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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.

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!

In March 2017, EMODnet was mandated to create vessel density maps of EU waters showing the average number of vessels of certain type (cargo, passenger, fishing etc.) for a given period within a grid cell. This was a direct result of user demand, following a survey carried out in 2016 by EMODnet Human Activities where vessel density maps were, by far, the most requested geospatial data product. Dive into EMODnet’s Human Activities’ Vessel Density maps to see where ships travel in EU waters and how intensively they use different areas of the sea.

EMODnet is delighted to share further highlights from its recent Open Conference (OC) 2025, held on 25–26 November 2025 in Brussels, Belgium, including plenary recordings, presentations, photos and more. The OC brought together more than 450 participants from 33 countries on-site and online. As the European Union’s in situ marine data service, EMODnet showcased its essential role in delivering actionable marine data and knowledge for the European Ocean Pact the EU Ocean Observation Initiative and the European Digital Twin Ocean. The event also launched the EMODnet Vision 2035, a community roadmap for EMODnet’s service evolution over the next decade.

The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) community is proud to announce the publication of its VISION 2035, a common roadmap for EMODnet’s service evolution over the next decade. This includes a Summary for policy makers with the full VISION including extended recommendations for EMODnet’s service evolution to 2035.

More than 300 stakeholders gathered in Brussels for the EMODnet Open Conference on 25-26 November 2025 which showcased EMODnet’s role as an essential marine data service of the European Ocean Pact. This fourth edition attended by partners, Associated Partners including the private sector, the European Commission DG MARE, RTD, ENV, DEFIS, INTPA, JRC and more, launched the EMODnet community Vision 2035 with an ambitious – yet pragmatic and necessary - roadmap for strengthened investment into EMODnet’s service evolution over the next decade, to meet the emerging and expanding marine data needs of the Ocean Pact, the EU Ocean Observation Initiative and EMODnet as the in situ component of the European Digital Twin Ocean. The event kicked off a Marine Knowledge week, highlighting EMODnet as a cornerstone of EU marine knowledge. Stay tuned for full Highlights! Read more: EMODnet Open Conference 2025 and Vision 2035.

The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) community is proud to announce the publication of its VISION 2035, a common roadmap for EMODnet’s service evolution over the next decade.

The EMODnet Vision 2035 is a necessary document at a time when the urgency and societal demand for marine knowledge to meet societal challenges has never been higher. It is the EMOD-network’s response to the European Ocean Pact, providing tangible recommendations for how EMODnet as the European Union’s in situ marine data service can – and must – scale and expand, to realise its full potential as a cornerstone of European marine knowledge, serving the Ocean Pact and the EU Ocean Observation Initiative, delivering the in situ component of the European Digital Twin Ocean, boosting competitiveness in the Blue Economy, and as a world-class regional data service seamlessly connected to the global ocean digital ecosystem. The Vision showcases EMODnet, from its people to its digital services, and from its service offer to its value creation for policy, research and innovation, the Blue Economy and beyond. Concrete recommendations are presented across four-dimensions of the EMODnet value chain. In the Vision 2035 roadmap the community calls for at least a doubling in EMODnet's funding across the next multi-annual financial framework (MFF) to make this Vision a reality. This includes an expansion of the EMODnet partnership to all relevant in situ ocean observation and marine data actors, to maximise EMODnet’s potential to serve the EU Ocean Observation Initiative, the European Digital Twin Ocean, the wider Ocean Pact and the global ocean digital ecosystem.

Join us online on 13 November 2025 (15:00–16:30 CET) for the official launch of the EMODnet Vision 2035 — a forward-looking strategy outlining the next decade of Europe’s marine data services. Discover EMODnet’s core assets and strategic pillars, explore how its services are driving progress in policy, science, the Blue Economy, and society, and hear directly from members of the EMODnet Vision Drafting Group, representing partners and stakeholders across the marine data value chain. Register today and join the discussion.

The stage is set for the EMODnet Open Conference 2025, taking place on 25–26 November in Brussels with the launch of the full programme online. The event titled “EMODnet: an essential marine data service for the European Ocean Pact” will bring together EMODnet partners and wider marine data experts, policymakers, scientists, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and more to explore how EMODnet is a cornerstone of EU Marine Knowledge central to delivering the European Ocean Pact, and how EMODnet can further evolve to meet emerging EU policy, Blue Economy and wider user needs.

