals allow you to filter by license type, a blank field means your data don’t show up.

Kate got to spend a week in Newcastle, England, talking fish, policy, and AI at the ICES Annual Science Conference. Conveniently, her paper with Ben Woodward on the need for cross-sector collaborations to accelerate fisheries AI came out just in time to be fodder for the discussion session. If you find yourself in Newcastle, she highly recommends Kiln and the brewery next door.