- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia Australia
- Polish Academy of Sciences Poland
- University of Tasmania Australia
- Smithsonian Institution United States
- United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre United Kingdom
- Pacific Community
- California Institute of Technology United States
- Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres Germany
- Duke University United States
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement France
- University of Pisa Italy
- Universidade Lusófona do Porto Portugal
- Florida Southern College United States
- Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation, Oceans and Atmosphere Australia
- Secretariat of the Pacific Community New Caledonia
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Washington DC, USA United States
- University of Porto Portugal
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Greece
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology Japan
- INTERNATIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE IWMI Sri Lanka
- Jet Propulsion Lab United States
- ICETA INSTITUTO DE CIENCIAS, TECNOLOGIAS E AGROAMBIENTE DA UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO Portugal
- United Nations Environment Programme Kenya
- University of Alaska Fairbanks United States
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration United States
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Earth Science United States
- University of South Florida St. Petersburg United States
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) California Institute of Technology United States
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration United States
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel Germany
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Center for Deep Earth Exploration Japan
- Martin Luther Universitat Halle Wittenberg Germany
- California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory United States
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, NASA, Pasadena, CA United States
- International Water Management Institute Sri Lanka
- University of California System United States
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Institute for Marine-Earth Exploration and Engineering Japan
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute United States
- Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory United States
- United Nations United States
- Institute of Oceanology Poland
- US Geological Survey ER NRP, VA United States
- University of Maryland Center For Environmental Sciences United States
- German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research Germany
- University of Tasmania, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies Australia
- University of Auckland New Zealand
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg Germany
- Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement (IRD), France France
- German Center for Integration and Migration Research Germany
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center United States
Measurements of the status and trends of key indicators for the ocean and marine life are required to inform policy and management in the context of growing human uses of marine resources, coastal development, and climate change. Two synergistic efforts identify specific priority variables for monitoring: Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) through the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), and Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) from the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) (see Data Sheet 1 in Supplementary Materials for a glossary of acronyms). Both systems support reporting against internationally agreed conventions and treaties. GOOS, established under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), plays a leading role in coordinating global monitoring of the ocean and in the definition of EOVs. GEO BON is a global biodiversity observation network that coordinates observations to enhance management of the world’s biodiversity and promote both the awareness and accounting of ecosystem services. Convergence and agreement between these two efforts are required to streamline existing and new marine observation programs to advance scientific knowledge effectively and to support the sustainable use and management of ocean spaces and resources. In this context, the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON), a thematic component of GEO BON, is collaborating with GOOS, the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), and the Integrated Marine Biosphere Research (IMBeR) project to ensure that EBVs and EOVs are complementary, representing alternative uses of a common set of scientific measurements. This work is informed by the Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM), an intergovernmental body of technical experts that helps international coordination on best practices for observing, data management and services, combined with capacity development expertise. Characterizing biodiversity and understanding its drivers will require incorporation of observations fromtraditional andmolecular taxonomy, animal tagging and tracking efforts, ocean biogeochemistry, and ocean observatory initiatives including the deep ocean and seafloor. The partnership between large-scale ocean observing and product distribution initiatives (MBON, OBIS, JCOMM, and GOOS) is an expedited, effective way to support international policy-level assessments (e.g., the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services or IPBES), along with the implementation of international development goals (e.g., the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals). Refereed 14 Manual (incl. handbook, guide, cookbook etc) 2018-06-27