The Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG-MARE) has initiated a call for evidence to develop a European Oceans Pact, as outlined in the political guidelines for the upcoming European Commission (2024-2029). This initiative aims to unify ocean-related policies under a single reference framework, promoting a more cohesive approach to marine governance. The European Oceans Pact is designed to address policy fragmentation and enhance collaboration at all governance levels to achieve three main objectives: Ensuring a healthy and productive ocean, strengthening a competitive, resilient, and sustainable EU blue economy, enhancing and integrating the EU’s marine knowledge framework.
AMRIT, advocating for a future of Ocean Observing based on collaboration, integration and harmonisation, based on the unique excellence and capacity of all European Marine Research Infrastructures (MRIs), has answered this call for feedback, supporting the creation of the Ocean Pact.
The Need for Integration in Marine Research Infrastructures
Marine Research Infrastructures are essential to achieving the objectives of the European Ocean Pact, as they provide the observational data and scientific basis for the conservation and sustainable governance of the oceans, and for the blue economy. These infrastructures encompass a wide range of facilities, including oceanographic vessels, deep-sea observatories, data warehouses and high-performance computing centres, all of which play a crucial role in observing, understanding and predicting changes in the marine environment. Despite their scientific coherence, MRIs remain fragmented in terms of organization, services and access, affecting their ability to support the European Ocean Observing System (EOOS) and broader EU maritime policies.
Addressing Challenges Through Collaborative Action
Recent integration projects such as GEORGE, ANERIS, AMRIT, and TRICUSO are making strides towards better coordination and synergy among MRIs. However, achieving long-term operational viability requires structural mechanisms for increased collaboration both within Europe and at the global level which would also support the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and strengthen Europe’s role in international marine research.
To ensure MRIs effectively contribute to EU ocean policies, a long-term strategy must be established. This strategy should include:
- Integrated services for marine operations, including standardized metadata, best practices, training, and instrument calibration.
- Harmonized access to MRI services, ensuring equitable use of marine research resources.
- Sustainable funding mechanisms to cover operational costs of ocean observation in European waters and beyond.
- A framework for supporting industry-driven innovation within the marine sector.
The Path Forward
The European Ocean Pact represents an opportunity to align existing efforts and establish a robust marine research infrastructure network. AMRIT invites stakeholders to collectively submit feedback to DG-MARE’s call for evidence, reinforcing the role of MRIs in shaping future EU maritime policies. Ensuring a well-integrated and well-funded marine research infrastructure ecosystem is crucial for achieving the vision of a sustainable and productive European ocean governance framework.
By fostering collaboration and securing financial commitments, the EU can create a resilient system that not only advances marine science but also provides the necessary foundation for effective maritime policy implementation.
AMRIT is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe INFRA 2023-DEV-01 Programme under Grant Agreement No. 101132013. To keep up to date about the project, subscribe to AMRIT’s newsletter.