The Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) is pleased to announce the release of its Data Governance Guidance, a resource developed to help standardize how fisheries and ocean data are collected, shared, and used across offshore research along the U.S. Atlantic Coast.
As offshore development accelerates, so does the volume and diversity of data generated by monitoring programs, surveys, and fishing industry observations. Without shared standards, this information risks becoming fragmented, limiting its value to researchers, regulators, and fishing communities alike.
ROSA’s Data Governance Guidance offers a common framework to ensure data remains accessible, interoperable, and trustworthy, while respecting the rights of those who generate and steward it.
Built for researchers, funders, and offshore developers alike, the guidance walks through:
- Suggested timelines for Data Management & Sharing Plans (DMSPs), metadata, & data publication
- How to choose the right repository
- Guidance for handling sensitive or restricted data
- Minimum metadata standards & version control best practices
The guidance reflects extensive input from ROSA’s research partners, advisors, and is intended as a living resource that will evolve alongside the field.
The full document is available now on the new Data Governance page of the ROSA website, and we invite the offshore wind and fisheries science community to put it into practice.
We’re grateful to everyone who contributed to shaping this guidance, and we look forward to continuing this work together.