Despite the ocean’s critical role in Earth’s climate, observations for some of the key ocean climate properties are either only short-term (10-20 years duration) or insufficient to understand essential properties of Earth’s climate. Establishing and sustaining long-term climate-quality observations to support these predictions has been difficult, in part due to unpredictable funding streams under the annual cycle of government appropriations, tight budgets, and competing priorities. A consensus study report will identify priorities and challenges for maintaining long-term ocean observations. A follow-up workshop is expected to explore options for aligning resources across sectors to ensure continuity of critical ocean observations.