Study on costs, benefits and nature of an extended European Ocean Observing System

The objective of this study was to provide evidence to help guide the options for the establishment of a European Ocean Observation System (EOOS) by looking at the potential costs and benefits. Rather than being exhaustive in its identification of relevant material, this study identifies the most critical sources of information in order to provide an evaluation of the costs and benefits of an integrated EOOS. To focus the study four tasks were specified:

1. Estimate the spending of EU Member States on ocean observation;
2. Summarise the cost and organisation of ocean observation strategies in the US, China, Japan and Australia;
3. Review and summarise existing studies on the economic and societal benefits of ocean observation; and
4. Identify the needs for observation, over and above what is already being done.