Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group
Unlocking privately-held ocean data for the benefit of science
What is the Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group?
To move from “the ocean we have to the ocean we want”, we need relevant, timely, reliable and accessible ocean data, information and knowledge – and private industry has a key role to play in this endeavour.
The Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group (CDG) was established jointly by Fugro and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission IOC of UNESCO (IOC/UNESCO) in its role as coordinator of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (the ‘Ocean Decade’).
The CDG comprises private sector companies representing a wide variety of marine industries, including fisheries, energy, telecommunications, and marine contractors. The Working Group is focused on creating frameworks and mechanisms to make privately owned ocean science data publicly available for the benefit of humanity.
How does it work?
The goal of the CDG is to establish strategies and best practices for private sector organisations to provide public access to their privately-owned ocean data. This work will help fill data gaps to boost our scientific understanding of the ocean and help develop sustainable solutions and policies to reverse the cycle of decline in the ocean’s health. It will also provide valuable new insights to private companies operating offshore and in coastal environments.
Why get involved?
Companies have much to gain from contributing data and resources to the Ocean Decade and actively supporting ocean stewardship.
By contributing to sustainable development, companies will:
Achieve greater visibility and reputation
as an ocean economy leader, attracting potential employees, investment, and financing.
Enhance operational efficiency and ESG performance
through improved insights, models, and forecasts resulting from collaborative data sharing.
Participate in high-level
networking events
to foster partnerships and uncover new business opportunities.
How to contribute?
- Participate in regular online calls, plus a couple of in-person meetings or events per year.
- Discuss and help implement strategies to provide public access to privately owned ocean data.
- Actively promote the Ocean Decade within members’ industries and professional associations.
How to get involved?
We are looking for additional members! Email us for more information on how to get involved.
Contact: Louis Demargne, Ocean Decade Data and Knowledge Management Officer, IOC/UNESCO (l.demargne@unesco.org)
Institutional members
Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group launch event
Watch the launch event of the Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group at the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference (11 April, Barcelona, Spain)
Resources and Publications
Click here to read the brochure “Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group: Why participate?”
Ocean Decade Data & Information Strategy
The vision of the Data and Information Strategy is to establish a trusted, inclusive, and interconnected ocean data and information system that is actively used for decision-making to support sustainable [...]
Ocean Decade Data & Information Strategy – Executive Summary (Multilingual)
The vision of the Data and Information Strategy is to establish a trusted, inclusive, and interconnected ocean data and information system that is actively used for decision-making to support sustainable [...]
Latest news
Fugro and IOC/UNESCO launch working group to unlock private-sector ocean data
The Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group—co-chaired by Fugro and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (IOC/UNESCO)—was officially launched last week during an online [...]
Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) is the first private company to join the Ocean Decade’s Corporate Data Group
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) announced that Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), a private-sector company specialising in the manufacture and installation of trans-oceanic telecommunications cables, has joined the Corporate [...]
How Industrial Ocean Data can fill Scientific Data Gaps
Private companies and vendors operating in the ocean space collect a lot of oceanographic and meteorological data. Only a few companies realise, how important this existing data is to fill [...]