Marine Knowledge for Ocean Health

As our ocean faces increasing threats, the European Ocean Pact reminds us of our shared responsibility to protect these vital ecosystems. Understanding and addressing the challenges of ocean health requires an efficient ocean observation system, accurate marine data, tailored and science based digital applications.

This session will include two insightful panels. The first panel will address the topic of Ocean Observation (OO).  Ocean Observation activities are currently very fragmented and uncoordinated, resulting in inefficiencies, limited data and expertise sharing, duplication of work and loss of opportunities. We will discuss with experts from different fields and perspectives how a structured and transparent governance coordination framework for Ocean Observation would streamline the European Ocean Observing System. This is a paramount to contribute to the protection of the marine environment and therefore to achieve health ocean objectives through the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Nature Restoration Regulation and the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction. The second panel will focus on data and digital applications for Good Environmental Status.

Feeding from the reflections of the first panel we will discover how ocean data and applications supported by services and assets like EMODnet, the Copernicus Marine Service, WISE Marine and the European Digital Twin Ocean can support ocean health, paving the way for the restoration, protection and sustainable management of a healthy marine environment.