Ocean Best Practices Systems (OBPS)

EOOS Technology Forum
2024-03-13 | Oceanology International, Excel, London South Gallery Room SG5, London, United Kingdom
To increase the value and sustainability of ocean observing platforms and systems, observers have turned their attention toward technologies that can deliver data from greater coverage at effective cost. The European Ocean Observing System (EOOS) is the infrastructure, platforms, sensors and people that gather the required data and information about Europe’s ocean, seas and coastal waters.
The 2024 EOOS Technology Forum will bring together technology developers, manufacturers and users to exchange knowledge on platforms and sensors of all types, costs and levels of technical sophistication with the goal to enhance accessibility of ocean observations. Key technological issues such as ease of maintenance, evolution and adaptation, ease of deployment and sustainability, will be discussed. The event will identify and promote emerging synergies in the technology community to advance the optimisation of ocean observing worldwide.
The focus of this event will explore the technologies and systems transforming the ongoing operations of critical marine observing infrastructure and initiatives. The innovation and practical steps needed to expand capabilities in terms of value, return-on-investment and data provision while continuing to preserve functional cost-effectiveness and asset integrity will also be discussed.

UN Ocean Decade Conference 2024
2024-04-10 08:00 - 2024-04-12 17:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Barcelona International Convention Centre, Spain
The 2024 Ocean Decade Conference will be part of an entire Ocean Decade Week in Barcelona that will run from 8 to 12 April 2024. The official Conference will run for three days from 10 to 12 April at the Barcelona International Convention Centre. Hosted by Spain and co-organized with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO), this international event will bring together various actors, including governments, decision-makers, maritime sectors, philanthropy, academia, the private sector, and civil society.
Based on the 10 Ocean Decade Challenges, the Conference will be collaborative, inclusive, and interactive in nature to offer participants time and space for learning, networking, and building partnerships. It will provide a forum to discuss the results of the Ocean Decade Vision 2030 strategic ambition-setting process around the Decade Challenges, and its related set of white papers. These papers will identify future priorities for the Ocean Decade to generate the knowledge needed for science-based solutions to global challenges such as climate change, food security, biodiversity conservation, sustainable ocean economy, pollution, and natural hazards.
The Conference will be structured around three key moments:

The high-level opening session (10 April in the morning) will feature commitments and announcements by Heads of State, leaders of UN agencies, and representatives of industry and philanthropy, as well as a plenary discussion on foundational elements of success for the Ocean Decade.
The main part of the Conference will be articulated around four thematic sessions based on groupings of the Ocean Decade Challenges, with a mix of plenary and parallel sessions to present the results of the Vision 2030 process and showcase science solutions that are contributing to sustainable development.
The high-level closing session (12 April in the afternoon) will focus on resources and partnerships in the Ocean Decade as well as provide a platform for partner announcements. The closing segment will report the main outcomes of the Conference and a vision to 2030 for the Ocean Decade.

International Conference on Marine Data and Information Systems
2024-05-27 - 2024-05-29 | Bergen, Norway, Bergen, Norway
The IMDIS cycle of conferences has the aim of providing an overview of the existing information systems to serve different users in ocean science. It also shows the progresses on development of efficient: infrastructures for managing large and diverse data sets, standards, interoperable information systems, services and tools for education.
The Conference will present different systems for on-line access to data, meta-data and products, communication standards and adapted technology to ensure platforms interoperability. Sessions will focus on infrastructures, technologies and services for different users: environmental authorities, research, schools, universities, etc.
The next edition will be held in Bergen (Norway) from Monday 27 May to Wednesday 29 May 2024 and organized by IMR (Institute of Marine Research), jointly with SeaDataNet AISBL, IFREMER, MARIS, MEDIN, NOC, INGV, IOC/IODE, BlueCloud 2026 and iMAGINE projects. The conference will be held on 3 full days.

International Sea Level Workshop
2024-06-04 - 2024-06-06 | Brest France, Brest, France
The International Sea Level Workshop aims at discussing sea level changes (past, present and future) at global, regional and coastal scales. Studies considering all possible data sources (in situ observations, remote sensing, numerical simulations) are welcomed to contribute.
It will take place at Brest, France, from 4-6 June 2024. We plan to have an in-person meeting only.

International Underwater Glider Conference
2024-06-10 08:00 - 2024-06-14 17:00 | Gothenburg Sweden, Gothenburg, Sweden
The International Underwater Glider Conference is a five-day event where members of the underwater glider community can engage in dialogue, share experiences, and advance research and technology.

Australian and New Zealand Marine Science Conference
2024-09-15 - 2024-09-20 | Hobart Australia, Hobart, Australia
Please join us for the joint AMSA & NZMSS 2024 Conference, where marine scientists and managers from across Australia, New Zealand, and the Indo-Pacific will come together to advance our understanding of the region’s unique marine environment during a period of uncertainty.
The ‘Navigating Uncertainty for a Future Sustainable Ocean’ theme is aimed at bringing scientists and managers together to discuss the latest research that can guide society towards a future sustainable ocean. The next 12 months are predicted to be the warmest on record and with so many climate records being broken, there is significant uncertainty in what this means for the environment, economy, culture, and society. As a scientific community we can help managers, policy makers, and politicians by providing high quality science and advice on what needs to be done.
This is an international marine science forum that will welcome and provide a space to share traditional knowledge and western science. Together, this will provide a strong foundation for understanding marine ecosystems and inform marine management decisions. AMSA 2024 also aims to foster student and early career researcher participation, by providing a platform for professional development and networking in a supportive, inclusive space. AMSA and NZMSS meetings promote a culture of inclusion and bring together a diverse range of delegates working in all fields of marine science, conservation, and management.
The AMSA-NZMSS 2024 Conference will be held at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, in the heart of the Hobart waterfront area, close to many accommodation options, dining, breweries, gin distilleries, transport and plenty of entertainment options. Stay for an extra weekend and attend the Aboriginal led walking tour of Hobart, visit Mona, go mountain biking in Wellington Park, dive the Giant Kelp forests, visit either Bruny or Maria Islands, or take on one of the many great multi-day hikes!
We look forward to seeing you in Nipaluna, Hobart, Tasmania in 2024!

International Marine Conservation Congress
2024-10-13 08:00 - 2024-10-18 17:00 | Cape Town, South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa
At the International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC), scientists and practitioners come together to share research, tools, and lessons learned that further our understanding of marine science and policy. With over 800 delegates in attendance, IMCC is the single largest gathering of ocean conservationists in the world. The meeting brings together those from many walks of life, including but not limited to researchers, regulators, fishers, educators, artists, students and journalists.

Ocean Best Practices Workshop VIII
2024-10-14 08:00 - 2024-10-18 17:00 | Online
The objective of the eighth Ocean Best Practices System Workshop (OBPS WSVIII) is to facilitate the cross-cutting primary role of best practices in operational oceanography by promoting dialogues across science and technology. In the era of Digital Twins for the Ocean, the need of best practices is fundamental for a more interoperable and reliable use of ocean data, for the evolution of the worldwide observing network from the deep ocean to the coast and for dealing with complex forecasting systems. The ultimate goal for satisfying this need is to provide standards and tools for developing new solutions for marine conservation, for predictions and monitoring, for a sustainable ocean environment, and a sustainable Blue Economy.
The Workshop features two plenaries – the first one is devoted to the evolution of our Ocean knowledge and policy, and the second one addresses workshop recommendations and ​future perspectives. The workshop will be held online, including parallel sessions, keynotes and presentations, organised in two time zones. More information will be progressively shared through this webpage.

Ocean Predict Symposium
2024-11-18 08:00 - 2024-11-22 17:00 | Paris, France, Paris, France
It is planned as a four-day event (Monday to Thursday) an will drive forward the ForeSea effort of international coordination and community building of an ocean prediction capacity for the future.
The overarching theme of OceanPredict ’24 will be “Advancing ocean prediction science for societal benefits” to highlight the central role played by ocean prediction in the UN Ocean Decade goals. It will invite ocean and atmospheric scientists, observation specialists, industry representatives, service providers, governments, and users of ocean data & products from across the international operational oceanography community to engage in science sessions, exhibitions and discussions to explore and define the direction of operational oceanography.
The symposium will seek to

accelerate the evolution of operational oceanography as a key component of Earth System Modeling;
identify the growing and changing needs of users and how to enhance service delivery;
align the objectives with the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (UNDOS, 2021-2030).

Inernational Coastal Cities Conference
2025-02-26 - 2025-02-27 | China, Qingdao, China
First Ocean Decade International Coastal Cities Conference: Better Ocean, Better City
Hosted by the Qingdao Municipal People’s Government in collaboration with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO), the first Ocean Decade International Coastal Cities Conference will convene in Qingdao, China, in February 2025.
Building upon the momentum and outcomes of the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference, this conference will mark a pivotal moment in accelerating action for the newly launched “Cities with the Ocean” Platform and be a major step towards the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference and the planned pre-Conference special event on ‘Ocean Rise and Resilience’.
This two-day, in-person conference will gather 150-200 key stakeholders from coastal cities and territories globally to facilitate knowledge exchange, showcase best practices, and foster collaboration and partnerships to address the challenges and opportunities in generating and using ocean science for sustainable development.
The challenges confronting coastal communities are vast, but together we can build the collective action to make a difference and drive forward the sustainable future of our coastal cities!
REGISTER HERE.

