From 11 to 13 March 2025, the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics-OGS, which coordinates EMODnet Chemistry, was in Monaco to represent the consortium at the workshop on Harmonization of Monitoring and Assessment of Plastic Pollution of the Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter (GPML) Community of Practise (CoP). At the meeting, participants faced the challenging task of considering and bringing together different communities concerned with plastics in the economy and/or the environment, for example, as well as their best practices and terminologies.

EMODnet Geology has published a new Story Map on Seafloor Mapping, which shows the long process of geological mapping of the seafloor, interpretation of its results and the compilation of detail and overview map data. Finding and compiling spatial data of seafloor geology remains a challenge, because data and information is largely scattered, rarely compatible and often usable only by insiders. The main reason for this situation is the inaccessibility of the ocean floor and the need to use and rely on mostly geophysical methods. EMODnet is a solution as a leading European resource for marine geological data and data products – check out this latest communication to learn more!

EMODnet is proud to release an updated EMODnet Bathymetry Digital Terrain Model (DTM) based on 2024 bathymetry data. This open access data product has been a key EMODnet data product for some years and is already hugely popular with users. This latest release offers substantial enhancements, including the highest resolution harmonised seabed map of European sea regions to-date, made possible by the EMODnet Bathymetry Consortium and valuable input from EMODnet's broad network of collaborators, contributors, and experts.

In March 2025 EMODnet released an updated version of the Bathymetry Digital Terrain Model for Europe and European waters of the Caribbean (see article below for full details). The DTM has been a flagship EMODnet data product for many years, and the latest version is available on the EMODnet Portal Map Viewer. In this blog, EMODnet experts Conor Delaney, EMODnet Technical Coordinator and George Spoelstra, EMODnet Bathymetry, take a look into the latest DTM, explaining how this was created from a technical perspective, and how to access it via the EMODnet Portal.

On 25–27 March 2025, over 400 people joined the EMODnet Open Sea Lab 4.0 online, bringing together marine data users, data scientists, developers, and innovators from across Europe and beyond. Their mission: to co-create solutions to real-world ocean and coastal challenges using the EMODnet service and other open-source data. For this edition, participants were also given exclusive access to the full EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service data collections via the European Digital Twin Ocean cloud-based service, which also offers state-of-the-art analytical tools and modelling capabilities. The two top winning teams will pitch their solutions at European Maritime Day 2025 in Cork, Ireland! This flagship event ended a bumper Marine Knowledge Month following EU Ocean Days 2025 (see news articles below for more information).

On 20 March 2025, Kate Larkin, Head of the EMODnet Secretariat, will present EMODnet in a plenary presentation at the EU Open Data Days 2025 event, organized by the Publications Office of the European Union, taking place on 19-20 March 2025 at the European Convention Centre in Luxembourg (ECCL) and online. This event is cross-domain and will showcase success stories in open data, such as EMODnet for the marine domain. To find out more information and join online visit: https://data.europa.eu/en/euopendatadays?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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

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.

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 

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.

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.

EMODnet’s key work for EDITO will continue to strengthen in 2025, with the completion of the first phase of EDITO which delivered a common data lake between EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service, and a prototype EDITO platform, launched at the Digital Ocean Forum 2024. In 2025, the engagement with the EMODnet partners as well as wider stakeholders will increase, and we encourage you to watch this space for updates and announcements on how to get involved. And, in the meantime, you can get access to the EMODnet and CMEMS offer on the EDITO platform by signing up for the public, free Open Sea Lab 4.0 an EMODnet Hackathon series, which for this 2025 edition (online, 25-27 March 2025) sees a direct partnership with EDITO, in collaboration with Mercator Ocean International and Copernicus Marine Service.

EMODnet’s Biology experts have published a new open access paper addressing the challenges of creating biodiversity data products to address user needs, due to the complexity of biological systems and of the data derived from surveys designed without explicit biodiversity policy or management guidance, and the key role of EMODnet’s expertise for this thematic area.

Each EMODnet thematic is underpinned by an expert network as part of the wider EMOD-network. The EMODnet Chemistry Partnership celebrates its 15th birthday with the entire EMODnet community by summarising its 2024 highlights. EMODnet Chemistry was launched in 2009 and has been working for 15 years to put the FAIR data principles into practice. Over the years, technologies have changed, old methods have given way to new ones, but core partners have remained and have included more and more data centres and data providers. Let's discover together the key outcomes of EMODnet Chemistry 2024 and what's in the pipeline!

The EMODnet Secretariat presented highlights of an EMODnet for ports, marinas and boating sectors workshop at BOOT 2025, the international watersports show in Düsseldorf, Germany. The workshop, co-organised with the European Boating Industry, TransEurope marinas and the European Sea Ports Organisation produced a report in December 2024, with key outcomes presented directly to stakeholders from these Blue Economy sectors as part of the Blue Innovation Dock at BOOT 2025. Click below to read the full report.