The EMODnet service is proud to announce that its Data Ingestion service is now centralised on the EMODnet Portal. The migration of this final EMODnet component to the Europa domain is a major milestone for EMODnet, building on the extensive centralisation of all seven thematics in 2023. The core EMODnet Data Ingestion service remains the same, with the shift to a centralised service making it even easier to share data with EMODnet.

This final step in EMODnet centralisation consolidates the remaining component (Data Ingestion) into the EMODnet Portal which is already a single, user-friendly gateway for accessing, visualising, downloading and now also submitting marine data. The integration of EMODnet Data Ingestion reinforces EMODnet's commitment to deliver the EU Open Data Directive, INSPIRE Directive and to support in situ ocean observation and monitoring communities to share primary data with EMODnet, which is then transformed into Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR) data to make integrated marine knowledge at European scale, upon which thousands of stakeholders depend to support EU policy implementation, boost competitiveness in the Blue Economy and drive Research and Innovation.  120,000 stakeholders depend on sharing, enabling a seamless experience for both users and data providers.

EMODnet’s public Data Ingestion service plays a crucial role in European data sharing, identifying and supporting organisations from across research, public, and private sectors that manage valuable marine datasets to share these with EMODnet to make these data FAIR and have greater impact through EMODnet in situ marine data service.

Explore the EMODnet Portal and Wake up your marine data — share it with EMODnet!

For more information visit: https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/data-ingestion 

On 2 April 2025, EMODnet joined the European Marine Board’s 9th Forum in Brussels, contributing to key discussions on coastal and water resilience at the land-sea interface. EMODnet showcased its trusted and interoperable in situ marine data services, supporting integrated source-to-sink approaches. The event advanced dialogue between science and policy and was recognised as a contribution to both the UN Ocean Decade and the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters.

On 29 April 2025, EMODnet Portal and Biology Coordinator Flanders Marine Institute, VLIZ, hosted a delegation from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) for an in-person meeting, together with the EMODnet Secretariat and other InnovOcean Campus-based organisations, namely EMB, IOC-UNESCO (IODE, OBIS and OTGA) and ILVO. The meeting was a chance to exchange on key EU priorities including the European Ocean Pact and how VLIZ, ILVO, EMODnet and other initiatives are contributing to support the delivery Ocean Observation, Marine Knowledge – including Citizen Science - and the European Digital Twin.

The UN Ocean Decade has launched Call for Decade Actions No. 09/2025, seeking initiatives that tackle regional and thematic gaps in ocean knowledge while supporting informed policymaking for sustainable development. Anchored in the priorities of the Barcelona Statement and Vision 2030, this call welcomes Expressions of Interest for new Decade Programmes, as well as Decade Projects under 29 existing Programmes. Submissions are now open. For details on eligibility, application forms, and deadlines, visit the Ocean Decade Call 09/2025 webpage. Proponents are encouraged to submit before 31 August 2025.

On 12 June 2025 (14:30–15:15 CEST), EMODnet and the UN Ocean Decade Coordination Office for Ocean Data Sharing (ODS) will co-host a dedicated workshop at the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), EU Digital Ocean Pavilion (Green Zone). This session will explore the crucial role of regional marine data services in shaping a connected, global ocean data ecosystem. Co-chaired by representatives from EMODnet and the UN Ocean Decade Office, a panel of European and international experts will bring concrete examples of ocean data sharing in action. A full programme and speaker list will follow soon.

Join on 7 May 2025 at 16:00 CET for the launch of the Boosting Data Sharing in the Ocean Decade webinar series, hosted by the Decade Coordination Office for Ocean Data Sharing. This first session will provide a practical introduction to data sharing within the Ocean Decade, followed by insights from GEOTRACES, a UN Ocean Decade-endorsed programme. GEOTRACES will share their experiences in coordinating international data efforts and the benefits of implementing robust data sharing practices in support of marine biogeochemistry research. Registration: Boosting Data Sharing in the Ocean Decade webinar

From 13 April to 13 October 2025, the EDITO initiative is being showcased at the prestigious Osaka World Expo, representing Horizon Europe Ocean innovation under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” Visitors can interact with an AI-powered avatar that explains the European Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO)—its purpose, benefits, and applications. The exhibit highlights real-world What-if Scenarios developed by EDITO-Model Lab, including tools to track marine plastic pollution and manage coastal hazards using nature-based solutions. These applications are powered by a shared data infrastructure built by EDITO-Infra, integrating services and data from EMODnet and the Copernicus Marine Service, which can be used for countless societal applications, from supporting sustainable ocean management, to restoring biodiversity, restoring nature and driving climate action.

EMODnet Biology’s latest data product, developed by SMHI, offers a spatial-temporal interpolation of zooplankton biodiversity patterns across the greater Baltic Sea area, including the Skagerrak and Kattegat. Based on observed Shannon diversity indices from Swedish and Finnish environmental monitoring data, the product utilizes the DIVAnd (Data-Interpolating Variational Analysis in n-Dimensions) method to generate a three-dimensional interpolation across longitude, latitude, and seasonal time dimensions.

The International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO has awarded the Ocean Best Practices System Endorsement Certificate to EMODnet Chemistry’s Guide for the management of microlitter datasets. These data, along with the data on beach and seafloor litter, were used to produce the latest marine litter data collections downloadable from the EMODnet Products Catalogue. The collections in turn are used to create the maps; their latest edition was recently published in the EMODnet Map Viewer.

Building on the existing data and web services, EMODnet’s Chemistry offer of aggregated, harmonised and validated datasets on many marine chemistry parameters e.g., eutrophication and ocean acidification (first made available in 2024) are now also available through the Environmental Research Division Data Access Program (ERDDAP™), covering the Baltic Sea, Greater North Sea and Northeast Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, and Arctic Ocean.

EMODnet was out in force at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2025 in Vienna, Austria between 27 April to 2 May 2025.The Secretariat co-Chaired a session on EU marine data services for the European Digital Twin Ocean, and other presentations and posters were led by EMODnet Chemistry, Physics and Geology thematics, among others. This annual assembly is a prestigious event for Research and Innovation, typically welcoming over 18,000 global participants.

The recording of the presentation made by the European Atlas of the Seas Team during the online workshop for teachers held on 4 December 2024 is now available on the EMODnet YouTube Channel. In April, four Maps of the Week’ were published: ‘Sea Birds and their Conservation - Mapping Abundance and Protecting Habitats’, ‘Springtime Surge - Phytoplankton Blooms - Global Ocean Chlorophyll’, ‘Emissions of the Shipping Industry – Cargo Vessel Density’ and ‘Plastic Litter: Easter eggs, chocolate, and pollution’.

There’s never been a better time to harness the power of Open Data to drive new knowledge. During the EU Open Data Days 2025 event at the European Convention Centre in Luxembourg, EMODnet’s Head of Secretariat Kate Larkin showcased EMODnet as a success story for Open and FAIR data in the marine domain, demonstrating how EMODnet is supporting EU Policy, the Blue Economy, Research, Innovation, and society at large. Recordings and presentations are now available online.

EMODnet was well-represented at European Ocean Days 2025 a high-level, week-long event from 3-7 March 2025 in Brussels that brought together stakeholders from across Europe's Ocean community. Marine Knowledge was a central theme to the multiple events covering ocean literacy, Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters, sustainable fisheries, the blue economy, and more. And EMODnet was visible as a key EU asset for marine knowledge at the session "Marine Knowledge for the Ocean Pact", which included interventions by EC DG MARE and EMODnet Chemistry Coordinator OGS. EMODnet's key role as the in situ component to the European Digital Twin Ocean was also highlighted.

Many EMODnet experts attended the International Ocean Data Conference (IODC III), held on 10–11 March 2025 in Santa Marta, Colombia, co-organised by IODE of IOC-UNESCO and INVEMAR in the context of the UN Ocean Decade. This event brought together global marine data actors to advance open, FAIR, and interoperable ocean data systems with thematic session on marine biodiversity data, capacity building and the global ocean data ecosystem. Check out the EMODnet posters, presentations and highlights on the IODC III website and EMODnet Portal!

At the Mission Ocean and Waters Forum during EU Ocean Days 2025 in Brussels, the European Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO) booth drew strong interest from across the marine community. As the in situ component of the EU DTO, and a co-developer of the EDITO-Infra initiative, EMODnet was at the forefront, engaging visitors with insights into how its harmonised marine data underpins the European Digital Twin Ocean and supports dynamic, scenario-based tools for sustainable ocean management.

A recent study, conducted as part of a master’s thesis at the Faculty of Maritime Studies Kotor, University of Montenegro, showcases how EMODnet geospatial data can support advanced route planning for Unmanned Sea Vehicles (USVs). By integrating EMODnet data with third-party systems, the researchers developed a methodology for filtering, mapping, and exporting marine data to improve the operational efficiency of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs).

EMODnet Human Activities data on the occurrence and distribution of maritime activities—such as offshore platforms—was used to investigate the regulations and protection levels within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the European Union. This PhD research, supported by CCMAR, CNRS, and INRAE, highlights major data gaps in MPA management and serves as a benchmark for monitoring and future policy evaluation.

A new report on an EMODnet Biology Autumn 2024 data school is now out. This exemplifies that whilst EMODnet’s stakeholder engagement and collection of marine biodiversity data continues to expand in collaboration with data providers and other initiatives, the total number of biological occurrence records for the Mediterranean Region remain low compared to other marine regions such as the Atlantic Ocean, North and the Baltic Seas. Concerted action is needed to increase data collection and data sharing efforts in the southern European regional sea basins.

The publication of data, which was completed in March 2025, increased the EMODnet biodiversity data holdings by approximately half a million new occurrence records. The data originates from a total of 42 datasets, comprising 24 newly published and 19 updated datasets, spanning a historical timeframe from 1892 to 2024. These datasets collectively provide broad temporal and spatial coverage, with geographical focus areas including the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Mediterranean, Black, and North Seas.