Definition and scope

Marine Knowledge 2020 brings together marine data from different sources with the aim of:

• Helping industry, public authorities and researchers find the data and make more effective use of them to develop new products and services.
• Improving our understanding of how the seas behave.

Why EU-level action?

National data do not tell us all we need to know about the seas as a global system connected by shifting winds, seasonal currents and migrating species; analysis at European level is essential.

The integration of different national and local systems into a coherent whole has been driven by the EU. Its explicit powers in fields like fisheries, the environment, transport, research, enterprise and industry enable it to provide funding and legislate for marine knowledge 2020.

How does it work in practice?

Through the prototype websites of the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODNET),  engineers and scientists can see what data are available for a given sea basin, and download both original observations and derived data products such as digital terrain models, sediment distributions and marine habitats.

More on marine data

• Marine research
• Fisheries data collection

Official documents

• Marine knowledge 2020 (Commission communication - 2010)
• European marine observation and data network - impact assessment
• European marine observation and data network - executive summary [41 KB] All available translations.
• Roadmap for a European marine observation and data network
• Marine data infrastructure - outcome of Public Consultation
• European marine observation and data network – background paper (2006)

Go to the Maritime Forum for further reading about:

• Projects: ur-EMODNET
• Background information
• Workshop and working group documents
• Events

Related content

• Press releases
• Videos