The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), the EU-funded BioEcoOcean project, the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) and the Atlantic International Research Centre (AIR Centre) are organising a special webinar series focusing on the GOOS Biology and Ecosystems Essential Ocean Variables (BioEco EOVs) – the minimum set of variables needed to assess the state of the ocean and its biodiversity.
The second webinar, taking place on the 19th of September, will focus on the Seagrass Cover and Composition and Macroalgae Cover and Composition EOVs.
Seagrass meadows are biodiversity hotspots, natural coastal protectors, and powerful carbon sinks – yet they remain under-observed on a global scale. Recognised by the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) as an Essential Ocean Variable (EOV), Seagrass Cover and Composition provide vital insights into ocean health, ecosystem resilience, and climate mitigation. Standardised monitoring of this EOV, through in-water surveys and remote sensing, enables reliable, comparable data from local to global scales. Such observations not only track change in real time but also guide conservation strategies, inform policy, and strengthen sustainable coastal management.
This webinar will introduce the Seagrass EOV, highlight its scientific and societal importance, and showcase how coordinated monitoring efforts connect local action to global solutions. Macroalgal forests cover rocky reefs in temperate and cold waters worldwide. These habitats maintain diverse and productive coastal environments and sustain artisanal fisheries providing key services for human wellbeing. Macroalgal canopy cover and composition is the EOV designed to assess the status of macroalgal forests using standardized observing methods. This webinar will explain the EOV’s purpose, implementation through specification sheets, potential integration with current observing programs, and how new technologies like environmental DNA and AI imaging enhance monitoring of macroalgal forest biodiversity. The webinar will also highlight the importance of articulating clear hypotheses and appropriate sampling design to generate interpretable data from the EOV and to identify the key drivers of change.
Join GOOS to learn how standardized monitoring of these EOVs connects local conservation action to global ocean health solutions. The panel of experts will share cutting-edge approaches including remote sensing, environmental DNA, and AI imaging.
Photo by geoff trodd on Unsplash
