OceanSOS focuses on three core study regions, which were selected because they feature intense geostrophic eddy kinetic energy (EKE) but present contrasting threat landscapes and governance regimes:

  1. The North Atlantic Current and Evlanov Sea basin MPA (NACES MPA): A globally significant hotspot of biological productivity driven by mesoscale eddy activity, located in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) in the subpolar North Atlantic.
  2. The Agulhas Current System: A highly dynamic ocean biome in the Southern Hemisphere characterised by intense ocean kinetic energy, fine-scale topography (including the Africana Seamount), and critical ecological connections across the Global South.
  3. The Brazil-Malvinas Confluence Zone: A major western boundary current confluence in the South Atlantic known for strong eddy kinetic energy, unique deep and open-ocean food webs, and distinct regional governance considerations.
The OceanSOS project (Grant Agreement No. 101273576) is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.