Global

The latest version of the maps visualising the spatial and temporal distribution of marine litter are now available on the EMODnet map viewer. The new version contains for the first time 16 maps for floating microlitter in all European sea basins and beyond. These data products are based on the latest data collections published in 2023, as described in a recent EMODnet news article.

The Consortium of 16 partners, responsible for the development of EMODnet Chemistry, has been confirmed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency to continue its work until 2 October 2025. The consolidated management structure and the most important goals for the next two years were illustrated during the project full group meeting, which took place in Brussels during the EMODnet Jamboree and Open Conference 2023. To dive into EMODnet Chemistry data and data products and for more information, visit the EMODnet portal The consolidated management structure and the most important goals for the next two years were illustrated during the project full group meeting, which took place in Brussels during the EMODnet Jamboree and Open Conference 2023. To dive into EMODnet Chemistry data and data products and for more information, visit the EMODnet portal

The primary goal of the MARTECH Workshop is to exchange knowledge and perspectives on advanced research in various domains of marine technology through diverse categories. This includes a workshop on Seafloor observatories and sensor networks, co-organized by EMODnet Physics. You can find all information on pre-registration and the extended deadline for abstract submissions, now due by January 15th on the workshop website by clicking on the link below.

EMODnet has signed the COP 28 Ocean Declaration which calls upon the international community for more sustained ocean observation and marine knowledge for “the science we need for the ocean we want”. EMODnet partners Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ, Belgium), Ifremer (France) are also amongst the signatories, together with EuroGOOS, EMB, POGO and others. The COP 28 Declaration is in-line with the EMODnet Call to Action released on 30th November 2023 that calls for sustainable and appropriate funding for EMODnet and the wider marine knowledge value chain. EMODnet experts from the EMODnet Steering Committee also contributed to a series of workshops and reports by the UN Global Compact on offshore renewable energy and maritime spatial planning. The final outcomes were presented on 4 December 2023 at a COP28 hybrid event “The role of Industry in the Ocean Decade Data Enterprise” with panelists from UN Global Compact Ocean Stewardship Coalition, the UN OD Coordination Office for Data Sharing, FUGRO, Van Oord and more.

The European Commission, in collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB), is launching the new pilot scheme ‘EU Blue Champions’. It will be supported by the BlueInvest platform. Through this new initiative, the EIB Advisory Services, in collaboration with the EIB Projects Directorate, will provide financial advisory to selected projects in the blue economy.

The “Ecopath 40 years – The Ecosystem Continuum: From knowledge to decisions” conference and workshops will be held in Ostend, Belgium from 3-8 June 2024. The conference will showcase four decades of progress of using the Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) approach in different fields: e.g., fisheries management, marine conservation, ecosystem dynamics, climate impacts, and ecosystem-based management (EBM), as well as introduce new facilities for the approach.

Two Panels discussed EMODnet’s global contributions. This included the harvesting of EMODnet in global ocean data and metadata initiatives including the Ocean Data and Information System (ODIS) of IODE, IOC/UNESCO, the Global Earth Observation System of systems (GEOSS), the Ocean Best Practice System (OBPS) and the UN Ocean Decade. EMODnet’s existing and emerging partnerships worldwide were also celebrated. This included a presentation from NMDIS, China, with whom EMODnet has a long-standing collaboration via the EU-China EMOD-PACE and CEMDNET projects, together with representatives speaking from the Mexican Geological Survey, Ocean frontiers Institute, Canada, the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), Morocco, and the European Polar Board.

The 7 thematic Coordinators of EMODnet then presented the latest EMODnet service offer, which includes pan-European data and data products across hundreds of parameters spanning the marine environment, namely bathymetry, biology, chemistry, geology, physics and seabed habitats, and human activities at sea. Finally, a Panel including wider stakeholders discussed the value of EMODnet, including perspectives from the Copernicus Marine Service, Regional Sea Conventions, the private sector, EU Member States, EMODnet associated partners and the winner of the EMODnet Open Sea Lab 3.0 Hackathon, and more.

The Open Conference 2023 Closing Session began with a speech by Delilah Al Khudhairy, Director of Maritime Policy and Blue Economy, EC DG MARE, who noted that “EMODnet has been one of the most important investments of DG MARE…We will move forward together” .  A Panel of 7 experts from the EMODnet stakeholder community exchanged on EMODnet’s achievements to-date and looked to the future of EMODnet and its evolution. Kate Larkin, Head of EMODnet Secretariat then presented an EMODnet Call to Action on behalf of the EMODnet Partnership (see article above).

Before the plenary stage opened for the EMODnet Open Conference 2023, the EMODnet community convened for the EMODnet Partner Jamboree 2023—an exclusive gathering of EMODnet partners and Associated Partners. This pre-conference event was attended by > 150 representatives of the EMOD-network and provided a unique setting for in-depth discussions, partner meetings, cross-thematic dialogues, and collaborative endeavors, setting the stage for the subsequent conference. Topics of discussion spanned EMODnet and Citizen Science, EMODnet Communication, EMODnet and the EU Digital Twin Ocean, and EMODnet content evolution, ranging from the coast to the deep sea and from the surface ocean to the seafloor, including ideas for new cross-thematic data products. A Partnership Dinner on 28th November evening included speeches by Kestutis Sadauskas, Deputy Director-General EC DG MARE and Kate Larkin, Head of the EMODnet Secretariat.

