The UN Ocean Decade reaches halfway mark

The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021 to 2030 reached its mid-point at the end of last year. To mark this, Niru Dorrian, our ambassador to the UN Ocean Decade, reflects on what has been achieved so far, as well as sharing how the Institute is helping the Ocean Decade to reach its goals.

At its halfway point, the Ocean Decade has achieved significant scale and reach as it goes about its mission to enable transformative ocean science solutions for sustainable development, connecting people and our ocean. In mid-2025, there were more than 700 endorsed Ocean Decade Actions across 78 countries, delivered through a growing network of programmes, projects, and contributions. Together, these actions generated over 10,000 knowledge products and informed international and national ocean policy processes.

The second half of the year was marked by strong momentum across the Ocean Decade, with expanded engagement, strengthened partnerships, and an increasing emphasis on translating ocean science into practical action.

The IMarEST: an Implementing Partner of the UN Ocean Decade

A key milestone for the IMarEST in 2025 was its formal recognition as an Implementing Partner of the UN Ocean Decade.

As a Decade Implementing Partner, the IMarEST joins a global network of leading organisations collaborating to deliver the ten Decade Challenges. By mobilising its global network of marine professionals, the Institute will primarily help meet Challenge 2 on protecting ecosystems and biodiversity; Challenge 5 on developing a sustainable, resilient and equitable ocean economy; as well as Challenge 9 on ensuring skills, knowledge, technology and participation for all.

The IMarEST is perfectly placed to help achieve the outcomes of the UN Ocean Decade, led by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, as it has long been a trusted technical voice in the marine world, using its international influence to drive a safe and sustainable future for the industry. And with international members spanning sectors such as shipping, conservation, oceanography, and manufacturing, it is also in a unique position to promote knowledge-sharing and collaboration across marine disciplines.

This formal recognition builds on IMarEST’s longstanding relationship with the UN Ocean Decade, with many of its initiatives already endorsed for their contribution to science-based solutions for a healthy and sustainable ocean.

Endorsed events and activities

Throughout 2025, IMarEST continued to expand its contribution to the Ocean Decade. By the end of the year, the Institute had 18 endorsed Actions. Collectively, these Actions illustrated the practical value of professional expertise in advancing Ocean Decade priorities.

Over the past six months, the IMarEST has been busy delivering and supporting UN Ocean Decade endorsed actions including:

Delivering a webinar entitled ‘Unlocking Ocean Secrets: Marine Mammal Monitoring Through eDNA’, which explored how environmental DNA could complement acoustic and visual survey methods and support conservation, impact assessment, and biodiversity monitoring.
Hosting ' Real Talk: Early Careers in Marine Mammal Science’, which offered those at the start of their careers practical insight for the future.
Securing endorsement for the IMarEST’s new [M2M mentoring] programme. Launched as a new member benefit, the programme was designed to promote skills sharing, inclusive participation, and career development. The Sea Your Future group held a ‘Mentoring and You’ webinar to showcase the platform, share member experiences, and highlight the role of mentoring in supporting Ocean Decade.
Publishing the IMarEST and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' report ‘Marine Mammal Monitoring: Methods, Technologies, and Opportunities’. This endorsed project examined emerging innovations in marine mammal monitoring and their application in policy and practice, strengthening evidence-based decision making.
The IMarEST also supported an endorsed capacity building programme delivered with BGP Oceans for World Ocean Week Suriname. The programme focused on ocean literacy, professional development, and inclusive participation.
The Ocean Decade endorsed ESB Marine Mammal Observer Training Programme entered its third year of delivery in 2025. The programme has trained 16 graduates to date, with many progressing into work as offshore marine mammal observers and ecological consultants.
Hosting the Oceans of Knowledge conference at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton. The event focused on the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in operational oceanography, exploring scientific, operational, and ethical considerations.
In my role as IMarEST Ambassador to the UN Ocean Decade, I also organised the endorsed Marine Science and Industry Future Pathways Seminar at Edinburgh Napier University. The seminar was attended by 64 students and introduced them to career opportunities across marine science, conservation, and offshore industries.
Presenting at the British Ecological Society Annual Meeting in Edinburgh to around 1,700 delegates provided an opportunity to promote the IMarEST’s work with the Ocean Decade.

Looking ahead

As the Ocean Decade moved into its second five years, attention increasingly turned towards delivery, integration, and long-term impact. For the IMarEST, this phase offers an opportunity to deepen partnerships, support inclusive participation, and ensure science continues to inform ocean policy and practice.

It also serves as a call to action for the IMarEST membership, branches, and Special Interest Groups (SIGs). I encourage all members to engage more actively with the Ocean Decade by developing endorsed activities, sharing technical expertise, hosting events, supporting capacity building, and collaborating across disciplines and regions. We can play a vital role in delivering the science and skills needed for a sustainable ocean.

The progress of the past six months has shown the value of collaboration and shared purpose. While challenges remain, strong foundations are now in place for the IMarEST and its members to continue contributing meaningfully to a healthier and more resilient ocean throughout the rest of the decade.