The newly appointed members of the Expert Team on Operational Ocean Forecasting System (ETOOFS) met for the first time from 3-4 February 2020, Paris, France at UNESCO Headquarters to discuss the way forward in the creation of a Guide on Operational Ocean Monitoring and Forecasting Systems. 

ETOOFS Chairperson, Pierre Bahurel (Director of Mercator Océan) highlighted that operational ocean monitoring and forecasting is becoming increasingly important as the ocean is getting higher on the political agenda. It supports climate, operational maritime services, biodiversity and blue economy. There are a growing list of users relying on the products and services from operational ocean monitoring and forecasting systems. Ocean forecasting systems and products are used for maritime ship routing, coastal harbor planning and management, search and rescue, oil spill response and management, and other coastal disaster risk reduction activities.