SAMS Highlights Value of Long-Term Marine Observations in New POGO Statement at UN Ocean Conference

SAMS Highlights Value of Long-Term Marine Observations in New POGO Statement at UN Ocean Conference

(IN BRIEF) SAMS is supporting a new declaration by the Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO) at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, warning that current global ocean monitoring systems are insufficient to meet pressing environmental and climate challenges. The POGO statement, “No Data, No Action,” calls for urgent, sustained investment in globally coordinated ocean observations, which are vital for meeting international targets like the Paris Agreement and SDG 14. SAMS Director Prof. Nick Owens highlighted the importance of long-term marine studies, noting their critical role in both international policy and regional marine protection efforts.

(PRESS RELEASE) OBAN, 9-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — SAMS (Scottish Association for Marine Science) is joining the international oceanographic community on World Ocean Day [8 June] in sounding the alarm that global ocean observation systems are falling critically short of what’s needed to address escalating threats to planetary health and deliver reliable climate forecasts.

Speaking as a member of the Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO)—a consortium of nearly 60 leading marine research organisations—SAMS is amplifying calls made during this week’s UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice for more sustainable, globally-coordinated ocean monitoring infrastructure. The call underlines the necessity of long-term, well-funded observation programmes to inform evidence-based policy and support urgent climate and biodiversity action.

The new POGO declaration, titled “No Data, No Action”, outlines the stakes: “Without sustained ocean monitoring we cannot predict the pace or scale of future warming, assess emissions reduction efforts, or determine the viability of carbon removal technologies. These data underpin the creation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) that protect ecosystems, economies, and communities from worsening climate threats.”

While welcoming the draft UNOC Declaration for recognising a broad spectrum of ocean pressures—ranging from climate change and biodiversity loss to acidification and pollution—the POGO statement stresses that these legal and policy frameworks are only effective when underpinned by robust scientific data. It warns that key areas, particularly marine biodiversity and pollution impact assessments, still suffer from inadequate data and limited understanding.

“Ocean observations are not optional,” the statement concludes. “They are the backbone of evidence-based action on climate, biodiversity, disaster resilience, and sustainable development. Investment is urgently needed so no part of the global ocean—or the communities that rely on it—is left behind.”

Professor Nick Owens, Director of SAMS and former Chair of POGO (2019–2023), lent his full support to the declaration: “As a long-standing member of POGO, SAMS endorses this urgent call at the UN Ocean Conference for sustained marine monitoring. Our own legacy of long-term coastal and North Atlantic observations allows us to understand the effectiveness of marine protected areas and the regional impacts of climate change. These long-term studies are fundamental to both international policy and local marine governance.”

The new POGO statement highlights that without a coordinated push to improve data collection, the global community risks falling short on multiple international commitments—from the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 to the Paris Agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the new BBNJ Agreement.

About us

The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) has been delivering independent marine science since 1884. Based in Oban, 150 staff are working for healthy and sustainably managed seas and oceans through world-class marine research, education and engagement with society.

Media Contact:

Euan Paterson
Communications and Media Officer
Euan.Paterson@sams.ac.uk
01631 559342 (direct dial)
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SOURCE: Scottish Association for Marine Science