2017 was a milestone year for international cooperation in ocean research, observation, and services. At EuroGOOS we have been keeping our finger on the pulse of these developments. The UN Conference for the Sustainable Development Goal 14 on the Ocean, held in New York in June 2017, allowed stakeholders across the world to get together and share their voluntary commitments for better ocean management and a healthy planet. On this occasion and on the World Oceans Day, EuroGOOS reconfirmed its commitment to further the integration of the European ocean observing capacity, promote ocean services, open data sharing, and ocean literacy contributing to a more comprehensive and fit-for-purpose Global Ocean Observing System. Read about the EuroGOOS UN Ocean Conference Commitment.
At the international Our Ocean 2017 Conference in October, EuroGOOS showcased the European and global ocean observing and forecasting efforts at a dedicated stand and in the exhibition Ocean Talk. Furthermore, we launched our first children book on ocean literacy, The Ocean is My Home: For children, parents, and our ocean. We believe that communication and awareness raising are at the core of gaining policy and societal appreciation of the ocean’s role, and therefore a key to achieving sustainable blue economy and good environmental status. Read about the EuroGOOS Our Ocean 2017 presence.
The 8th EuroGOOS Conference in October demonstrated the advancements and stronger synergies in oceanographic services, technologies, and research across the European regions. Participants from 24 countries as well as international and European networks attended this successful event hosted by EuroGOOS Norwegian members, Institute of Marine Research and the Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre. The 2017 Kostas Nittis medal and grant were awarded to a talented young researcher, Robert King of the UK Met Office. Read about the main conference outcomes.
The development of the European Ocean Observing System, EOOS, took a leap forward with the open stakeholder consultation on the concept paper developed by the EOOS steering group, co-chaired by EuroGOOS and the European Marine Board. Stakeholders from a range of public and private organizations and networks demonstrated their overwhelming support to the concept of an integrated and sustained EOOS. Two major events will take place in the coming 2018. Find out all about EOOS on the website we launched at the end of 2016.
The EuroGOOS task teams on observing platforms have been active in consolidating the networks and promoting open data sharing while feeding into the European data aggregation initiatives. The Tide Gauge task team delivered a survey of the European Tide Gauge stations, bringing to the attention of policymakers some critical issues and funding gaps which may weaken pan-European marine data delivery. These and other results of the EuroGOOS task team successes were presented at the EuroGOOS exhibition showcase at the European Maritime Day.
European oceanographic efforts have been profiled by EuroGOOS on multiple occasions during 2017, consolidating and supporting the voice of the community, for example, at the Maritime Spatial Planning Conference co-organized by the European Commission DG MARE and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. Read about the main conference outcomes and the European showcase.
In 2017, EuroGOOS delivered several studies on the state of play of the European oceanographic coordination, data delivery, and service provision, and made recommendations towards a fit-for-purpose and sustained system. This year again, we wish to thank our partners across dozens of European networks, hundreds of organizations all over Europe, EuroGOOS Regional Operational Oceanographic Systems in all European seas, task teams, working groups, and global initiatives, for their fruitful engagement with EuroGOOS and our shared commitment to further the European leadership and capacity building in ocean observing, forecasting, technologies, and societal services.
