2.4 billion years ago, cyanobacteria began releasing oxygen into the ocean, which gradually seeped into the atmosphere, paving the way for multicellular life as we know it. “Without marine life, the Earth would look very different to what it does now,” says Dr Maria Grigoratou, science officer and an EU action Coordinator for the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans Initiative (G7 FSOI) at Mercator Ocean International.

Cyanobacteria aren’t the only group of marine organisms to play a significant role in our lives. From providing food to storing carbon and beyond, “marine life provides many societal benefits,” Grigoratou explains. Knowing what lies beneath the ocean surface is essential for developing effective policies and actions that ensure a healthy ocean future.

Read the full story “Harnessing marine biodiversity data for a healthy ocean” at EU4OceanObs.