Overview   Science and Research

The World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (WCMB) 2026 will take place from 17–20 November 2026 in Bruges, Belgium, with organisation led by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). This flagship global event will gather scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore the latest research, innovations, and solutions for marine biodiversity observations, data, conservation and sustainable ocean management. The Call for Abstracts is open until 17 March 2026 (23:59 CET), and registration is now available via the WCMB 2026 registration portal, with early-bird rates valid until 18 June 2026. Find all submission details and updates on the WCMB 2026 website.

The call for abstracts for the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity 2026 (WCMB 2026) is now open until 17 March 2026. Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers are invited to submit abstracts across the conference themes, including a dedicated EMODnet session focused on “Science that makes a difference: supporting knowledge-based policies.” This session will explore how marine knowledge and data can better inform policy and decision-making processes. Find out more and submit an abstract: Call for abstracts: https://www.wcmb2026.org/call-abstracts
EMODnet session: https://www.wcmb2026.org/6-science-makes-difference-supporting-knowledge-based-policiesTitle: EGI Conference 2026: Advancing Digital Infrastructure for Science and Innovation

The European Commission has launched a combined public consultation and call for evidence on the update of the EU Arctic Policy to ensure the policy remains fit for purpose in addressing rapid environmental and geopolitical changes in the Arctic. Contributions will inform the review of climate, security, environmental protection, sustainable development, and international cooperation elements of the EU’s Arctic engagement. The Call is open until 16 March 2026. Find out more:

Oceanology International returns to London ExCeL on 10–12 March 2026, bringing together the global ocean technology community for three days of innovation, demonstrations, and expert insights. Participants can explore the latest marine science and technology, attend technical sessions, join dockside demos, and connect through 1-to-1 matchmaking.

The European Commission has launched a call for evidence in support of the ongoing review of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). This consultation invites input from stakeholders including scientists, public authorities, industry, NGOs, and citizens to help assess the effectiveness of the MSFD, identify challenges, and shape options for potential revision to better protect marine ecosystems and support sustainable use. The Call is open until 9 March 2026. Find out more: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16093-Marine-environment-protection-revision-of-EU-rules_en

The third edition of the European Ocean Days will take place on 2–6 March 2026, bringing together Europe’s ocean community to explore ocean literacy, blue skills, innovation, investment and the latest progress under the EU Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters. Guided by the European Ocean Pact, the week will feature thematic sessions, stakeholder consultations and opportunities to help shape future ocean and water resilience strategies. Stay tuned for registration opening in December.

On 2-6 March 2026 the marine and maritime stakeholder community will gather in Brussels, Belgium for the latest edition of European Ocean Days, a week-long event with a series of dynamic and interconnected sessions focused on key ocean-related themes, all designed to encourage participants to engage across topics and contribute to a shared vision for the prosperity, competitiveness, security and sustainability of our ocean.

Registrations are now open for European Ocean Days 2026, taking place in Brussels from 2 to 6 March 2026. The week brings together EU institutions, Mission projects, and stakeholders to exchange on ocean governance, innovation, and implementation. A highlight of the programme is the Mission Ocean & Waters Forum, held on 5 March 2026 at the Charlemagne Building. The Forum offers a key opportunity to connect with fellow projects, discuss the Mission’s strategic priorities, and explore pathways for scaling and deployment of innovative solutions. A call for digital posters is also open, with submissions due by 20 February 2026.

The European Commission has opened a call for evidence to help shape the European Ocean Observation Initiative, a cornerstone of the Ocean Pact. This proposes to strengthen ocean observing capacity, improve marine data collection and sharing, and support European leadership in ocean observation technologies. The feedback will inform a Commission Communication outlining goals, governance, and priorities for coordinated ocean observation across the EU. The Call is open until 27 February 2026. Find out more: https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-seeks-feedback-ocean-observation-initiative-2026-01-19_en

From 22–27 February 2026, the global ocean science community will gather in Glasgow, Scotland for the Ocean Sciences Meeting 2026. This leading event brings together researchers, policymakers, and innovators to share the latest advances in ocean science, technology, and solutions for a sustainable future. Don’t miss this key moment to connect and collaborate across the marine science landscape. Register today: https://www.agu.org/ocean-sciences-meeting

Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM) 2026 will convene leading researchers, policymakers, and practitioners at the Ocean Sciences Meeting 2026, held 22–27 February 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. EMODnet is co-organising a session on Ocean Data with the UN Ocean Decade coordination office for ocean data sharing and the Schmidt Institute at the 2026 edition. This biennial, interdisciplinary forum advances oceanographic science across physical, biological, chemical, and geological domains. Abstract submissions are open until 20 August 2025.

Check out the EMODnet session: DO005: Bridging the Ocean with Data: https://agu.confex.com/agu/osm26/prelim.cgi/Session/259571

View all OSM 2026  information: https://agu.confex.com/agu/osm26/prelim.cgi/Home/0

The Horizon Europe–funded eDNAqua-Plan project is developing a Technical Blueprint and Roadmap to move from a fragmented eDNA data landscape towards a more harmonised and interoperable system based on FAIR data principles. This work will ultimately strengthen the flow of eDNA-based biodiversity data into EMODnet, EurOBIS, and global infrastructures. Stakeholders are invited to take part in a survey to provide feedback on proposed recommendations covering the full eDNA data lifecycle, from sampling to publishing. Survey responses will directly inform the final eDNAqua-Plan Technical Blueprint and Roadmap. Deadline to respond: 12 February 2025. The survey can be accessed through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/49a3c51a-d6b0-eb16-23c5-2122525521d1

The European Commission has launched a call for evidence to inform the development of the European Ocean Act, a key part of the European Ocean Pact aimed at strengthening maritime governance across the EU, improving coherence between policies, and structuring the coordination of marine observation systems and sustainable ocean use. Stakeholders from public authorities, science, industry, and civil society are invited to contribute insights to shape the early stages of this legislative initiative. The Call is open until 9 February 2026. Find out more: https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-seeks-feedback-eu-ocean-policy-2026-01-12_en

Join the CS-MACH1 project on 3–4 February 2026 for a workshop that brings together marine citizen science communities, data managers, developers and researchers to strengthen data flows, address common challenges and explore practical solutions for the Marine Citizen Science Data Network. The event will include project insights, live demonstrations and opportunities for participants to present their own activities and needs. Register before 15 December.

