Upcoming EU Horizon Europe project BioGeoSea supports IMDOS implementation

We are excited to share that coordination of global marine debris observations will receive another boost in resources thanks to an upcoming EU Horizon Europe project called BioGeoSea. Among other things, BioGeoSea intends to support the coordination of several IMDOS Task Teams, providing a vital contribution to the implementation of the IMDOS Strategy.  

BioGeoSea will be coordinated by Toste Tanhua (GEOMAR, Germany) - IMDOS Steering Committee member and former Co-Chair of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS).  The funding for BioGeoSea was announced in late 2024, with grant agreement negotiations currently ongoing with the European Commission.  

In BioGeoSea the overall goal is to enhance biogeochemical Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) for European and Global assessments. In that capacity, the project will continue to develop the Marine Plastics Debris EOV, building on the tremendous progress achieved during the EU EuroSea project, and ultimately submit the proposed EOV on behalf of the IMDOS community for acceptance to the GOOS Steering Committee.  

The dedicated BioGeoSea task on assessing marine debris pollution is managed by IMDOS SC member Artur Palacz (IOPAN, Poland). Apart from the EOV development, the task will support the coordination of several Technical Coordination Task Teams (TTs) of IMDOS in close collaboration with the EU4OceanObs project, focusing on: 

• Data Harmonization and Management TT to promote guidelines for harmonisation, standardisation, and quality control of marine debris data; 
• Design of Monitoring System TT to provide recommendations on the design and evolution of a global marine debris observing system; 
• Technical Innovations TT to review and assess the readiness level of technological advancements and innovations in marine debris observations; 
• Development of Indicators TT to give guidance and provide assessment of publicly available data products on selected marine plastics debris indicators which can be monitored globally. 

BioGeoSea is expected to kick off between June and September 2025 and will run for nearly 4 years.