Co-Creating a Blueprint for Integrated Ocean Science: Fostering Collaboration for a Sustainable Future

How can we integrate and collaborate across sectors and nations to better understand the ocean and its marine life? The EU-funded BioEcoOcean project is addressing this question through the co-creation of a Blueprint for Integrated Ocean Science. This Blueprint will serve as a guiding document to advance our approach to biological and ecosystem ocean observation, supporting scientific understanding, effective management, and a fit-for-purpose framework for ocean science. By posing complex, inclusive questions, the Blueprint encourages collaboration and holistic thinking across diverse environments and sectors. These questions are designed to foster more integrated, open, and collaborative ocean observing, ultimately enhancing our knowledge of marine ecosystems.

We invite participants worldwide who are interested in contributing to the co-creation of the Blueprint and who are involved in any aspect of the ocean observing value chain—whether in reviewing ocean data, planning and collecting observations, managing and reporting data, developing data synthesis and modeling products, or working in policy or management.

The Blueprint’s question-driven approach aims to stimulate collaboration, and enabling stakeholders to collectively address complex issues that impact ocean health. The Blueprint emphasizes the integration of environmental, social, cultural, and economic factors, aligning with the holistic understanding necessary for effective marine conservation. By promoting a transparent, inclusive co-creation process, BioEcoOcean ensures that diverse perspectives are incorporated, reflecting a strong commitment to inclusivity and stakeholder engagement.

In summary, the BioEcoOcean project, through the Blueprint, contributes to marine conservation by providing a collaborative framework that tackles key challenges and promotes sustainable practices in observing, managing, and using ocean ecosystems. The Blueprint is set for launch in autumn 2027 and will be endorsed and openly accessible via the Global Ocean Observing System.