The third World Ocean Assessment (WOA III)
The Third World Ocean Assessment (WOA III) is a comprehensive global assessment of the world’s ocean that integrates environmental, economic and social dimensions. It represents the principal outcome of the third cycle of the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects.
The third World Ocean Assessment (WOA III) was officially launched on 8 June 2026 following five years of work by more than 650 experts from 86 countries. The WOA III report is a 1,600-page assessment offering a detailed overview of the mounting pressures on the ocean and the action needed to safeguard it. WOA III provides a robust scientific foundation for governments, intergovernmental bodies, policymakers, and other stakeholders engaged in ocean governance and management. By delivering comprehensive and integrated information on the condition of the marine environment, the assessment supports informed decision-making and action toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water), as well as advancing the objectives of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
Dr Eva Chatzinikolaou, a research fellow of IMBBC, has participated as an expert in the writing team of Chapter 4 “Biodiversity” – sub-chapter 4c “Marine benthic invertebrates”, which provides an update on changes in the abundance, distribution and functional role of the respective taxa groups across the period 2018-2024.
More information about WOA III can be found here and the full report is available in the digital platform.
