Public consultation: Draft proposal for the Arctic Ocean Regional Alliance (ArORA)

The Arctic Ocean Regional Alliance (ArORA) Task Team has launched a public consultation on its Draft Plan and Implementation Strategy, inviting input from the Arctic and wider ocean observing communities.

ArORA aims to establish an international coordination framework for sustained Arctic Ocean observations, responding to the rapid environmental changes affecting Arctic ecosystems, Indigenous and coastal communities, climate and weather hazards, maritime activities, and infrastructure. At present, Arctic ocean observations rely largely on short-term, nationally funded research projects, making long-term coordination and continuity difficult. ArORA seeks to address this by fostering pan-Arctic coordination and optimised use of observing infrastructure and expertise.

The need for such an alliance has been recognised by the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and the Sustained Arctic Observing Network (SAON). A team of experts from 15 countries has developed the draft ArORA proposal, which is now open for community review to ensure broad participation before finalisation in early 2026.

Scientists across marine disciplines, Indigenous rightsholders, stakeholders, and national institutions are encouraged to review the draft and provide feedback.

📄 Draft ArORA Proposal
📝 Feedback Form
📅 Deadline for feedback: 27 February 2026