Who we are
We are a non-profit organization transforming into an intergovernmental body, dedicated to providing digital Ocean systems and science-driven information services about the state of the Ocean.
Mercator Ocean International is a world leader in digital oceanography, advancing science, policy, and society through trusted ocean analysis, forecasting, and intelligence. Owned by 10 public research institutions and foundations, we unite top scientific and operational expertise from across Europe and beyond. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, and led by Director-General Pierre Bahurel, our team of 120 experts delivers operational digital descriptions of marine environments worldwide.
As a global ocean prediction centre, we operate under mandates from the European Union and the United Nations. For the EU, we run the Copernicus Marine Service and co-develop the European Digital Twin of the Ocean, while also contributing to international efforts. Through these efforts, we foster collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and civil society. In June 2025, twelve European countries endorsed the creation of the Mercator International Centre for the Ocean at the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), marking a major step towards our transformation into an intergovernmental organization.
30 years of excellence in operational oceanography
Shareholders
Our shareholders – renowned public institutions and foundations – provide strategic guidance and support to our mission.
- CMCC (Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, Italy)
- CNR (National Research Council, Italy)
- CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research, France)
- Ifremer (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea, France)
- IRD (French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, France)
- Meteo-France (French National Meteorological Service, France)
- Met Office (United Kingdom's National Meteorological Service )
- NERSC (Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre, Norway)
- Puertos Del Estado (Spanish State Ports Agency, Spain)
- SHOM (French Hydrography and Oceanography Service)
Intergovernmental Transformation
Crédits photo: ©OPS / Amélie Laurin
At the One Ocean Summit organised by France in Brest in February 2022, six European states (France, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and the UK) showed commitment to developing European oceanographic excellence by transforming Mercator Ocean into an intergovernmental body by 2025 through the “Brest Declaration”. It should be transformed as scientific deliverable of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) to be held in Nice in June 2025.
Key points from the Brest declaration :
- Ocean challenges require access to reliable and science-based knowledge
- Digital Ocean systems are crucial to international Ocean governance and regional and national Ocean strategies
- There is no international authoritative Ocean forecasting institution
- Six States have committed to engage in the constitution of an international institution dedicated to Digital Ocean System & Information Services.
- They declared wanting to transform Mercator Ocean International, the delegated entity of the European Commission for the Copernicus Marine Service.
- They have called other interested States to participate.
Empowering Ocean Governance
Mercator Ocean is dedicated to advancing the field of operational oceanography, developing high-powered cloud infrastructures, and catalysing global community cooperation and best practices, needed to create large systems for Ocean monitoring and prediction to serve the European and international communities. Mercator Ocean does this through the implementation of and participation in a variety of programmes and initiatives for the European Union, European Member States, and United Nations bodies.
Values and Commitments
At Mercator Ocean International, our core values guide our mission to advance Ocean science and promote sustainability. We are committed to providing a global public service for ocean monitoring and forecasting, ensuring that our work contributes meaningfully to the health of marine environments. Our values reflect our dedication to:
