Until recently engineers and scientists worldwide faced considerable difficulties in trying to access and process the huge quantities of marine data collected at considerable expense by European public institutions over the past decades.

This is changing. Consortia of European institutions, set up in the framework of Marine Knowledge 2020 and financed by preparatory actions of the EU's new integrated maritime policy, have unlocked data from previously inaccessible or mutually incompatible archives and made them available for users through prototype internet portals. These data, which allow private companies, public authorities and scientists to understand what measurements are available and to download coherent data layers over complete sea-basins, are organized in 6 thematic portals. Areas covered are: hydrography, geology, chemical pollution, biological species, physical habitats and measurements of physical parameters such as temperature, wave height and current (the last one is still under development).

On 7 and 8 June, 2011, these portals were examined for user-friendliness and fitness for purpose by the independent Marine Observation and Data Experts Group. The Group concluded that, although these preliminary actions did not cover all Europe's sea-basins, they have in fact delivered products that are immediately useful. These include maps of marine sediments and habitats that, for the first time, use a consistent classification system over whole sea-basins covering waters of several Member States.

The Commission will step up its efforts to further unlock access to marine data and ensure that they fully deliver their value to society; To that purpose, it has proposed continuing the initiative under a new financial regulation for maritime policy in the years 2011-2013, when Marine Knowledge 2020 could provide complete coverage over European waters of the basic parameters assembled during the preparatory phase and develop a unique portal providing a single entry point to all the data in the six thematic areas. The long-term aim is to create a sustainable cost-effective marine data infrastructure.

A representative of an offshore wind farm operator who was present at the expert meeting, welcomed the initiative and suggested that data collected by private companies could be considered for incorporation too.

For more information:

• Marine Knowledge 2020
• COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL MARINE KNOWLEDGE 2020 marine data and observation for smart and sustainable growth
• Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing a Programme to support the further development of an Integrated Maritime Policy - SEC(2010) 1097 final