OBIS vision, mission, and strategic objectives

Vision

A global data ecosystem for marine biodiversity that is comprehensive, integrated, inclusive and accessible, enabling sustained ecosystem services for a healthy ocean.

Mission

Lead the coordination of effective marine biodiversity data mobilisation and deliver integrated, standardized high-quality data, information products, and services to answer the needs of the global community.

Strategic objectives

Objective I: Build a sustainable global marine biodiversity data infrastructure

→ Establish a highly accessible, scientifically trusted, fully integrated, and interoperable global data infrastructure that aligns with the IOC data architecture.
→ Ensure adherence to international data standards and frameworks, respecting FAIR and CARE principles.
→ Support sustained data flows and delivery of the Biology and Ecosystems Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)
→ Secure long-term archiving of marine biodiversity data and information, enabling seamless worldwide exchange and accessibility.

Objective II: Support evidence-based ocean biodiversity policy

→ Support commitments to international biodiversity agreements by co-designing and aligning data, information products, and services with major policy frameworks (e.g., the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the BBNJ Agreement) and national, regional, and global assessments (e.g., UN World Ocean Assessment, IPBES, IOC StOR).

Objective III: Deliver operational biodiversity data services

→ Deliver operational biodiversity data, information products, and services, including decision support tools, for monitoring, managing, and protecting marine ecosystems, multi-hazard early warning and mitigation systems, and Sustainable Ocean Planning and Management (SOPM).

Objective IV: Empower communities through capacity development and collaboration

→ Ensure equitable capacity to collect, manage, publish, access, and use marine biodiversity data for all, through capacity development, innovation, and targeted community initiatives and strengthened collaboration.