Progress Through Co-Design: Looking Back at the Digital Ocean Forum 2025
On 27 and 28 November, the European Ocean community gathered in Brussels at the Digital Ocean Forum 2025 to mark the launch of the second phase in the development of the European Digital Twin Ocean, EDITO2 (2025-2028). Alongside European Commission representatives and co-development partners, Mercator Ocean participated in the many panel discussions and breakout sessions […]
The Copernicus Ocean State Report presented to Greenpact2025 in Poland
Muriel Lux represented Mercator Ocean International at the conference and highlighted its leadership in Digital Ocean Systems at the Greenpact Conference in Poznań, and presented its transition into a new Intergovernmental Organization. The organisation emphasised the strategic importance of strengthened cooperation with Poland to advance Europe’s digital ocean governance. A Changing Ocean and Europe’s Digital […]
New Study Finds Evidence of Ongoing Simultaneous Changes in the Global Ocean
A new international study, led by researchers from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (Chinese Academy of Sciences), Mercator Ocean International (MOi), and the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique at École Normale Supérieure (ENS-PSL), has demonstrated that large parts of the global Ocean are affected by simultaneous changes in multiple physical and chemical properties. The study, published […]
The Copernicus Ocean State Report Presented to European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee
On 11 November 2025, Pierre Bahurel, Director-General of Mercator Ocean International, addressed the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries (PECH), presenting the latest findings from the 9th Copernicus Ocean State Report. The session underscored the vital link between Mercator Ocean’s trusted stewardship of the Copernicus Marine Service and the future of European and global operational oceanography. […]
Global Ocean Indicators: Building a Common Language for Ocean Knowledge
A new global framework for Ocean indicators, led by Dr. Karina von Schuckmann from Mercator Ocean International and developed under the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) initiative, aims to translate Ocean science into actionable knowledge, supporting sustainable decision-making and policy. Figure 1. Diagram showing how Ocean science and operational services support informed decision-making and Ocean […]
Dr. Karina von Schuckmann receives Petersen Excellence Professorship for pioneering research on Ocean warming
Dr. Karina von Schuckmann, Mercator Ocean’s Senior Advisor for Ocean Science for Policy, has been awarded the Petersen Excellence Professorship for her research on Ocean warming, the Earth energy imbalance and its role in monitoring and understanding climate change. Dr. h.c. Klaus Wichmann and Dr. Christian Zöllner (Petersen Foundation), Frank Spiekermann, Administrative Director of GEOMAR […]
RISE Fr-UK 2025 event showcases Franco-British Scientific Cooperation with the NECCTON project
On 3 November, Stefano Ciavatta, Head of the Marine Ecosystems Service at Mercator Ocean International, participated in the RISE Fr-UK 2025 event (Research and Innovation Excellence in Science for Europe – France–UK), where he presented the New Copernicus Capability for Trophic Ocean Networks (NECCTON) project. The NECCTON initiative involves a consortium of 23 partners from […]
Mercator Ocean and INRH sign MoU to strengthen to advance Ocean knowledge in Morocco
Mercator Ocean International and the Institut National de Recherche Halieutique (INRH) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), providing a framework for collaboration and mutual understanding in oceanographic research and digital Ocean systems. The agreement was presented and endorsed by both institutions on 16 October 2025 in Rabat, during the technical workshop “Small Pelagic Fish […]
Ocean Prediction for Costa Rica: Cocos Islands Dashboard Launched
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 […]
Mercator Ocean announces OPERA as the Ocean component of the ArcX Programme
From 15 to 17 September, key stakeholders, policymakers, researchers, and innovators from across Africa and Europe gathered in Nairobi for the 2025 Africa Regional Centres of Excellence (ArcX) Programme Forum.This first annual event of the ArcX Programme served as a platform for dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and strategic coordination among the five programme components of biodiversity, water, […]
High Seas Treaty ratification marks a historic step for Ocean protection
19 September 2025 marked a historic milestone for global Ocean conservation. The Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), commonly known as the High Seas Treaty, officially reached the threshold of 60 ratifications during the United Nations High Level Week, triggering its entry into force on 17 January 2026. This landmark achievement […]
Copernicus Marine Ocean State Report 9: A Triple Planetary Crisis is Affecting the Ocean
As implementors of the Copernicus Marine Service, Mercator Ocean has unveiled the ninth edition of its flagship Ocean State Report. The report provides evidence that every part of the ocean is now affected by the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. It also offers a comprehensive scientific assessment of the ocean’s […]