The “International Ocean Data Conference – III” is currently accepting abstracts for its upcoming event, scheduled for 10–11 March 2025 in Santa Marta, Colombia. Abstracts should align with the themes listed on the conference website and adhere to the provided submission guidelines. All content must be in English. Presenters will be required to submit a prerecorded video and participate in the Q&A session associated with their presentation, either in person or virtually. Limited financial support is available for presenters from developing countries with accepted papers; individuals should indicate any funding needs during the abstract submission process. All abstracts must be submitted electronically by 24 January 2025 (midnight CET). Additional details can be found at: https://oceandataconference.org
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The BlueInvest Day 2025 is scheduled for March 5-6, 2025, at Sparks Meeting in Brussels, Belgium. This flagship event, organized by the European Commission, brings together innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors in the blue economy to foster partnerships and showcase cutting-edge solutions for sustainable growth. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in targeted breakout sessions, keynote speeches, panel discussions, and pitch sessions, all aimed at driving innovation and investment in marine and maritime industries. For more information and to register, please visit: BlueInvest Community website
Join the European Ocean Days 2025, taking place from 3-7 March 2025 in Brussels, Belgium, where policymakers, scientists, and stakeholders will gather to advance sustainable ocean management and governance. This flagship event will spotlight the latest strategies and partnerships driving progress in protecting marine ecosystems and fostering a sustainable blue economy. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in critical discussions shaping the future of our oceans. Learn more: European Ocean Days 2025
Registration for the European Ocean Days 2025 is now closed, but you can still join online! From 3-7 March 2025, policymakers, scientists, and stakeholders will gather in Brussels to advance sustainable ocean management and governance. This flagship event will showcase the latest strategies and partnerships driving marine protection and a sustainable blue economy. Don’t miss your chance to follow key discussions shaping the future of our oceans.
Find out more: Mission Ocean and Waters Forum and related events - European Commission
In February 2025, Athanasia (Sissy) Iona, Head of the Hellenic National Oceanographic Data Centre and EMODnet Data Ingestion Scientific Coordinator presented the pollutant maps in the EMODnet Map Viewer to the EMODnet Chemistry Board of experts on the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). She highlighted the recent improvements and new visualisations. EMODnet Chemistry has been interacting with stakeholders involved in the Regional Seas Conventions and the MSFD since its launch in 2009. In 2017, this contact was formalised with the establishment of the Board of experts on the MSFD. The role of the panel is to advise the Consortium on the scope and definition of data products and services from the perspective of their use in the MSFD assessments. Find out more about the work of the MSFD board on the EMODnet Portal.
New maps for contaminants are accessible on the EMODnet Map Viewer. The main purpose of these visualisations is to show the spatial and temporal variability of the data in the water column, in biota and in sediment. Currently, maps are available for 12 contaminants in all European sea basins and beyond. These contaminants belong to the following groups of variables: Heavy metals, hydrocarbons, pesticides and biocides, and antifouling agents. To learn more about EMODnet Chemistry's maps and data collections, follow us on this guided tour to explore the features of the Map Viewer.
Just over two years ago, in January 2023, EMODnet took a bold step by transforming from seven distinct Thematic Portals—covering Bathymetry, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Human Activities, Physics, and Seabed Habitats—into a single, unified web portal. Spearheaded by the EMODnet Central Portal Technical Team and thematic coordinators, this transition consolidated marine data access, simplifying user experience and enhancing efficiency.
Improved knowledge of coastal response to marine processes (resilience) and risk of coastal change (vulnerability) is crucial for coastal management in response to climate change. The new EMODnet Geology coastal resilience/vulnerability data product is a pan-European visualization, at variable scales, derived from a database of > 900 studies. Lower, intermediate and higher levels of coastline resilience/vulnerability are shown, with information on the wide range of methodological approaches used in their assessment indicating that geology and coastline shape (geomorphology) are key factors.
A new data set containing over 67,000 charted, uncharted, wrecks from around the world is now available on EMODnet. The data set is maintained by the UK Hydrographic Office and receives regular quarterly updates.
The 2025 UN Ocean Conference invites Member States, UN entities, Intergovernmental Organizations, and accredited non-governmental stakeholders to organize side events—either in-person or virtually. These events offer a platform to share knowledge, showcase solutions, and accelerate action toward achieving SDG 14: Life Below Water. Side events should align with the conference theme: “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean” and should explore innovative approaches to ocean sustainability.
For more information visit: https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/ocean2025/side-events
EMODnet and the EU DTO will be showcased at European Ocean Days 2025, a week-long event organized by the European Commission for marine and maritime stakeholders to convene, exchange and advance marine knowledge, sustainability, and innovation. As part of this broader initiative, EMODnet and EU DTO (underpinned by the EDITO initiative) will be showcased during Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters Forum, taking place on 4 March 2025. EDITO will host an interactive booth, highlighting its critical role in digital ocean research and data accessibility. Multiple EMODnet Coordinators, Secretariat and wider experts will also represent EMODnet and EMODnet’s role in EU DTO at the Marine Knowledge for the Ocean Pact event on 7 March 2025.