IODC-III
2025-03-10 - 2025-03-11 | Colombia, Santa Marta
The Third International Oceanographic Data Conference (IODC-III) will be held at INVEMAR in Santa Marta, Colombia on 10-11 March, 2025, preceding the 28th Session of the IODE Committee.
The conference will be in a hybrid format, so both in-person and online presentations will be accepted.
Session Themes

You are kindly invited to submit abstracts contributing to the following four themes:

Ocean Biodiversity (and how we can collectively contribute to the needs of BBNJ and GBF)
Capacity development facilitating data, information, and knowledge exchange
Working towards a federated Global Ocean Data Ecosystem – ongoing initiatives, partnerships and ambitions towards the Ocean Decade Vision 2030 outcomes.
Application of ocean data for Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and SOPM

Details on these sessions and the workshop may be found at: https://oceandataconference.org/iodc-iii-programme/
The conference will be concluded with workshop on the Ocean Data and Information System (ODIS), aimed at NODCs and ADUs and other participants in IODC-III to familiarize themselves with ODIS.
Limited funds are avialable for speakers from developing countries with accepted papers. Please indicate if you require support when submitting your abstract.
The web page on guidelines for submission of abstracts, and to register for the conference will be opened soon. For further information please contact p.pissierssens@unesco.org
Deadline for abstract submissions is Friday, 24 January at midnight UTC.

Indo-Pacific Fish Conference
2025-06-09 - 2025-06-13 | Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan
The annual meeting of the Asian Society of Ichthyologists and the Indo-Pacific Fish Conference will return to their regular schedule post-COVID-19. The most recent meetings were successfully held at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang, Malaysia, on May 28-29, 2024, and at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, on November 20-24, 2023. We are pleased to inform you that the upcoming joint conference, combining these two prestigious ichthyological events, will take place in Taipei, Taiwan, from June 9-13, 2025.
On behalf of the organizing committee, we welcome ichthyologists from around the world who are interested in sharing research about the systematics and ecology of Asian and Indo-Pacific fishes, including topics such as evolution, biogeography, taxonomy, ecology, biology, sustainable fisheries, and conservation. We look forward to the opportunity for the ASI to meet with the IPFC and are especially happy to do so in Taipei. The conference will provide an excellent opportunity to share the latest research results, develop collaborations, and promote research.
Taipei is an extremely attractive destination for an international conference, boasting direct connections to major international airports, rich cultural and recreational opportunities, and a modern city full of friendly and welcoming citizens. Naruwan! Welcome to Taiwan!
Submit an abstract here.

Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) 2025
2025-07-13 - 2025-07-17 | Melbourne, Australia
The 59th annual AMSA conference, will be held from July 13-17, 2025, in Naarm, Melbourne, Victoria. Victoria is home to a long history of marine science, with Budj Bim National Park, a UNESCO word heritage area, having the oldest known aquaculture network in the world. Universities in Victoria also have a long history of harmony through collaboration with the Victorian Marine Science Consortium established in the late 1990’s provided state-of-the-art facilities for collaboration in a wide aspect of marine science including ecology, oceanography and biology. Victoria was the first state to establish a network of marine national parks, with Port Phillip Heads, Wilsons Promontory and Bunurong marine national parks all established in 2002 to protect a diverse range of habitats including sponge gardens, kelp forests, and seagrass meadows.

TechSurge: Fisheries and Benthic Monitoring
2025-10-08 - 2025-10-09 | University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, United States
MTS in partnership with Rhode Island Sea Grant and the University of Rhode Island (URI), and in collaboration with the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) and the Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC), invites you to save the date for the Fisheries & Benthic Monitoring TechSurge.
This focused, two-day TechSurge will convene experts from across sectors to explore advancements in monitoring technologies and practices that support responsible offshore development.
Program Highlights Include:

Advancements in benthic mapping technologies
The use of technology to transition from traditional survey methods, including highlights on new innovations
Monitoring technologies applicable to offshore development
A panel featuring perspectives from members of the fishing community

The TechSurge will feature a combination of curated panels, an open call for abstracts, and the Tech Café—an interactive exhibit hall showcasing innovative technologies through desktop demonstrations, along with lightning talks from both industry and student participants.

Living Data 2025
2025-10-21 - 2025-10-24 | Columbia, Bogotá, Colombia
This joint conference in Bogotá will bring together members of our biodiversity networks, alongside hundreds of scientists, researchers, practitioners and other experts from around the world.
Come share your knowledge and experience, help us transform our understanding of the state and trends of biodiversity, and learn how together our work contributes towards conserving the living world.
The conference will be conducted in Spanish and English only, but we are exploring options for interpretation services using new technologies to enhance the conference experience.
The conference will explore three main themes:

Building standards that promote data sharing and interoperability
Bringing together and providing access to diverse sources of information
Monitoring our progress toward conserving and restoring the planet’s biodiversity
