A clean ocean where sources of pollution are identified and removed.
A healthy and resilient ocean where marine ecosystems are mapped and protected.
A predicted ocean where society has the capacity to understand current and future ocean conditions.
A safe ocean where people are protected from ocean hazards.
A sustainably harvested and productive ocean ensuring the provision of food supply.
A transparent ocean with open access to data, information and technologies.
An inspiring and engaging ocean where society understands and values the ocean.AtlantOS
AtlantOS supports Atlantic basin scale implementation by identifying and fostering collaborative partnerships among user communities and ocean observing and data networks.
The Ocean Decade is a collective global initiative, with a transformative vision to harness ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’. It will inspire new design, delivery and use of ocean knowledge to enable lasting change to our shared ocean.
About the Ocean Decade
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A clean ocean where sources of pollution are identified and removed.![]()
A healthy and resilient ocean where marine ecosystems are mapped and protected.![]()
A predicted ocean where society has the capacity to understand current and future ocean conditions.![]()
A safe ocean where people are protected from ocean hazards.![]()
A sustainably harvested and productive ocean ensuring the provision of food supply.![]()
A transparent ocean with open access to data, information and technologies.![]()
An inspiring and engaging ocean where society understands and values the ocean.
Decade vision and outcomes
The Decade vision and outcomes will require the engagement of many different people to create ideas, solutions, partnerships and applications, these include: scientists, governments, academics, policy makers, business, industry and civil society.
“Our shared ocean is key to reversing our planetary crisis. Improved knowledge can help us find the relevant, sustainable solutions we need so that the ocean can fully support human health and wellbeing.
“The Ocean Decade provides a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to create a new foundation across the science-policy interface to strengthen the management of our oceans and coasts for the benefit of humanity.”
The NOC supports this vision by leading the UK delegation of the International Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC), as well as leading and collaborating on UN endorsed Action projects.
NOC and the Ocean Decade
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BORA Blue Ocean Research Alliance®
The BORA Blue Ocean Research Alliance® is an innovative partnership between NOC Innovations and Subsea7, which aims to deliver new marine research and accelerate technology developments on a global scale.
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FLAME
FLAME aims to establish a Global Coastal Ocean Model Intercomparison Programme (CO-MIP) that will provide climate change impacts and hazard assessments to the next and future IPCC reports.
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JETZON
JETZON is a UN Ocean Decade Programme, acting as an international coordinator and focal point for Twilight Zone studies.
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MPA Digital Twin
A Digital Twin of the Haig Fras Marine Protected Area (MPA) will be developed. At the heart of this project is the principle that the developments are made publicly accessible and reusable by design.
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Ocean Science in Action
Ocean Science in Action aims to build a unique collection of open access online educational and capacity development video resources dedicated to the innovative marine technologies and how they are used to tackle the challenges of sustainable management of marine ecosystems.
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Seabed 2030
The Global Center is based in the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC), part of the National Oceanography Centre, UK. It is responsible for collating gridded bathymetric data sets from the Regional Centers to feed into the GEBCO ocean map.
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SMARTEX
SMARTEX aims to better understand the ecosystem in the Pacific abyss and how the different components interact and interconnect.
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UK National Decade Committe
We are the United Kingdom’s National Decade Committee, established to support the UN’s Ocean Decade for Sustainable Development on a national and local level, as well as internationally.
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WoRMS
The National Oceanography Centre’s Dr Tammy Horton is Chair of the Steering Committee for WoRMS and leads the decision committee for the annual Top Ten Marine Species.
Sustainable Development Goals
The Ocean Decade is an initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in global partnership. They recognise that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.
Read about Sustainable Development – Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
International Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO
The UK Delegation to the IOC-UNESCO is provided by the National Oceanography Centre. The UK is one of the IOC’s 150-member states and is also a member of the IOC Executive Council.
We work with national stakeholders, the marine science community, policy makers and marine partners to guide the activities of the UK IOC Delegation. The Delegation participates in national committees such as the UK Marine Science Coordination Committee (MSCC) and the NOC Association of Marine Science National Capability Beneficiaries to ensure dissemination of information to the UK marine science community.
Visit the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC) to learn more
Living our Values
Aligned to our established corporate values and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we launched our first ever Sustainability and Social Responsibility (SSR) Strategy in 2021.
With a reputation as the UK’s leading charity for innovative ocean research and technology we are committed to conducting our business to the highest standards of honesty and integrity.
“As a charity we bear an extra responsibility to be sensitive to social, cultural and environmental aspects of their operations, with an emphasis on higher moral and ethical standards, beyond mere legal compliance. With this SSR Strategy we are making a considered and deliberate inclusion of employee, stakeholder and public interest into corporate decision making that goes beyond the statutory obligations to comply with legislation. It’s something we’re all very proud of.”
Read about the first Sustainability and Social Responsibility Strategy successes
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It’s time to turn the tide. Will you help our ocean thrive?
Knowledge is power. Without the knowledge, we lack the power to make change.
By deepening understanding and sharing knowledge of our ocean, we create opportunities for people to play a part in shaping a healthy future for it.
Will you be part of an Ocean Alliance, working to build a world where everyone feels empowered to make the change we need for a thriving ocean?