Advancing Ocean Observations: BioEcoOcean & GOOS BioEco Panel Joint Workshop

From February 4–6, 2025, the BioEcoOcean project and the GOOS Biology and Ecosystems Expert Panel (BioEco Panel) held a collaborative workshop in Sopot, Poland, hosted by the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The event brought together leading ocean scientists and researchers to advance the global coordination of biology and ecosystems Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs).

A central focus was the co-development of the BioEcoOcean Blueprint for Integrated Ocean Science, a question-based tool designed to improve collaboration, interoperability, and communication in ocean monitoring. Participants also explored progress across BioEcoOcean’s Focal Living Labs, which are testing grounds for refining EOV methodologies and fostering global data integration.

The workshop featured a dedicated data management session, highlighting the IOC Digital Ecosystem initiative and practical demonstrations on structuring and publishing data using OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) tools. Experts emphasized the importance of aligning with OBIS and ODIS (Ocean Data and Information System) standards to enhance data accessibility and usability. Tools from OceanInfoHub were also showcased to support innovative, user-friendly data solutions.

The event concluded with a clear roadmap, including refining EOV specification sheets, assessing Technical Readiness Levels, and scaling up training initiatives. The workshop reaffirmed the community's commitment to FAIR data principles and collaborative practices, positioning BioEcoOcean as a key driver in building a more integrated and impactful global ocean observing system.