Overview   Policy

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:

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 four-week call for applications to join the newly established High-Level European Ocean Board, created under the European Ocean Pact. The Board will advise the Commission on the effective implementation of the Pact, provide expert opinions on key ocean policy matters, and strengthen coherence between EU initiatives and private sector action. Comprising up to 25 members with recognised expertise in ocean governance, maritime economy and marine or coastal policy, the Board will play a strategic role in advancing ocean observation, research and innovation, ocean literacy and the sustainable blue economy. The first meeting is expected in March 2026. Find out more and apply via the European Commission website.

A diverse delegation of EMODnet experts attended the Ocean Sciences Meeting 2026 between 23-27 February in Glasgow, with presentations and inputs spanning the Central Portal, thematics, data ingestion, and the Secretariat. Topics spanned ocean observations to data and users, from EMODnet's central role as a regional (European) ocean data service for the UN Ocean Decade to the latest thematic innovations in marine data and data products and EMODnet's pivotal role in shaping a resilient, interoperable and operational European and global ocean data ecosystem.

The UN Ocean Decade Citizen Science Data Sharing Guidelines have been released, developed with strong community input and with EMODnet contributing in an advisory capacity. As marine citizen science becomes a cornerstone of Europe’s marine knowledge landscape, these guidelines provide essential foundations for sharing high-quality, interoperable data. EMODnet already supports citizen science by responding to community data needs and integrating citizen-generated observations across its services to strengthen European marine data products. Looking ahead, EMODnet aims to become Europe’s hub for non-traditional data producers, as set out in the EMODnet Vision 2035, making these guidelines a key building block for a more inclusive and participatory ocean knowledge ecosystem. Click below and explore the guidelines.

On 11-13 February 2026, EMODnet joined Mercator Ocean International, the Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH) and stakeholders from across Europe’s marine and digital community to help co-design the future of Europe’s Digital Ocean Systems. Jan-Bart Calewaert (Seascape Belgium, EMODnet) participated in the opening exchanges, reinforcing the importance of interoperable marine data services to support policy and decision-making and to advance the priorities of the EU Ocean.

Following its February 2026 Working Group meeting in Rome, Italy EMODnet Geology is advancing the next phase of its Submerged Landscapes initiative, which now brings together a growing pan-European inventory of more than 40,000 mapped features, including archaeological sites, palaeocoastlines, submerged forests and glacial landforms and more. EMODnet’s harmonised, interoperable offer for submerged landscapes is already used to support evidence-based planning, protection of underwater cultural heritage and cross-border geological assessments.

EMODnet Physics continues to expand and strengthen its ocean observation network by integrating newly connected platforms and extended data streams, while maintaining long-term, continuous measurements across European seas and beyond. The network brings together a wide range of observing systems — from drifting buoys and deep-sea floats to research vessels, coastal instruments and river monitoring stations — creating a coordinated picture of ocean conditions from offshore waters to coastal and land–sea interface environments. This update highlights both the diversity of these observing systems and the persistence of data collection, reflected in the number of days of recording — an indicator that received strong positive feedback from stakeholders at the recent EMODnet Conference.

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

EMODnet thematic Coordinators from Syke, Finalnd (Seabed Habitats) and VLIZ, Belgium (Biology) are directly contributing to a new European Biodiversity Observation Coordination Centre (EBOCC) project which officially launched on 1 January 2026, holding its kick-off meeting on 11 February 2026. In the project, EMODnet will build on existing collaborations with the (marine and coastal) biodiversity observation and data actors, towards strengthened coordination also across domains, including beyond marine.

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.