There is a growing recognition of the need to build a comprehensive, end-to-end European Ocean Observing System (EOOS) to coordinate the currently fragmented and complex ocean observing capacity across Europe. While efforts have been made in the past to overcome fragmentation, limited coordination, weak alignment and insufficient long-term sustainability, the launch of European Commission ocean monitoring and observation initiative OceanEye is a timely response to help addressing these long-standing structural challenges in European Ocean governance and Ocean observation. With its aim to make Europe leader in global ocean observation by 2035 and to launch an international alliance to support the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), OceanEye will enhance the EU governance to improve the way we collect, share and use ocean data in the EU.
Since 2014 EMB has been an active promoter for the development of a Framework for an European Ocean Observing System (EOOS) to align, integrate and promote Europe's Ocean observing capacity. This is in collaboration with EuroGOOS, EMODnet, Copernicus Marine Service (CMEMS), Marine Research Infrastructures, MBON, JPI Oceans, and many others.
Within this Framework, EMB has provided to European Union consultations (Marine Knowledge 2020, feedback to inception impact assessment on Ocean Observation, Ocean observation – sharing responsibility), engaged in direct interaction with policy makers (incl. DG MARE and RTD) and sent letters to the European Commissioners to highlight the importance of coordinated and sustainable European Ocean observation.
Additonally, through its pan-European network, the European Marine Board provides expert advice from the European marine scientific community in the areas of Ocean observation and Marine Research Infrastructures (MRIs) to inform marine research policy and strategic planning. EMB activities to date include publication of foresight papers (e.g. Position Papers, incl. its recent Navigating the Future VI publication, Future Science Briefs, Policy Briefs), policy statements (e.g. EurOCEAN Declarations, responses to EC consultations), and an active role in European Ocean observation projects (e.g. H2020 AtlantOS and Eurosea, and in the EMODnet Phase III). Core EMB activities related to EOOS includes the Working Groups on Strengthening Europe's biological ocean observing capability and on Sustaining in situ Ocean Observations in the Age of the Digital Ocean, and the new Working Group on "The marine research contribution to the European ocean observation landscape".
Contacts at European Marine Board Secretariat: Ángel E. Muñiz Piniella Email