Resources

TThe Basin-scale Events & Coastal Impacts (BECI) Science Plan outlines the goals, structure, and function of the North Pacific Ocean Knowledge Network, including guiding principles, priority use cases, and information on governance and partnerships.

The plan serves as a foundational blueprint for creating a basin-wide knowledge network designed to organize fragmented information, synthesize cross-regional knowledge into actionable products, and accelerate the path from information to climate-informed decision-making across the North Pacific.

An Implementation Plan is in progress and will be available April 2026.

This one-page outreach document introduces the Basin-Scale Events & Coastal Impacts Project (BECI), building the North Pacific Ocean Knowledge Network to address urgent climate-driven marine challenges. With marine heatwaves costing fisheries hundreds of millions and species shifting across borders faster than management can coordinate, BECI integrates scattered regional information to enable proactive responses.

The overview explains BECI’s hybrid approach combining federated discovery, strategic synthesis, and AI-enhanced interoperability across five core themes: Ocean Conditions, Fish Dynamics, Ecosystem Status, Human Dimensions, and Management & Conservation Approaches. Key tools include interactive maps, dynamic dashboards, searchable catalogues, and collaboration platforms supporting climate-informed decision-making.

Co-developed by PICES and NPAFC with UN Decade of Ocean Science endorsement, BECI represents an unprecedented collaborative effort to unite North Pacific nations in understanding and responding to shared ocean challenges through this transformative knowledge network.

This 5-page project overview introduces the Basin-scale Events to Coastal Impacts (BECI) initiative, presenting a compelling case for creating the first North Pacific Ocean Knowledge Network. The document explains how fragmented ocean research across six Pacific Rim nations hampers effective responses to climate-driven marine changes, from devastating marine heatwaves to rapidly shifting fish populations.

The overview highlights BECI’s solution: a collaborative framework that integrates diverse knowledge types—from satellite data to traditional ecological knowledge—across political boundaries. It outlines a three-phase development approach spanning data connection, enhanced integration, and advanced applications including AI-enhanced analysis.

Real-world applications showcase how BECI addresses urgent challenges:

• Preventing fisheries devastation from marine heatwaves through integrated impact analysis
• Coordinating responses to transboundary species shifts before communities are affected
• Developing climate-adaptive conservation planning tools for changing marine ecosystems

The document details practical knowledge products including interactive dashboards, planning frameworks, and evidence-based response toolkits. It emphasizes benefits for diverse partners—researchers, fisheries managers, conservation organizations, and Indigenous communities—while maintaining data sovereignty principles.

Co-developed by PICES and NPAFC, this initiative represents an unprecedented collaborative effort to unite North Pacific nations in understanding and responding to their shared ocean challenges. The overview concludes with partnership opportunities and contact information for organizations interested in contributing to this transformative ocean knowledge network.

This comprehensive strategy document provides a detailed roadmap for meaningful engagement between the Basin-scale Events to Coastal Impacts (BECI) project and coastal Indigenous communities throughout the North Pacific region. Prepared by Dr. Fiona Beaty, the strategy addresses the critical need for ethical, reciprocal collaboration that respects Indigenous data sovereignty and knowledge systems.

The document begins with a thorough positionality statement and executive summary, establishing the foundation for authentic engagement that avoids extractive research practices. It defines key concepts including Indigenous knowledge, data sovereignty, and meaningful engagement while providing essential context about BECI’s North Pacific Ocean Knowledge Network and its three programmatic pillars: understanding past climate events, connecting current research, and building knowledge for the future.

Core components include:

• Nine guiding principles for engagement emphasizing trust, reciprocity, respect, and Indigenous data sovereignty
• Detailed explanation of OCAP (Ownership, Control, Access, Possession), FAIR, and CARE principles for ethical data governance
• Three-phase engagement framework with specific considerations for initial contact, collaboration development, and partnership implementation
• Case studies of successful Indigenous-non-Indigenous collaborations, including the Clam Garden Network
• Practical implementation plans with specific engagement opportunities aligned to each programmatic pillar
• Sample survey instruments and engagement tools

The strategy emphasizes moving “”at the speed of trust,”” centering Indigenous self-determination, and ensuring that any collaboration provides genuine mutual benefits rather than extractive knowledge gathering. It includes extensive references to Indigenous-led protocols and frameworks, making it a valuable resource for any research organization seeking to engage ethically with Indigenous communities in marine science and climate research contexts.
This document serves as both an educational resource and practical guide for implementing respectful, meaningful partnerships that honor Indigenous rights while advancing shared climate adaptation and marine conservation goals.