ECO Magazine (ECO), a leading international ocean science publication, has announced growth in 2020 and several exciting changes for the upcoming year.

“It’s hard to predict how a global pandemic will impact different industries. It’s certainly been a challenging year, and it’s been interesting to observe how COVID-19 has changed the behaviors of readers and the availability of stories for publication,” said ECO’s editor, Kira Coley. “We’ve witnessed great resilience from the ocean community and feel fortunate to have seen growth across our platforms in 2020.”

Just a few highlights of ECO’ accomplishment in numbers:

• Increased Engagement: Visits to the website increased by 20%
• Extended Reach: 300% increase in followers on social media
• Grown Readership: 40% increase in readership for the ECO Special Issues

As part of ECO’s successful 2020 digital series, the magazine partnered with several key organizations to produce in-depth editions on Coral Reefs, Polar and Deep-Sea – partners included the 14th International Coral Reef Symposium, the Arctic Circle Assembly, the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS), the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the National Oceanography Centre, and the Schmidt Ocean Institute.

“The success of our digital series highlights a need for informative and engaging stories that report on recent scientific progress in different fields. We will continue to support the phenomenal efforts of the ocean science community through the production of a new digital series, and by creating more opportunities for those wishing to contribute to the magazine,” adds Coley.

In 2021, the magazine’s new ‘In Focus’ digital series will report on recent research and activities connected to the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, Rising Seas and Marine Pollution. Partnerships already announced include the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, The Ocean Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Several new changes have also been introduced to ECO’s longstanding print editions.

Coley explains, “Ocean science is multidisciplinary, and the magazine will now reflect this by ensuring there are stories about the ocean, coasts, fisheries, deep-sea and polar science in every edition. This means, no matter your field, there are opportunities for you to raise awareness and share stories about your work throughout the year. In terms of our readers, it means there is something for everyone in each edition.”

The new editorial sections will ensure readers have access to the latest news and in-depth stories covering a variety of ocean research fields. There is also a new Ocean Community section on the website and in the magazine, sharing workplace news and interviews with inspiring individuals.

As part of this community approach, ECO will shortly launch the “Shoutout for Ocean Science” social media campaign. Individuals will be able to nominate colleagues for career-related achievements - including, for example, passing a PhD viva, publishing a scientific paper, outreach and communication efforts, or exceptional scientific contributions – which will be shared across ECO’s growing online network.

“With COVID restrictions still in place throughout much of the world, we could all do with some positivity right now. It’s a good opportunity to reflect on our own activities, and recognize and celebrate others’ achievements,” said Coley. “Communication and knowledge sharing, in all its forms, is vital to moving the global ocean science community closer towards solutions that can lead to a sustainable future. Each new scientific discovery, technology advancement, and lessons learnt from past projects benefit us all. Sharing these stories will help move us along this lengthy road at a quicker pace.”

If you are interested in contributing to ECO Magazine in 2021, please email the editor at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Subscribe for free here: www.ecomagazine.com/subscribe.