Visit the EU Ocean Days 2025 website for more information: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/events/upcoming-events/mission-ocean-and-waters-forum-and-related-events-2025-03-03_en
This new product, developed by Deltares in cooperation with the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, identifies areas suitable for reef habitats in the North Sea based on four key species occurrences and environmental variables such as bathymetry, grain size distribution, temperature and salinity.
EMODnet Bathymetry has consistently served as a key regional centre and significant contributor to the Nippon Foundation – GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project. Now, EMODnet Bathymetry has contributed its harmonized Digital Terrain Model (DTM) to a recently released, updated, Seabed 2030 map of the Arctic Seabed.
A detailed map of the seabed and its associated habitats is essential for the sustainable management of our oceans. One of EMODnet Seabed Habitats main products is EUSeaMap, which is a broad-scale habitat map for all European sea basins, as well as the Caribbean. It represents a comprehensive, free and ready-to-use classified map of physical seabed habitats. There is an ongoing requirement to update this map with new and revised input data, in order to improve spatial coverage and resolution, thereby enhancing its usefulness. This storymap illustrates the different phases of EUSeaMap from the first iteration in 2012 to the most recently published version - EUSeaMap 2023.
As a key EU pillar for Marine Knowledge and in situ marine data service of the European Commission (EC), DG MARE, EMODnet welcomes the European Ocean Pact and submitted an EMODnet response to the recent call for evidence which closed on 17 February 2025. The resulting EMODnet response is a collective response by the EMODnet Steering Committee, including the Secretariat, Central Portal and thematic and data ingestion coordinators and SC representatives. EMODnet was also a co-author to a response submitted by the European Ocean Observing System (EOOS) Steering Group.
The stakeholder survey on the 1st European Assessment Report on Sea Level Rise is still open for feedback until Tuesday, 4 February 2025. This is an opportunity to share your views on the report’s relevance, impact, and usefulness while also expressing your interest in contributing to the next phase of the Knowledge Hub on Sea Level Rise. Your input will help shape future efforts on sea level rise adaptation in Europe and ensure that the next assessment is even more effective and aligned with stakeholder needs. Take the survey today and make your voice count!
The European Commission is inviting stakeholders to provide input on the European Oceans Pact, a new initiative designed to strengthen ocean governance across all sectors. This is a key opportunity to help shape the future of Europe’s ocean policies by sharing insights on priorities, challenges, and opportunities for sustainable ocean management. Your feedback will play an essential role in ensuring coordinated, science-based, and impactful ocean governance that supports both environmental and economic goals. The consultation is open to marine and maritime professionals, policymakers, researchers, industry representatives, and civil society members. The survey is open until 17 February (Midnight Brussels time) offering a chance to contribute to the development of a robust and forward-looking approach to ocean management. Make your voice heard and participate today! Access the survey here:
EMODnet was represented by EMODnet Biology Coordinator Joana Beja at a recent visit of a federal Belgian delegation in InnovOcean, Ostend. The meeting focused on the agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), adopted on 19 June 2023 as an implementing agreement to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The meeting in Ostend was organised in the context of Belgium's candidacy to host the BBNJ Secretariat and included a presentation by VLIZ on the EMODnet offer.
This week, Costa Rica hosted the EMODnet Geology Caribbean Sea project meeting. The meeting, coordinated by the Instituto Geologico y Minero de España (IGME-CSIC), is bringing together experts, including geological services from the Association of Iberomerican Geological and Mining Surveys ASGMI, to advance the understanding of marine geology in the region. The project is successfully compiling harmonized geological data, covering seafloor geology, coastal behavior, and geological events. These data are essential for disaster prevention, resource management, and maritime strategy development, supporting the sustainable use of marine resources across Caribbean nations. EMODnet Geology plays a key role in ensuring that this valuable information is standardized, accessible, and ready to inform regional and international decision-making.
EMODnet showcased its partnership with Scuba Schools International and the German Foundation (GOF) at BOOT 2025, presenting the joint citizen science initiative which delivers ocean environmental data collected by scuba divers’ dive computers into EMODnet. The partnership was launched one year ago with EC DG MARE and EMODnet Physics, and already has thousands of data submitted to EMODnet, with the projection to include millions of ocean temperature data profiles alone! This year, the EMODnet Secretariat presented on the ‘Love your Ocean’ stage and had a stand together with GOF who also presented EMODnet during the week. BOOT is a world-leading boating and watersports exhibition, held in Düsseldorf, Germany, this year between 18-26 January 2025.