UNEP-WCMC launches Ocean+ Data, an online library of 183 ocean-related data resources to support informed decision-making for ocean conservation.

The ocean is home to more than half of all biodiversity, contains some of the most productive ecosystems and plays a vital role in regulating our climate. However, the marine environment is facing many pressures, from the impacts of climate change and overfishing, to the effects of pollution from microplastics and marine litter.

To mitigate against some of these pressures, up-to-date data are needed to support adaptive conservation and resource management. However, finding and accessing relevant datasets can be difficult. Ocean+ Data provides an overview of global marine and coastal data resources of biodiversity importance, as well as datasets of regional interest. It lists datasets, databases and data portals from a range of international scientific sources, and explains what these datasets show, how they can be used, their limitations and access details. Users can filter datasets by category, organisation and theme.

Ocean+ Data can be used to identify resources to support, among other things, marine spatial planning, environmental impact assessments, and education and ocean literacy. By improving understanding of the coastal and marine datasets that have been produced around the world, Ocean+ Data will facilitate long-term access to information that can support the transition to a healthy ocean and contribute to human wellbeing.

Created as part of the Ocean+ initiative, funded by the Proteus Partnership in collaboration with UNEP-WCMC, Ocean+ Data will be updated bi-annually, with suggestions and contributions welcome at any time.

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