"Combining physical, biogeochemical, and biological observations is essential to understand, monitor, and predict changes in the ocean," the organisations said.
Photo: Adobe Stock
The Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) and the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) are working together to make marine life data a stronger part of global ocean monitoring, the organisations have announced.
The partnership was highlighted during the conference Living Data 2025 in Colombia last month, where experts discussed how bringing together physical, chemical, and biological data can transform how we understand and protect the ocean.
The two organisations are part of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. GOOS focuses on building a global framework for collecting and sharing ocean observations, while OBIS manages the biodiversity data that shows how marine life is changing. Together, they aim to ensure that high-quality information about marine species and ecosystems can flow easily into global databases used by scientists, policymakers, and local communities. The joint effort also involves the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).
A key focus of the work is on “Biology and Ecosystem Essential Ocean Variables” (BioEco EOVs), standard measurements that help track the health of ocean life, including plankton, seabirds, fish, marine mammals, and habitat variables such as coral cover and composition, seagrass cover, and macroalgae. GOOS coordinates these global measurements, while OBIS provides the digital infrastructure that makes the data standardised, accessible, and comparable.
OBIS is also developing a new online tool, the GOOS BioEco Metadata Portal, which will show where and how biodiversity data is collected, who manages each programme, and where the results can be accessed.
"With their collaboration, OBIS and GOOS aim to strengthen the flow of marine biological and ecological observations into global data systems, providing crucial insights to a wide range of users, from decision-makers seeking science-based evidence to support their conservation action to coastal communities whose livelihoods depend on informed resource management," the organisations said.