To complement the EMODnet Open Conference 2023 on-site meeting and physical exhibition, a Virtual Exhibition was produced by the EMODnet Secretariat and Coordinators. contains many resources and updates on EMODnet thematic and data ingestion services, key partnerships spanning business to ocean observation and from EU to global, EMODnet videos and other communication outputs, the European Atlas of the Seas and community posters solicited and submitted specifically for the Open Conference 2023. This was showcased in Plenary during the EMODnet Open Conference 2023, just before community poster pitch presentations. The Virtual Exhibition remains open for 1 year until 30 November 2024. You can see the full EMODnet Virtual Exhibition by clicking on the button below.

The EMODnet Open Conference 2023 included a physical exhibition which served as a dynamic hub during networking breaks, showcasing EMODnet and key European and international ocean observation networks and infrastructures, marine data services and wider marine data initiatives.

EMODnet Associated Partners were active at the EMODnet Open Conference 2023, with members FUGRO, SOCIB, CMMI, HR Wallingford and more presenting in Plenary and taking part in Townhall discussions. During the flagship EMODnet week, EMODnet also welcomed three new Associated Partners, namely, e-BO Enterprises, Puertos del Estado and Marine Centre Wales, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, promoted on the EMODnet Portal website and on social media.

EMODnet’s recent unification has been a game-changer for its interoperability and contribution to global ocean data initiatives. A session was dedicated to EMODnet’s global impact, including presentations from Peter Pissierssens of IODE of IOC/UNESCO, Lennert Tyberhein of VLIZ, Belgium and Jan-Bart Calewaert, Head of the UN Ocean Decade Coordination Office for data sharing.

EMODnet has a very diverse and expanding user base, across European stakeholder communities, and beyond. A session was dedicated to these users, bringing together stakeholders from EU Policy, Blue Economy, and Wider Society to discuss the tangible value of EMODnet data, data products and services. Panels explored its application in EU Policy, including the EU Green Deal, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Maritime Spatial Planning Directive and more, supporting the Blue Economy – including Offshore Renewable Energy and Coastal Tourism, and benefiting wider society, supplying marine data and knowledge to non-governmental organisations and the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters and Horizon Europe projects, and working with these entities including citizen science to bring more societal data into EMODnet, which also powers the EC European Atlas of the Seas for Ocean Literacy.

EMODnet experts Dick Schaap, MARIS, The Netherlands; Antonio Novellino, ETT, Italy; and Sissy Iona, HCMR, Greece presented on EMODnet in the marine knowledge value chain, EMODnet’s partnership with the Copernicus Marine Service and EMODnet Data Ingestion. In two subsequent Panels, EMODnet's key role in the marine knowledge value chain and its strong connections with the ocean observation and data collection community were showcased. EMODnet’s contribution to the EC Ocean Observation Initiative, including the value of the EMODnet’s Sea-basin Checkpoint activities on data adequacy at regional sea-basin level, and EMODnet’s contribution to the European Ocean Observing System (EOOS) were also discussed with diverse stakeholder representatives.

EMODnet is about the people and its diverse community. At the Open Conference 2023, an interactive session featured an overview of the EMODnet Virtual Exhibition, together with diverse community poster pitches, and an open mic Panel where members of the community could provide perspectives and recommendations.

The interactive dialogues at the EMODnet Open Conference 2023 included a series of Townhalls which provided a unique platform for focused discussions on various critical aspects of EMODnet. Topics for the 2023 Townhalls included: EMODnet, Ocean Best Practices, and Interoperability; EMODnet for EU Policy; EMODnet and the Blue Economy; and EMODnet, EU Mission Ocean and wider society. These were organized and co-Chaired by members of the EMOD-network and invited experts, with EMODnet and the European Marine Board Secretariats jointly serving as rapporteur and facilitators. For each Townhall, a representative presented key messages back to the Plenary on Day 2.

At the EMODnet Open Conference 2023 the two EC marine data services EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service, launched a joint communication on the EU in situ marine data landscape. The statement explains the complementarity between the two EU marine knowledge assets, and also how the services work together, following a high-level agreement between DG DEFIS and DG MARE and the signature of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2016. Copernicus Marine Service was represented at the EMODnet Open Conference 2023 in sessions including on the value of EMODnet, EMODnet for the digital era, and EMODnet, Ocean Observation and the marine knowledge value chain.

At the EMODnet Open Conference 2023, a new video animation was released that explains the EMODnet unified service, noting the centralisation of all 7 EMODnet thematics into one portal, and what is means for EMODnet’s diverse user community. Follow the link to watch the full video.