Indian Ocean GOOS was formally established on November 5, 2002. The IO-GOOS members agreed to collaborate and work together for the implementation of GOOS in the Indian Ocean and for promoting activities of common interest for the development of operational oceanography in the Indian Ocean region.

Presently, IOGOOS is comprised of 24 marine institutes from 16 countries in the Indian Ocean region, IOC Perth Regional Office, NOAA and BOBLME. The member institutes are from Australia, Bangladesh, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, La Re Union, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand (BOBLME), USA (NOAA) and IOC-Perth Regional Office.
Governance: The IOGOOS Activities are being lead by the Chair and Officers of IOGOOS. The IOGOOS activities are being managed by IOGOOS Secretariat. IOGOOS Secretariat is hosted by India since IOGOOS formation. The Secretariat is responsible for carrying out the activities according to the decisions and recommendations of the IOGOOS Officers and organization of the annual general body meeting every year.
IOGOOS has sub-projects (IOP, SIBER, IRF and IO Core Remote Sensing Projects, MOFPS, etc.) which are represented by various other chairs, co-chairs of their respective projects.
Indian Ocean Observing System IndOOS

On Oct. 15 2012, the following persons were elected by consensus to lead Indian Ocean GOOS: