The WAGOOS organization was conceived to help coordinate and improve local knowledge of coastal seas. At present, it is an informal body consisting of university, industry, and government agency representatives.

The goal is to establish the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) in Western Australia to benefit the State and Australia as a whole.

GOOS is an international programme preparing the permanent global framework of observations, modelling and analysis of ocean variables needed to support operational ocean services.

An example of a GOOS-like programme is the worldwide deployment of ARGO floats.