Gattuso, J.-P., Houllier, F., Adams, J., Amon, D., Bambridge, T., Cheung, W., Chiba, S., Cortés, J., Duarte, C. M., Frölicher, T., Gelcich, S., Gjerde, K., Greaves, D., Haugan, P. M., Li, D., & Tuda, A. (2025). US federal cuts threaten international ocean science and diplomacy. Nature Ecology & Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02750-3
Solving-FCB Director Dr. William Cheung and contributor Dr. Thomas Frölicher of Universität Bern co-authored this paper, which warns that sweeping US federal science budget cuts are undermining global ocean observing systems and weakening the international foundations for sustainable fisheries and marine climate policy. At a time when ocean temperatures and sea-level rise are reaching unprecedented levels, reductions to critical funding for ocean science agencies threaten the continuity of vital data and weaken international cooperation necessary for sustainable fisheries and climate resilience.
View article at nature.com (login required)
Summary:
Key agencies facing significant budget reductions include NASA, NOAA, EPA, NSF, and the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The potential impacts of these cuts are profound and multi-dimensional:
Impact of US Budget Cuts on Ocean Science:
- NOAA faces a 25% budget cut, jeopardizing foundational ocean observing programmes, including:
- Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)
- Argo floats and Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) array
- Long-term monitoring programmes such as HOT (Hawaii) and BATS (Bermuda)
- NASA: A $3.5 billion reduction to Earth science budgets threatens satellite missions critical for tracking ocean changes, disrupting essential climate and fisheries management data.
- EPA: Reduced funding weakens research on marine pollutants, affecting enforcement of international marine protection agreements and risking seafood safety.
- NSF: Funding freezes undermine research on marine ecosystem health, extreme ocean events, and fisheries sustainability, limiting policy-relevant scientific assessments.
Risks to International Fisheries and Ocean Governance:
These cuts compromise the United States’ leadership in international ocean assessments, including the IPCC and the World Ocean Assessment, creating significant challenges for global fisheries governance and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (“Life Below Water”). Additionally, the reliance of global ocean observing programmes on a limited number of wealthy countries makes these systems highly vulnerable to geopolitical or economic disruptions.
Recommendations for International Action:
To mitigate these risks, the global community must act urgently by:
- Increasing investment in international ocean observing and fisheries science.
- Diversifying funding sources and observational infrastructure to reduce reliance on a few key nations.
- Strengthening global cooperation, especially supporting developing countries to participate fully in ocean science and fisheries management.
Delegates attending the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in June 2025 are strongly encouraged to prioritize robust institutional responses and investment commitments within the UNOC Nice Action Plan.
In summary, immediate international action is needed to maintain critical ocean science and ensure the sustainability of global fisheries management amidst the ongoing US budget crisis.
