Mercator Ocean International

Mercator Ocean International is a world leader in digital oceanography, advancing science, policy, and society through trusted ocean analysis, forecasting, and intelligence. Owned by 10 public research institutions and foundations, we unite top scientific and operational expertise from across Europe and beyond. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, and led by Director-General Pierre Bahurel, our team of 120 experts delivers operational digital descriptions of marine environments worldwide.

As a global ocean prediction centre, we operate under mandates from the European Union and the United Nations. For the EU, we run the Copernicus Marine Service and co-develop the European Digital Twin of the Ocean, while also contributing to international efforts. Through these efforts, we foster collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and civil society. In June 2025, twelve European countries endorsed the creation of the Mercator International Centre for the Ocean at the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), marking a major step towards our transformation into an intergovernmental organization.