Technical tools for regional seas management: the role of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)

The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) is a system of organization providing a framework for the ocean observing activities of the world and the organizations, programmes and projects that support them. GOOS is a tool designed to provide information required to meet the needs of a wide user community. It may be used to increase the effectiveness of the regional seas programme in meeting its targets, and to help regional fisheries bodies to implement an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management. GOOS will be implemented by national agencies operating individually or with others through regional agreements of various kinds. Several nations with common interests in particular seas have already combined their efforts into regional GOOS bodies. To a large extent these map onto the UNEP regional sea areas, to which they are complementary. GOOS implementation began in 1998, and efforts are underway to make it useful to UNEPʹs regional seas programme.