Ocean observations are crucial for a healthy ocean and a thriving blue economy. The Ocean Decade aims to strengthen the Global Ocean Observing System by improving data collection, accessibility, and usability to inform decision-making for ocean management, science, business, and society. The key to success is to transform how we gather ocean data, teaming with experts beyond ocean science and technology, to find innovative social-political-economical and scientific-technological solutions.
Key recommendations are: (1) Improving observation capabilities globally, focusing on under-observed regions and developing nations expanding on programs that have revolutionized ocean observing; (2) Transforming data into user-friendly information using AI and integrating existing data sources including unlocking existing but unavailable data making them FAIR; (3) Developing cost-effective and automated observation technologies, promoting collaboration across sectors; (4) Establishing new funding mechanisms and economic models for sustainable ocean observation; (5) Fostering partnerships with stakeholders, including industry, to co-design solutions, resourcing and data sharing, (6) Improving operability and global coordination using the GOOS framework, encouraging best practices; and (7) Building a diverse and well-trained workforce across the ocean observing value chain composed of scientists, economists, social scientists, psychologists, and First Nations, co-developing and integrating these human assets with the blue economy.