Ocean Image Bank

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission

The Ocean We Need for the Future We Want

Ocean Science for Sustainable Development

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC/UNESCO) promotes international cooperation in marine sciences to improve management of the ocean, coasts and marine resources. The IOC enables its 150 Member States to work together by coordinating programmes in capacity development, ocean observations and services, ocean science, tsunami warning and ocean literacy. The work of the IOC contributes to the mission of UNESCO to promote the advancement of science and its applications to develop knowledge and capacity, key to economic and social progress, the basis of peace and sustainable development. The IOC is in charge of coordinating the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030, the “Ocean Decade”.

Our Expertise

For 60 years the IOC has worked behind the scenes to enable its Member States to work together to strengthen our knowledge and management of the ocean for the benefit of humanity.
ocean decade

Our Action in Numbers

150
Member States of the IOC/UNESCO
100%
of the seabed will be mapped by 2030

compared to 25% currently, through the General Bathymetric Chart of the Ocean (GEBCO)

156,789
marine species recorded

in the UNESCO Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS)

100,000
daily ocean observations

carried out by 84 countries under UNESCO's global coordination