Dear EMODnet partners, associated partners, wider stakeholders,

2026 is well underway, and (as in previous years) has started at a fast pace. In this New Year’s (NY) letter we look back at the collective accomplishments and milestones of EMODnet in 2025. And we look forward to what’s ahead for EMODnet in 2026 and beyond!

2025 was the busiest yet, with EMODnet making waves as the European in situ marine data service. Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis recognised EMODnet as an invaluable cornerstone for the successful implementation of the Ocean Pact. Through consultations, flagship events and key partnerships – from data sharing to user engagement – 2025 was a year when EMODnet demonstrated its value, exemplifying how the service is making a real difference, from simplifying the marine knowledge value chain and saving costs for stakeholders to its provision of foundational, trusted and actionable marine data and data products.

The EMODnet expert network of 133 partners across 33 countries – from the Secretariat, Central Portal, thematic and data ingestion – continued to deliver new data integration, updated services, expert advice, guidance and leadership on standards and good practices. And visibility and our user-base grew, using EMODnet to support EU (and global) ocean-related policy implementation, drive competitiveness in the Blue Economy, underpin Research and Innovation, and beyond.

2025 was also the first year that EMODnet’s full offer was tested on the cloud, with EMODnet OSL 4.0 Hackathon participants gaining exclusive access to EMODnet on the European Digital Twin Ocean infrastructure platform (EDITO), leveraging the power of data, computing power and models to drive solutions and applications to ocean and coastal challenges.

Later in 2025, EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service showcased EDITO at the UN Ocean Conference 2025 Digital Ocean Pavilion, to President of the EC Ursula von der Leyen and thousands more stakeholders.

The year culminated in a full week of Marine Knowledge at the EMODnet Open Conference 2025, which brought EMODnet’s diverse stakeholder community together for the launch of the EMODnet community Vision 2035. This sets out clear recommendations for EMODnet’s service evolution over the next decade with an overarching ambitious – yet necessary – call to action for EMODnet’s annual funding to be (at least) doubled in the next Multi-annual Financial Framework (2028–2034).

In the shorter-term, EMODnet will consolidate, evolve and prepare to scale, expanding its data sharing partnerships, service provision, user engagement, its contribution to the UN Ocean Decade and more.

Let’s seize the year and turn EMODnet’s Vision into reality, together!

EMODnet will contribute to the Ocean Sciences Meeting 2026, taking place in Glasgow, Scotland from 22 to 27 February 2026, including the co-organisation of a dedicated session focused on ocean data sharing and coordination. The session, “Advancing Ocean Data Sharing for Science, Policy and Sustainable Development”, is co-organised by EMODnet, the UN Ocean Decade Ocean Data Sharing Coordination Office, and the Schmidt Ocean Institute. It will bring together experts from science, infrastructure, and policy communities to discuss progress, challenges, and opportunities in improving ocean data sharing across scales and initiatives.

In this interview, Nathalie Tonné (EMODnet Secretariat) and Pierre Sérodes (Ifremer) share how scientific expertise, advanced data infrastructures, and specialised experts in marine science, data and services are the drive behind flagship products like the EMODnet EUSeaMap broad-scale habitat map for Europe, and how the EMOD-network is key to supporting and driving innovation in (marine) data science —from Ocean Hackathons to the in situ marine data in the European Digital Twin of the Ocean. Discover more and the value of long-standing partnerships (here highlighting Ifremer) that continues to shape EMODnet to this day.

EMODnet welcomes the entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement (Biodiversity Treaty) on 17 January 2026, marking a major milestone for global ocean governance. Adopted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Agreement establishes, for the first time, a legally binding framework to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, which cover nearly half of the planet. As an operational European marine data service, EMODnet already provides essential foundations for implementing the Agreement through open, harmonised and interoperable marine data, including seabed habitat information via EUSeaMap through EMODnet Seabed Habitats and end-to-end biodiversity data and data products, including species distribution data accessible through EMODnet Biology, supporting environmental assessments, marine protected areas, and progress towards the global 30×30 biodiversity target. EMODnet will continue to support evidence-based decision-making by ensuring trusted marine data, harmonised at European and increasingly global scales, and stands ready to scale its services to meet user needs for the revised MSFD and the new Nature Restoration Law, working with Member States in cooperation with the EEA and the European Commission.

EMODnet presented at a webinar called ‘The FAIR Basics: A Guide for Decade Actions’ organised by the UN Ocean Decade Coordination Office for Ocean Data Sharing, with a presentation by EMODnet Technical Coordinator, Conor Delaney The session highlighted EMODnet’s role as the in situ data service for the European Digital Twin Ocean (EDITO) and explored why FAIR data principles—particularly Accessibility—are critical for the marine data community and for enabling effective science-policy and digital ocean applications.

eDNA Expeditions Phase II, led by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS), will use environmental DNA to build a global biomolecular observatory for marine life, combining locally led sampling with globally coordinated analysis from 2026 to 2028. With site recruitment now open, the initiative invites marine protected areas and ecologically significant sites worldwide to contribute data that will be republished through EMODnet Biology, supporting both local management and global ocean knowledge.