Who we are
We are a non-profit organization transforming into an intergovernmental body, dedicated to providing digital Ocean systems and science-driven information services about the state of the Ocean.
At Mercator Ocean International, we are dedicated to building a science-based Digital Ocean that empowers communities and drives sustainable Ocean management. We deliver operational digital descriptions of marine environments covering the global Ocean and assist organisations in implementing community and institutional programmes, projects, and initiatives. Our expert tools and services support decision-making for major Ocean-related environmental, climate, and societal challenges facing our planet. Mercator Ocean continuously fosters interactions among scientists, policymakers, the public, civil society, and institutional decision-makers. Mercator Ocean is currently in the process of transforming into an intergovernmental organization, as announced during the One Ocean Summit in February 2022.
30 years of excellence in operational oceanography
Shareholders
Led by Director-General Pierre Bahurel, Mercator Ocean is based in Toulouse, France, and employs over 100 staff members.
- CNR (National Research Council, Italy)
- CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research)
- CMCC (Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change)
- IRD (French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development)
- Ifremer (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea)
- Met Office (UK Meteorological Office)
- Meteo-France (French meteorological administration)
- NERSC (Norwegian Environmental Institute)
- Puertos Del Estado (Spain)
- SHOM (Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service)
Intergovernmental Transformation
Crédits photo: ©OPS / Amélie Laurin
At the One Ocean Summit organised by France in Brest in February 2022, six European states (France, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and the UK) showed commitment to developing European oceanographic excellence by transforming Mercator Ocean into an intergovernmental body by 2025 through the “Brest Declaration”. It should be transformed as scientific deliverable of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) to be held in Nice in June 2025.
Key points from the Brest declaration :
- Ocean challenges require access to reliable and science-based knowledge
- Digital Ocean systems are crucial to international Ocean governance and regional and national Ocean strategies
- There is no international authoritative Ocean forecasting institution
- Six States have committed to engage in the constitution of an international institution dedicated to Digital Ocean System & Information Services.
- They declared wanting to transform Mercator Ocean International, the delegated entity of the European Commission for the Copernicus Marine Service.
- They have called other interested States to participate.
Empowering Ocean Governance
Mercator Ocean is dedicated to advancing the field of operational oceanography, developing high-powered cloud infrastructures, and catalysing global community cooperation and best practices, needed to create large systems for Ocean monitoring and prediction to serve the European and international communities. Mercator Ocean does this through the implementation of and participation in a variety of programmes and initiatives for the European Union, European Member States, and United Nations bodies.
Values and Commitments
At Mercator Ocean International, our core values guide our mission to advance Ocean science and promote sustainability. We are committed to providing a global public service for ocean monitoring and forecasting, ensuring that our work contributes meaningfully to the health of marine environments. Our values reflect our dedication to:
