"The health of our planet depends upon the health of our Oceans.  The Oceans cover 70% of the Earth’s surface and the top few metres of ocean surface store thousands of times more heat than the entire atmosphere. The Oceans also store a large part of the carbon dioxide emitted by our industries and play a crucial role in global warming. The Oceans are a vital source of essential human food: proteins and fatty acids for our diets and development.  We need to develop indicators of Ocean health in order to take timely action.

It is therefore important for us to systematically observe the health of the Oceans in order to understand the processes that underpin our climate, our wellbeing and our Earth System. POGO members around the world are committed to meeting this challenge."

John Field, POGO Chairman 2013-2014