The ocean plays a vital role in our daily lives. A healthy ocean is the foundation for all life on Earth and has deep economic and cultural ties to the lives of millions. Resource managers and policymakers require robust data to make informed decisions about marine life, ecosystems, and resources. The Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System (CeNCOOS) is a research collaboration housed at MBARI that provides the information and expertise needed to sustain ocean health.

This month, CeNCOOS published a new strategic and implementation plan for 2026–2036, reaffirming a commitment to delivering high-quality ocean and coastal data that supports decision-making about the future of the ocean across California and beyond.

The new plan reflects a collaborative effort, informed by input and feedback from CeNCOOS partner organizations across the region. It lays out five core strategies that strengthen how members of the CeNCOOS network observe, analyze, manage, and share ocean information and engage with the communities and partners who rely on it. 

From supporting safe navigation and shipping, to enhancing weather and ocean forecasts, to bolstering robust ocean resources for the state’s economy, CeNCOOS provides information that matters. The strategic and implementation plan ensures that CeNCOOS remains a trusted source of actionable ocean and coastal knowledge today and into the future.

Read the new CeNCOOS strategic and implementation plan.

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