“Developing global consensus on how methods should interoperate and evolve into best practices is a major challenge on the path to realizing the Ocean Decade’s ambitions.” The Ocean Practices for the Decade Programme (OceanPractices) supports all ocean stakeholders in securing, equitably sharing, and collectively advancing your methodological heritage. By engaging diverse communities of practice, OceanPractices can transform how science and other stakeholders align their interests/capacities, creating and using practices to promote sustainable human and ocean well-being.
The Ocean Practices created a framework of high-level objectives to guide programme actions and define and monitor outcomes. These objectives are:
OceanPractices will be implemented through the following activities. Over the Decade, these Activities will be updated in response to changing needs.
The outcomes currently envisioned are:
Advocating for humane capture fisheries to support ocean and fisheries sustainability
Region: GlobalLead Institute: Aquatic Life InstituteSee more information on the decade website
Every year, 2-3 trillion individual aquatic animals are caught in the wild and killed for human consumption. Yet, animal welfare for aquatic animals lags far behind that of farmed land animals. Our Fisheries Welfare Project at Aquatic Life Institute aims to incorporate aquatic animal welfare considerations at legislative, corporate policy and industry standard levels. Commendable efforts are already being made to steer towards more humane capture fisheries. We work closely with policy-makers, seafood certifiers and businesses along the seafood supply chain to advocate for the widespread adoption of these progressive practices
Region: AustraliaLead Institute: NESP Marine and Coastal Hub See more information on the decade website
This project aims to advance the establishment and use of national practices to monitor the condition status of priority values and pressures of Australia’s marine estate. We will achieve this by building on a previous project to produce three new national standards for monitoring (drop cameras, socioeconomic surveys of marine users. marine microplastics). We will also develop a practical implementation plan to embed the application of standards, with particular attention to inclusive and diverse approaches (e.g., engagement of community groups and Indigenous partnerships). The plan will set out a future path to develop, maintain and make available national standards; increase their uptake; and assess effectiveness and impact as related to the delivery of priority marine monitoring activities. The resulting national framework will be of use to other countries and regions seeking to develop and maintain their own ocean best practices to ensure a sustainable marine estate.
Regions: the Mediterranean, the Western Indian Ocean and the Caribbean Sea Lead Institute: Eco-union - SpainSee more information on the decade website
This Blue Tourism Initiative promotes a holistic vision of maritime and coastal management in line with worldwide efforts to deliver the 2030 Agenda around marine regions. It supports exchanges of knowledge, good practices, projects and experiences between three major marine regions sharing similar environmental and social challenges related to coastal and maritime tourism: the Mediterranean, the Western Indian Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. This initiative aims to improve the governance of coastal and marine tourism to ensure sustainable, inclusive and resilient development, and address the associated environmental, health, socio-cultural and economic challenges.The Blue Tourism Initiative is co-led by the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) and the Spanish Think and Do Tank eco-union. The three partners responsible for the project’s activities in each region are: The Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Med) in the Mediterranean; Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO East Africa) in the Western Indian Ocean; and the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) in the Caribbean.The Initiative is co-funded by the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM), and implemented with the support of Our Blue Future (GIZ), and the UNEP Environmental Programme.
Coastal and Ocean Resilience Data Collaborative (CORD)
Region: Indian OceanLead Institute: CivicDataLab Pvt. Ltd.See more information on the decade website
Our proposed Coastal & Ocean Resilience Data Collaborative (CORD) will enhance resilience in South and Southeast Asia by tackling the ocean–climate nexus through data sharing, disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and blue financing. CORD will build an open digital public infrastructure that integrates fragmented datasets from agencies, regional bodies, and communities, enabling evidence-based planning and decisions. The platform will consolidate and standardise ocean, weather, socio-economic, infrastructure, finance, and citizen-reported data in an interoperable, user-friendly way, offering real-time insights on hazards, vulnerabilities, and exposure with a feedback loop. Co-created with fishing communities, seafarers, civil society, academia, and governments, it ensures inclusion of marginalised groups. Using responsible AI and analytics, it will deliver actionable insights, guide planning, safeguard health, and strengthen resilience.
