Big Data Platform for Smart Aquaculture
Step 8: Governance review
Before scaling, the governance framework established in the visioning and Data Management Plan phases must be reviewed and updated to reflect lessons learned from the pilot. The governance review should assess whether data-sharing arrangements, user roles and permissions, privacy safeguards, and accountability mechanisms are functioning as intended.
The outcome of this step is the establishment of formal data-sharing agreements — Memoranda of Understanding or equivalent — between all participating institutions. These agreements provide the legal and institutional foundation for full-scale operation. Other synergies to consider at this stage include expansion to other species such as ornamental fish, other production priorities such as climate-resilient and carbon-efficient production integrating solar panels, or traceability across value chains by including sustainability of feed inputs, animal welfare, and child-labour safeguards.
The complexities when dealing with sensitive and commercial data should not be underestimated; countries are rapidly adopting privacy and data security regulations that may necessitate a re-adjustment of Big Data Platform implementation plans after the start of a project. National dynamics can rapidly change the stakeholders position and regulatory frameworks need to deal with rapid changes in governance structures and adapt to new laws and regulations.
A flexible design where key stakeholders are actively engaged in the decision making process related to e.g. personal data, land-registries, tax-registrations, chambers of commerce, producers associations, biosecurity and health offices may all have very justified requirements that can change during the life-cycle of a big data platform.
Use the checklist below to verify that all key elements of this step have been addressed or refer to the overall checklist to ensure all recommended actions are planned or completed: