OceanBestPractices (OBP) is a secure, permanent document (and other objects) repository. It aims to provide a discovery point for research groups to search and find community accepted existing ocean best practices. This service also invites the ocean research, observation and data/information management communities to submit their own best practice documents to share globally with their colleagues. More...

Please note unless it has been accepted and annotated in OBPS as an Endorsed Practice by an Expert Panel, inclusion of a methodology in the OBPS, does not indicate that the methodology is recommended by OBPS.

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Best Practices Document Template Collection

    Communities in OceanBestPractices

    Select a community to browse its collections.

    ACT: Alliance for Coastal Technologies [81]
    ARGO: an international programme using autonomous floats ... [30]
    CalCOFI: California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigation [30]
    CMEMS: Copernicus Marine Service [6]
    DBCP: Data Buoy Cooperation Panel [8]
    EAF-Nansen Programme [8]
    EC-OBPSS: European Commission Ocean Best Practices and Standards System [204]
    ECSA: European Citizen Science Association [and other CS] [16]
    EMB: European Marine Board [1]
    EMBRC: European Marine Biological Resource Centre [7]
    EMODnet: European Marine Observation and Data Network [13]
    EU: European Union [150]
    EUROGOOS [11]
    EUROSEA [11]
    FAO: Food and Agricultural Organization [15]
    GBIF: Global Biodiversity Information Facility [7]
    GEOTRACES: internat. study of the marine biogeochemical cycles ... [5]
    GGGI: Global Ghost Gear Initiative [6]
    GLOBAL HF RADAR NETWORK [2]
    GOOS: Global Ocean Observing System [4]
    GO-SHIP: Global Ocean Ship-Based Hydrographic Investigations [23]
    HELCOM: Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission [49]
    ICES: International Council for the Exploration of the Sea [102]
    IMAS: Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Univ. of Tasmania [2]
    IMOS: Integrated Marine Observing System [65]
    IOCCG: International Ocean-Colour Coordinating Group [27]
    IOCCP: International Ocean Carbon Coordination Project [11]
    IOC: Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. [Not IODE and GOOS] [138]
    IODE: International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange [46]
    IOOS: The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System [36]
    IQuOD:International Quality-controlled Ocean Database Project [6]
    IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature [6]
    JAMSTEC: Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology [11]
    JCB: Joint WMO-IOC Collaborative Board [previously JCOMM] [30]
    JERICO: Jt Euro. Res. Infrastruct. Netwk for Coast. Observatories [41]
    JNCC : Joint Nature Conservation Committee [6]
    MBON: Marine Biodiversity Observing Network [17]
    MEDIN: Marine Environmental Data and Information Network [20]
    MOEJ: Ministry of the Environment Japan [3]
    NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Aministration [0]
    NCOSM: National Center of Ocean Standards and Metrology, China [21]
    NESP Marine and Coastal Hub / AusSeabed [32]
    NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [17]
    NOAA NOS CO-OPS:Center for Operation. Ocean. Prods & Services [42]
    OBON: Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network [23]
    OCB: US Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry Program [7]
    OceanGliders : global network of Ocean Gliders Observations [24]
    OceanSITES: global network of open ocean time series stations [10]
    ODIP: Ocean Data Interoperability Platform [9]
    OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [8]
    OGC: Open Geospatial Consortium [112]
    ONC: Ocean Networks Canada [3]
    OOI: Ocean Observatories Initiative [10]
    OSPAR Commission [14]
    OTGA: OceanTeacher Global Academy [10]
    OTN: Ocean Tracking Network [1]
    PACIFIC Community (SPC) [1]
    POGO: Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean [2]
    POLAR Collaborations [242]
    SARGASSUM Practices [21]
    SCOR: Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research [32]
    SEADATANET/SEADATACLOUD [18]
    SOCIB : Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System [6]
    TechOceanS: Technologies for Ocean Sensing [14]
    UNITED NATIONS Programmes [3]
    UN Ocean Decade (2021-2030) [2]
    WMO: World Meteorological Organization [38]
    ZZZ_Miscellaneous Communities [547]

    Recently Added

    • Data quality control documentation for coastal wave buoys, Version 1.0. 

      Cuttler, Michael; Caminha, Thiago; Hansen, Jeff; Hatcher, Matt; Lowe, Ryan (Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), Hobart, Australia, 2025)
      Sustained, near real-time (NRT) observations of waves in coastal regions are an essential prerequisite to monitor, predict, and forecast coastal hazards that threaten coastal populations, infrastructure and marine operations. ...

    • EGO gliders NetCDF format reference manual : NetCDF conventions Reference tables and files distribution. Version 1.15. 

      EGO Gliders Data Management Team (IFREMER, 2025)
      This document specifies the NetCDF file format of EGO-gliders that is used to distribute glider data, metadata and technical data. It documents the standards used therein; this includes naming conventions as well as metadata ...

    • World Ocean Atlas 2018: Product Documentation. 

      Boyer, T.P.; Baranova, O.K.; Locarnini, R.A.; Mishonov, A.V.; Grodsky, A.; Paver, C.R.; Weathers, K.W.; Smolyar, I.V.; Reagan, J.R.; Seidov, D.; Zweng, M.M. (2019)
      This document describes the World Ocean Atlas 2018 (WOA18) statistical and objectively analyzed field data files. This description includes the types of statistical fields available, the oceanographic variables analyzed, ...

    • Guidelines for an Ocean Project or Programme Data Management Plan. 

      Leadbetter, A.; Ariasis, F.; Buttigieg, P. L.; Giorgetti, A.; Hanley, L.; Hebden, M.; Ivona, A.; Lear, D.; Lopez, M.; Moulton, C.; Tyberghein, L. (UNESCO for IODE, París, France, 2025)
      This document emphasizes the importance of data management planning in activities which collect, create or otherwise acquire ocean data, ensuring data are preserved and accessible for analysis and to inform and underpin ...

    • IMOS Fishing Vessels as Ships of Opportunity (FishSOOP), Real-time Quality Assurance and Quality Control Practice Manual, Version 1.0. 

      Lago, Véronique; Roughan, Moninya; Caon, Stella (Integrated Marine Observing System, Hobart, Australia, 2025)
      The Fishing Vessels as Ships of Opportunity Program (FishSOOP) is a sub-Facility within Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) for oceanographic data collection using fishing vessels as Ships of Opportunity, ...

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