Coral Vivo Project
Region: South America, Arraial d’Ajuda, Bahia, BrazilLead Institute: Instituto Coral VivoSee more information on the decade website
The Coral Vivo Institute is a Civil Society Organization of Public Interest (OSCIP) whose mission is to contribute to environmental conservation, with a focus on marine and coral reef ecosystems. It also promotes environmental education based on the core principles of Ocean Literacy. Founded in 2013 the Institute’s main initiative is the Coral Vivo Project - one of the largest and most significant marine conservation projects in Brazilian history. It operates a Research and Visitor Center in Arraial d’Ajuda, in southern Bahia, and has since refined its approach, contributing to the improvement of the conservation status of Brazilian coral reef ecosystems while promoting socio-environmental sustainability. The project adopts an ecosystem-based approach to conservation, focusing on the most biodiverse environments through an integrated strategy that includes research, education, public awareness, policy advocacy, and communication with society. Its primary goal is to generate specific knowledge to support environmental assessment and monitoring, particularly valuable for forecasting future scenarios.
Region: GlobalLead Institute: Ocean Legacy Foundation - CanadaSee more information on the decade website
The EPIC Academy presents an opportunity for students to acquire practical knowledge and a profound understanding of prevalent ocean plastic issues. Through a thoughtfully structured curriculum, participants not only explore available solutions and innovations but also gain insights to instigate positive change to mitigate plastic pollution. Demonstrating their achievements, each lesson concludes with a quiz, and upon successfully completing all ten lessons, participants receive a prestigious digital Certificate of Completion. This certificate serves not only as a recognition of their dedication and knowledge but also as a tangible symbol to inspire and motivate others to engage in the vital cause of ocean conservation. With an ambitious goal, the EPIC Academy aspires to educate one million individuals on its curriculum by the year 2027, contributing significantly to the dissemination of critical knowledge and fostering a global community committed to combating ocean plastic pollution. Project webiste: https://edu.oceanlegacy.ca/
Region: North Pacific Ocean; South Pacific Ocean; Western Pacific OceanLead Institute: AFOS Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development CooperationSee more information on the decade website
FISH Visayas initiative fosters sustainable and inclusive ocean governance in the Visayas by blending science, innovation, and local knowledge to enhance community resilience. The Project develops open-access data platforms, combines scientific and indigenous knowledge, and institutionalizes community-based monitoring. It strengthens governance thru multi-stakeholder councils like the Blue Economic Council, linking fisherfolk, LGUs, national agencies, and business partners. It pilots innovations such as early warning systems, digital monitoring, and smart aquaculture. It also enhances community resilience by rehabilitating mangroves, seagrass, and corals, integrating climate risk into local planning, and promoting sustainable livelihoods. The initiative builds capacity by empowering youth, women, and fisherfolk through training and South-South exchanges. It serves as a replicable model for small island resilience globally, contributing to UN Ocean Decade goals and multiple SDGs. Project website: https://afos-stiftung.de/en/fish-visayas-2-another-four-years-for-sustainable-fisheries-in-the-philippines/
Innovative solutions for plastic free EU rivers (INSPIRE)
Region: EuropeLead Institute: Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ)See more information on the decade website
INSPIRE brings different technlogies and solutions together focusing on the detection, collection and prevention of litter, plastics and macroplastics in rivers and on riverbanks: 1. Detection of the pollution characteristics, such as type and level of pollution present in terms of litter, macro-, meso- and microplastics, floating, in the water column and at the riverbanks.2. Collection of litter, macro and microplastics and macroplastics at the riverbank and in the river. The lifetime of litter present in the river is minimized, reducing the risk of further breakdown of items into fragments and further into microlitter and prevent them from being finally discharged to the seas and ocean.3. Prevention of litter, macro and microplastics to enter the river by collecting it from its waste stream before it can enter the river and by developing biodegradable alternatives for currently non-degradable polluting products, to avoid they will further be used and arrive in the river as litter.
Ocean Community: Engaging through the use of best practices
Region: Global Lead Institute: IFREMER See more information on the decade website
Global and regional perspectives of the ocean are essential in addressing climate and sustainability. To understand a global ocean. similar and interoperable methods are needed for in situ and remote sensing observations. data management. analyses as well as creation of products and services. To use similar methods in regions with different levels of infrastructure. methods must be adapted to local and regional capabilities. yet remain interoperable and transparent. The project addresses this challenge through active participation of experts. early career scientists. and indigenous knowledge holders in many global regions. This work will leverage the initial pilot in the OBPS Task Team 22:01 “Coastal observation for Under-Resourced Countries” and will be enriched by partners in LDC and SIDS. The efforts address all aspects of the ocean community incl. citizen science in support of broader ocean science. options for lower cost quality instrumentation will also be examined
Resilient Coasts in the Caribbean Sea (RCC)
Region: Caribbean SeaLead Institute: Stockholm Environment Institute See more information on the decade website
RCC strengthens resilience of ecosystems and communities across the Wider Caribbean through Living Labs that test, co-design, and scale Nature-based Solutions (NbS). In Montecristi (Dominican Republic), the project rehabilitates mangroves and coastal lagoons while developing scalable finance models; in Varadero (Colombia), it recovers coral reefs using emerging tech while empowering the Bocachica community with conservation-linked livelihoods. RCC integrates scientific monitoring, local knowledge, and innovative business strategies to demonstrate how NbS reduce climate risks, enhance blue carbon sinks, and support sustainable economies. By engaging governments, NGOs, communities, and the private sector across eight wider Caribbean countries, the project produces open-access data, replicable models, and regional capacity for upscaling. Linking rehabilitation, blue finance, and inclusive livelihoods, RCC delivers durable pathways for coastal resilience in the Wider Caribbean contexts. Project website: https://www.sei.org/projects/resilient-coasts-caribbean-sea/
Region: North Atlantic Ocean, North Pacific Ocean, Lead Institute: Ocean Legacy Foundation – CanadaSee more information on the decade website
The project aims to unite efforts in developing comprehensive solutions for the collection, processing, and responsible disposal of marine-retrieved-plastics. The creation of Ocean Plastic Depots serves to expand existing networks, enhance infrastructure, and provide training to coastal communities. Central to the project are collection programs designed to retrieve abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) from shorelines, oceans, and marine industrial areas. An industrial-scaled hub will be established for the collection, processing, and distribution of ALDFG materials in collaboration with coastal communities. This includes supporting community partners engaged in ghost gear retrieval and creating a sustainable methodology for long-term stewardship, involving transportation and recycling programs for financial sustainability
Region: the Red Sea, Lead Institute: EcoPeace Middle East – Israel, Jordan, PalestineSee more information on the decade website
The project takes place in the northern region of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aqaba-Eilat, where various pollutants, including plastic, pose a threat to this unique ecosystem. It aims to address this challenge by identifying and implementing best practices through community-based projects initiated by youth, young professionals, and teachers—who undergo national and regional training—while simultaneously enhancing regulation through advocacy and encouraging regional cooperation. The program focuses on fostering collaboration among participants, partners, and stakeholders in Eilat and Aqaba. Activities are guided by the latest environmental research, regional standards, and successful methodologies from similar initiatives worldwide.
Region: Caribbean Sea Lead Institute: Metabolic Foundation See more information on the decade website
Surfside Science is an initiative to co-develop and validate low cost and replicable methods for coastal environmental monitoring on SIDS, making use of remote sensing and low-cost electronics. The goal is to identify which methods can contribute to improving access to data collection systems on small islands, with all methods and findings documented and shared openly. The approach focuses initially on Surfside Bay in Aruba as a case study, and includes development and testing of field monitoring stations, protocols, and remote sensing tools that can be expanded across the island and replicated on other islands. The initial set of parameters to be tested includes to following areas of environmental monitoring: • Air Quality: Particulate matter, humidity and temperature • Water Quality: pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and electrical conductivity • Coastal Change: Vegetative cover, coastline, size of reef islands • Seafloor Mapping: Seafloor cover, including shallow reef and aquatic vegetation Instructions for every step of the process are written up and shared for others to replicate, including protocols for processing of underwater imagery, construction of monitoring stations, adaptation of scripts for satellite imagery analysis, building of localized databases, connecting to our data portal, and further validation.
Region: GlobalLead Institute: MMersive Technology, Inc. – United States of America (USA)See more information on the decade website
Our Decade programme fosters synergy with existing endorsed Decade programmes by leveraging shared research platforms, aligning with recognized best practices, and complementing ongoing capacity-building efforts. By integrating AI-driven insights and gamified advocacy tools, we accelerate innovation in ocean stewardship while uniting diverse stakeholders under a common vision. This cohesive approach ensures each programme’s strengths are amplified, creating deeper collaboration, greater data accessibility, and broader engagement—ultimately leading to a more impactful, inclusive, and agile Decade of transformative ocean action.
Coordinators: Dr Rebecca Zitoun, Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia decade@oceanbestpractices.org
