The Ocean Prediction for Costa Rica (OP4CR) project, kicked-off in January by Mercator Ocean International and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), has reached its first major milestone. A digital dashboard to help monitor and manage the marine environment around Cocos Island National Park, first unveiled at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC).
The marine monitoring dashboard will help Costa Rica track Ocean conditions, inform decision-makers and support the monitoring efforts.
“The successful completion of this first phase is a clear demonstration of the value of collaboration between Mercator Ocean International and SINAC Costa Rica, with support from the European Union. This project is a milestone in advancing sustainable management of marine resources, with a special focus on the remarkable protected area of Cocos Island. The EU remains committed to accelerating global action to conserve and sustainably use the ocean, recognizing that a safe, clean, protected, and sustainably managed ocean is vital for both environmental and economic resilience”, said Sylvanie Jardinet, Senior Development Cooperation Officer at the DG INTPA.
Mercator Ocean’s collaboration with Costa Rica is one of two major EU-funded international Ocean prediction projects this year. As hosts of the OceanPrediction Decade Collaborative Centre (DCC), Mercator Ocean works to improve Ocean prediction systems worldwide.
Phase One Complete
OP4CR’s first phase, which ran from January to June 2025, focused on the development of a digital dashboard designed specifically for the needs of Cocos Island National Park. This effort was carried out in close collaboration with experts from the Cocos Marine Conservation Area (ACMC), ensuring that the tool was co-designed with local practitioners and tailored to the unique requirements of the Marine Protected Area.
The dashboard, which was officially presented at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) at the EU Digital Ocean Pavilion, is now fully operational and ready to be set to work.
“With the completion of this first phase, and thanks to the collaboration with Mercator Ocean International, the European Union, and our national institutions, we now have tools that integrate ocean variables to help predict the behaviour of key species. This will allow us to make more accurate decisions for management and protection, while also strengthening the training and capacity of our staff to fully harness these technologies”, said David Chavarria, Director of Costa Rica’s National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC).
Cocos Island National Park Dashboard
The Marine Monitoring Dashboard has three integrated control panels by theme: primary production, waves and currents, and pelagic species. The dashboard is user-friendly, has an interactive data exploration and is fully available in Spanish (both the interface and content).
The dashboard can be customised to follow real-time alerts for informed decision-making, can analyse trends, compare variables and track changes, can access forecasts up to ten days in advance, and can present an overlay of layers to include the Exclusive Economic Zone and Marine Protected Areas.
“The completion of this first phase is a strategic milestone for us, as it shows how the effort, knowledge, and tools provided by Mercator Ocean International and the OceanPrediction DCC can be applied in practice. OP4CR is an essential step in strengthening Costa Rica’s Ocean prediction capacity and connecting it to global networks”, said Enrique Alvarez, Technical Director of the OceanPrediction Decade Collaborative Centre.
Next steps
With the successful completion of phase one, the project now moves into its second phase, which will run until December 2026. The next stage will focus on delivering a comprehensive report that provides an in-depth diagnosis and an action plan for developing a Costa Rican Ocean- Prediction Service Centre (OPSC).
This phase will integrate direct input for key stakeholders, collected through a series of workshops. It will also provide online training for national technical staff and scientists, strengthening their ocean prediction knowledge.
The next phase will be both strategic and operational, combining diagnostic analysis, stakeholder engagement, and capacity development to establish institutional and technical foundations for long-term ocean prediction capabilities.
With funding from the EU, and under the framework of OceanPrediction DCC, Mercator is currently implementing two major projects in Central America and Africa:
- The Ocean Prediction for Costa Rica (OP4CR) project, kicked off in March 2025 to provide tailored prediction services for Costa Rica and Cocos Island National Park, with solutions showcased at UNOC-3.
- The Ocean Prediction Enhancement in Regions of Africa (OPERA) project, launched in January 2025, strengthening regional cooperation and forecasting for sustainable resource management.