Mercator Ocean International will take part in the European Maritime Day (EMD) 2026, the flagship annual event of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), taking place on 21–22 May in Limassol, Cyprus.

This year’s edition brings together European and international stakeholders from across the maritime and ocean community to discuss key priorities for sustainable blue economy development, ocean governance and marine knowledge systems.

Pierre Bahurel, Director General of Mercator Ocean International, will contribute as a speaker in the session “Strengthening Europe’s Role in the Global Ocean Observing System and the Importance of OceanEye”, scheduled for Friday 22 May from 10:15 to 11:15.

The session will focus on the strategic importance of ocean observation systems for Europe and globally, and on how initiatives such as OceanEye can support more coordinated, interoperable and impactful ocean data infrastructures. Discussions will highlight the role of sustained ocean monitoring in improving understanding of ocean change, supporting policy implementation and strengthening international cooperation.

Mercator Ocean International will also showcase its work at a dedicated European Digital Twin of the Ocean demonstration booth, featuring thematic applications and what-if scenarios that illustrate how digital technologies and modelling systems can support ocean prediction, services and decision-making.

Participation in European Maritime Day 2026 reflects Mercator Ocean International’s continued engagement in European ocean policy discussions and its commitment to advancing science-based tools and services for a more sustainable and better-informed ocean governance framework.

More information about the event is available on the European Maritime Day official website: European Maritime Day