About the IOC Ocean Best Practices System (OBPS)
The IOC Ocean Best Practices System (OBPS) was created to address a fundamental challenge: ensuring that ocean methods and practices developed by the global community are discoverable, accessible, reusable, and continuously improved.
The initiative originated in the mid-2010s, when members of the international ocean observing community recognized the need for a permanent repository where methodologies, standard operating procedures, manuals, technical specifications and other guidance documents could be preserved and shared. Building on the IODE Ocean Data Practices Repository, the initiative expanded its scope beyond ocean data management to encompass best practices across ocean observing.
In 2017, the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) joined forces with the AtlantOS, ODIP and Research Coordination Network (RCN) Best Practices Working Group to develop a sustainable global repository for ocean best practices. The repository was renamed Ocean Best Practices to reflect its broader mission of supporting all ocean-related disciplines and communities. From the outset, the vision extended beyond a document repository to create a collaborative system that would enable the development, dissemination, review and adoption of ocean best practices worldwide.
Recognizing this broader vision, the initiative evolved into the IOC Ocean Best Practices System (OBPS). In June 2019, the IOC Assembly formally established OBPS through Decision IOC-XXX/7.2.1 as a joint project of the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) and the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). The decision established both the IOC Ocean Best Practices System and its Steering Group, to increase efficiency, reproducibility and interoperability across the ocean observing value chain by providing coordinated and sustained global access to best practices.
As OBPS matured, its importance extended well beyond IODE and GOOS. Recognizing that best practices underpin all aspects of the IOC mandate, the 33rd IOC Assembly adopted Decision IOC-33/3.4.3 (2025), transitioning the IOC Ocean Best Practices System from a joint IODE-GOOS project to an IOC-wide system serving all IOC Programmes and Regional Sub-Commissions. The revised Terms of Reference reaffirmed OBPS as the IOC's coordinated mechanism for fostering innovation, increasing reproducibility and interoperability, and maintaining a trusted and accessible knowledge base of adopted methodologies and best practices relevant across the entire ocean value chain.
Today, the IOC Ocean Best Practices System is a collaborative ecosystem that combines:
A permanent, curated repository of ocean best practices;
Community engagement to promote the development and adoption of best practices;
Scientific publishing through dedicated Best Practices journal;
Capacity development and training in collaboration with the OceanTeacher Global Academy and partner organizations;
Technical innovation to improve discoverability, semantic interoperability and integration with the broader ocean digital ecosystem.
Together, these activities support the development, sharing and sustained adoption of best practices that strengthen ocean observations, research, data management, products and services worldwide.
Governance
The IOC Ocean Best Practices System is guided by an international Steering Group, which provides the strategic direction to ensure that OBPS continues to meet the evolving needs of the global ocean community.
The Steering Group is responsible for:
Developing the vision, strategy and biennial work plan for the IOC Ocean Best Practices System;
Advising on technical, operational and user-related aspects of the system;
Monitoring progress and reporting to the IOC Assembly and other relevant IOC bodies;
Providing guidance to the OBPS Manager on the implementation of activities;
Supporting the identification of extra-budgetary funding opportunities;
Advocating for the adoption and use of OBPS as the preferred IOC resource for adopted methodologies and best practices.
The Steering Group brings together representatives from IOC Programmes, Regional Sub-Commissions, partner organizations, invited experts from the ocean community, the IOC Secretariat, and the IODE IT Manager. It meets annually and is responsible for ensuring that OBPS continues to evolve as a collaborative, community-driven system that supports interoperability, innovation and excellence across ocean science and applications.