In the context of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the Southern Ocean initiative is dedicated to setting up a framework that builds on understanding how human interactions with the Southern Ocean can benefit society in ways that will also protect and conserve the unique characteristics of this region. This framework will allow the Southern Ocean community to inform the UN Decade of Ocean Science on priorities and activities in parallel with the Ocean Decade. The European Polar Board is a member of the Southern Ocean Task Force for the UN Decade of Ocean Science.

Further information is available at www.sodecade.org. Follow @SODecade on Twitter to stay up to date with progress.