The event is a pivotal moment for global ocean prediction as the Ocean Decade prepares to enter the second half of its implementation
The landmark event in operational oceanography, taking place from 18-22 November at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, will contribute to the collective efforts of the Ocean Decade to translate science and knowledge into action.
On the road to the United Nations Ocean Conference 2025, it brings together leading ocean and atmospheric scientists, service providers, industry representatives, and users of ocean data.
Participants will explore cutting-edge developments, including AI and strategies to improve the local impact of ocean prediction, aiming to accelerate ocean prediction for societal benefits and strengthen international cooperation.
Driving innovation in ocean science for societal benefits
Taking place every five years, this year’s OceanPredict Symposium is organized by the OceanPredict/ForeSea community in collaboration with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC) at UNESCO headquarters. Under the theme ‘Advancing Ocean Prediction Science for Societal Benefits‘, the symposium aims to accelerate the evolution of oceanographic services and address growing user needs. This focus underscores the critical role of ocean prediction in achieving the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). As a main sponsor and contributor, Mercator Ocean International (MOi) plays a key role in this global effort.
Key focus areas of the symposium include:
- Enhancing coastal and polar area predictions
- Integrating new technologies like AI and machine learning in ocean forecasting
- Developing digital ocean twins for improved decision-making
- Addressing user applications and societal benefits of ocean prediction
The symposium will be kicked off by Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of UNESCO-IOC and Assistant Director-General of UNESCO, and Julian Barbière, Head of Section for Marine Policy and Regional Coordination at UNESCO-IOC and Global Coordinator of the Ocean Decade.
Mercator Ocean International’s transition to an Intergovernmental Organisation (IGO)
MOi will play a significant role in the symposium, highlighting its contributions to the OceanPredict/ForeSea community and ocean prediction science and commitment to fostering global cooperation.
Pierre Bahurel, Director General of MOi, stated, “Ocean prediction science has reached an unprecedented level of maturity, ready to support global decision-making regarding the ocean. This symposium will showcase how advancements in ocean science deliver real benefits to communities and strengthen our capacity for international efforts. Ocean prediction requires clear recognition, strong governance, and a well-defined framework for action — roles fulfilled by this symposium, Mercator Ocean’s transformation into an intergovernmental organisation, and the framework proposed by UNESCO-IOC exemplified by the Ocean Decade.”
On 19 and 20 November two private events will showcase MOi’s transition to Intergovernmental Organisation (IGO) status. During these sessions, Pierre Bahurel will present to multilateral UN organisations and the international ocean prediction community how MOi’s evolution into an international organisation dedicated to digital ocean systems and information services can benefit their efforts. These events will demonstrate MOi’s enhanced capabilities as an IGO, emphasizing the mutual advantages of global collaboration and its commitment to advancing ocean science and tools for sustainable marine resource management and ocean governance.
Special Exhibition: Our Ocean From Space
As part of the event, the travelling photo exhibition “Our Ocean from Space” will be displayed on UNESCO fences until 27 December 2024. Co-produced by UNESCO and the European Space Agency (ESA) and built in partnership with several national agencies, and endorsed as part of the Ocean Decade, the exhibition highlights the cutting-edge technology of Earth observation, revealing how satellite data helps monitor and protect marine ecosystems from above. Along with the Copernicus Marine Service for the photos, and EU4Oceanobs for the support, MOi scientists have contributed their expertise to this free exhibition.
Invitation for journalists to join and contacts
Journalists are cordially invited to attend the symposium online.
- OceanPredict’24 Symposium mini website – The event will be livestreamed and if you wish to attend, please contact us by email.
- One-on-one interviews can be organised with Pierre Bahurel, Director General of MOi, and Marie Drevillon, Head of Operations and Monitoring at MOi
- For more information, to obtain the press link for event registration, or to schedule an interview, please contact: press@mercator-ocean.fr
Contact: Gratianne Quade, Director of Communications, MOi, press@mercator-ocean.fr, +33 6 30 66 15 96
This press release was originally written by Mercator Ocean International, in partnership with UNESCO-IOC and the Ocean Decade.
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About Mercator Ocean International: Mercator Ocean International (MOi) is a non-profit organization (in the process of transforming into an intergovernmental organization) committed to building a science-based digital Ocean to support the conservation and sustainable use of the Ocean. MOi provides an operational digital description of marine environments worldwide and assists international organisations in implementing community and institutional programs, projects, and initiatives. MOi continually fosters interactions between scientists, policymakers, public and institutional decision-makers, and civil society. Led by Director General Pierre Bahurel, MOi is based in Toulouse and has over 100 employees.
About UNESCO-IOC: The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (UNESCO-IOC) promotes international cooperation in marine sciences to improve management of the ocean, coasts and marine resources. The IOC enables its 150 Member States to work together by coordinating programmes in capacity development, ocean observations and services, ocean science and tsunami warning. The work of the IOC contributes to the mission of UNESCO to promote the advancement of science and its applications to develop knowledge and capacity, key to economic and social progress, the basis of peace and sustainable development.
About the Ocean Decade: Proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) (‘the Ocean Decade’) seeks to stimulate ocean science and knowledge generation to reverse the decline of the state of the ocean system and catalyse new opportunities for sustainable development of this massive marine ecosystem. The vision of the Ocean Decade is ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’. The Ocean Decade provides a convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to develop the scientific knowledge and the partnerships needed to accelerate and harness advances in ocean science to achieve a better understanding of the ocean system and deliver science-based solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The UN General Assembly mandated UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to coordinate the preparations and implementation of the Decade.