Submission to the European Commission Call for Evidence to evaluate the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive
In the response, we highlight the urgent need for greater investment in ocean research, noting that marine science remains underfunded despite its critical role in addressing global challenges. The submission emphasises the importance of long-term Ocean Time Series data to monitor environmental change, assess ecosystem resilience, and inform effective policy, while warning that short funding cycles undermine the sustainability of these essential observations.
To strengthen the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the submission calls for coordinated European ocean observatories, standardised data collection methods, and improved access to marine data. It also advocates for elevating key monitoring sites to research infrastructure status and increasing visibility of European efforts, with a strong contribution from microbial oceanography to better understand and protect ocean ecosystems.
Read the full submission below:
