To mark the tenth edition of the Copernicus Ocean State Report, Mercator Ocean International publishes a ten-year retrospective looking back on a decade of ocean change, scientific progress and international cooperation, and on what this knowledge now means for society and decision-making.
A decade of ocean change, documented
Over ten editions, the Copernicus Ocean State Report has become a key reference on the state of the global ocean. It has brought together more than 600 scientists from over 250 organisations across 37 countries.
The indicators tracked across these editions show the scale and systemic nature of the changes under way. Sea levels are rising, sea ice is declining, and marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent and more intense.
From more data to trusted intelligence
The retrospective also traces how ocean knowledge itself has changed. Digital technologies have transformed how ocean information is produced and used, generating unprecedented volumes of increasingly complex data.
At the same time, environmental, economic and geopolitical challenges have become more closely interconnected. Reliable, science-based ocean intelligence is now a strategic necessity. It helps States anticipate change and make informed decisions on the sustainable management of ocean resources, disaster risk reduction and maritime security.
“The question is no longer simply whether ocean information is available, but how we safeguard its quality and reliability ?
Pierre Bahurel, Director General, Mercator Ocean International
Looking ahead
The next challenge is to sustain and strengthen the capabilities behind this knowledge.
The Copernicus Programme has shown the lasting value of making trusted ocean information openly available to all. OceanEye now carries this ambition forward, connecting observations, data and digital capabilities to better understand, anticipate and respond to ocean change.
The transition of Mercator Ocean International towards an intergovernmental organisation serves the same goal: a long-term framework through which States can collectively develop, sustain and govern trusted digital ocean intelligence.
Explore the retrospective