Maria Vozzo ^1* Marina Christofidis ² Laura Griffiths ^3* Rachel Kelly ^4,5 Michelle L. Manion ⁶ Shayan Barmand ⁷ Jessica Bolin ^8,9 Pablo A. Fuenzalida Miralles ¹⁰ Melanie L. Harris ¹¹ Abby Issell ¹² Caitlin D. Kuempel ² Marycarmen Martinez Diaz ¹³ Michael Murunga ⁵ Sophie R. Palmer ¹⁴ Nina Schaefer ⁶ Jamie Simpson ¹⁵

• ¹ Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, St Lucia, Australia
• ² School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia
• ³ School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
• ⁴ Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
• ⁵ Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, College of Sciences and Engineering, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
• ⁶ School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
• ⁷ Noosa Council, Noosa, Australia
• ⁸ Ocean Futures Research Cluster, University of the Sushine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia
• ⁹ Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, Australia
• ¹⁰ Ocean Futures Research Cluster, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia
• ¹¹ University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia
• ¹² City of Gold Coast Council, Gold Coast, Australia
• ¹³ Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Townsville, Australia
• ¹⁴ School of Earth Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• ¹⁵ School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

As the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021Development ( -2030) ) approaches halfway, inclusive input on progress and innovative approaches to achieving ocean sustainability is timely and necessary. Input from the leaders of tomorrow -today's Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs) -brings important generational perspectives on delivering marine science that can inform and contribute to achieving future ocean sustainability. ECOP perspectives may also offer novel insights on informing solutions to ocean-related challenges.Here, we articulate ECOP perspectives on priority recommendations for addressing current gaps and opportunities in ocean science in the context of the 'Ocean Decade'. These recommendations include: 1) a culture shift towards more active and transparent data sharing;2) valuing and connecting different knowledge systems; and 3) achieving effective knowledgesharing across disciplines and jurisdictions. We outline how all actors in ocean research, across different disciplines and institutions, can implement these changes, and where relevant, demonstrate unique roles ECOPs can play in this process. We propose that the implementation of these recommendations, by all actors in ocean science, along with greater inclusion and transfer of diverse knowledge, will support efforts to achieve the goals of the Ocean Decade, and ensure ocean sustainability for generations to come.