The Global Ocean Observing System Biology and Ecosystems Panel of Experts met in Sopot, Poland

We were delighted to welcome scientists and ocean-observing experts from Asia, Australia, North and South America, and Europe to our partner, the Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences. This was the second BioEco Panel meeting organised in Sopot by the BioEcoOcean project in close collaboration with the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and the Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, bringing together experts from across the global ocean observing community to advance biological and ecosystem ocean observing. The event was co-organised and financially supported by the EU-Funded BioEcoOcean project.

The GOOS BioEco Panel coordinates the activities of existing observing networks within the global community working on biological and ecosystem ocean observations. The Panel also oversees implementation, updates and advancing biological and ecosystem-related Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs). Its work aims to advance our understanding of marine life and support the achievement of global goals for sustainable development and nature conservation.

During the meeting in Sopot, the Panel:

• developed a short-term implementation plan for the GOOS Biodiversity Strategy,
• improved alignment on minimum metadata standards between the IOC Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) and OceanOPS (WMO-IOC/UNESCO),
• discussed the role of the Panel in the GOOS endorsement process of ocean best practices (OBPS),
• strategised on improving awareness and use of the BioEco Essential Ocean Variables.

Later this year, GOOS will also release the updated BioEco Essential Ocean Variable Specification Sheets - bringing together the collective work of the whole GOOS BioEco community and the BioEcoOcean project.