Safeguarding the Health of Ocean Ecosystems
The IOC supports the UN regular process of reviewing the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects. Keeping the world’s ocean and seas under continuing review by integrating existing information from different disciplines will help to improve the responses from national governments and the international community to the unprecedented environmental changes now occurring.
Monitoring and observing the global oceans requires an international effort and broad cooperation. The IOC manages the Global Ocean Observing System to provide a coordinated approach to deployment of observation technologies, rapid and universal dissemination of data flows and delivery of marine information to inform and aid marine management and decision makers and to increase the appreciation of the general public of our changeable oceans. The Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) is an intergovernmental body of technical experts that provides a mechanism for international coordination of oceanographic and marine meteorological systems. JCOMM provides observing capabilities, data management, and services that combine the expertise, technology and capacity building capabilities of the meteorological and oceanographic communities.
Ecosystem Health and Ocean Observation programmes
- Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)
- Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM)
- International Ocean Data and Information Exchange (IODE)
- Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS)
- UN Regular Process and Assessment of Assessments (UN-Reg Process)
- Harmful Algal Bloom Programme (HAB programme)
- Global Oceanography and Ecology of Harmful Algal Blooms (GEOHAB)
- Integrated Coastal Research – nutrient management
- Nutrients and Coastal Impacts Research Programme (N-CIRP)