Enhanced monitoring of life in the sea is a critical component of conservation management and sustainable economic growth

Abstract

Marine biodiversity is a fundamental characteristic of our planet that depends on and influences climate, water quality, and many ocean state variables. It is also at the core of ecosystem services that can make or break economic development in any region. Our purpose is to highlight the need for marine biological observations to inform science and conservation management and to support the blue economy. We provide ten recommendations, applicable now, to measure and forecast biological Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) as part of economic monitoring efforts. The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) provides a timely opportunity to implement these recommendations to benefit humanity and enable the USD 3 trillion global ocean economy expected by 2030. • Diversity of life is a fundamental characteristic of our planet, from its genes and cells to organisms and populations. • A growing human population will be even more dependent on marine organisms by 2030 and beyond. • More biological data is needed in global observing systems to monitor and manage marine life and associated biodiversity. • Best practices are fundamental to consistent monitoring from place to place and accurate change detection over time. • The Ocean Decade offers an opportunity to advance human capacity in developed/ underdeveloped regions to conserve marine life.