Abstract submissions are now open for the Living Data 2025 conference, taking place on 21–24 October 2025 in Bogotá, Colombia. Join the global biodiversity data community to discuss everything from technical advances in data standards to the role of data in science-policy action. Deadline: 20 May 2025.

Find more information: Living Data 2025 - Information that together, transforms 

Register now for the EMODnet Open Conference 2025, taking place on 25–26 November 2025 in Brussels, Belgium that will showcase EMODnet as an essential marine data service for the European Ocean Pact, EU Ocean Observation Initiative, European Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO) and global digital ocean data ecosystem.

The Conference will also present the EMODnet community Vision 2035 and will include dialogues on EMODnet's future service evolution. The EMODnet Conference is held back-to-back with the Digital Ocean Forum 2025, as part of a European Marine Knowledge Week.

We kindly invite you to register to attend and share the invitation throughout your network.

We look forward to seeing you at OC2025!

Join us online on 18 September 2025, 15:00–16:30 CEST for the official launch of EMODnet Vision 2035 – a forward-looking communication developed by the EMODnet community on opportunities and priority areas for EMODnet service evolution over the next decade. Discover EMODnet’s core assets and key pillars, explore how EMODnet is already making a difference to support policy, science, the Blue Economy and society, and hear directly from the EMODnet Vision Drafting Group representing the EMOD-network and key actors across the EMODnet value chain.

The 5th International Forum on Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (FBAS 2025) will take place from 6 to 8 September 2025 in Beijing, bringing together global experts, policymakers, and innovators to explore how big data can drive progress towards the SDGs. The forum will showcase cutting-edge data solutions, foster cross-sector collaboration, and promote the use of science-based evidence in decision-making for a more sustainable future.

Follow the link for more information.

The fourth edition of the Digital Ocean Forum will take place on 27-28 November 2025 in Brussels (Belgium). At this annual flagship event, ocean scientists and modellers, data scientists, researchers, innovators and policymakers will come together once again to take stock of recent developments and explore new opportunities towards the co-construction of the European Digital Twin Ocean, following the success of previous DOF editions and the showcasing of the EU DTO platform at the UN Ocean Conference 2025. Stay tuned for more information and registration details!

In the first six months of 2025 alone EMODnet responded to four key EU consultations related to ocean and environmental policy, open data and future EU funding. From the call for evidence to shape the European Ocean Pact to the GreenData4All, and consultations for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 and the European Data Union Strategy, it is clear that EMODnet provides actionable Marine Knowledge that is indispensable and increasingly in demand to underpin ocean and wider environmental policy in the EU including the EU Ocean Observation Initiative, and the European Digital Twin of the Ocean, to name a few!

On 15 July 2025 EMODnet met with EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis to showcase EMODnet’s flagship Marine Knowledge service. From supporting EU policy implementation to powering the European Digital Twin Ocean, EMODnet is a Marine Knowledge solution across all priority areas of the European Ocean Pact. These include assessing and restoring ocean health to boosting competitiveness in the blue economy, driving maritime innovation and underpinning ocean diplomacy and governance.

In 2024, EMODnet reinforced its status as a trusted European resource for marine data and knowledge. Following the successful launch of its upgraded portal in January 2023, EMODnet attracted over 120,000 annual visitors who benefited from streamlined access to extensive cross-thematic datasets. The newly published EMODnet 2024 Annual Report offers a detailed overview of the year's key achievements, user metrics, and essential facts and figures. It includes updates on thematic services, expanded geographic and temporal coverage, new parameters and data products, EMODnet's contributions to the European Digital Twin Ocean, broader EU and global partnerships, EMODnet's pivotal role in the European Atlas of the Seas communication tool, and much more. Read the full report.

The fourth edition of EMODnet's hackathon, Open Sea Lab (OSL) 4.0, took place virtually from 25-27 March 2025. This event brought together data scientists, software developers, social innovators, researchers and storytellers from across Europe and beyond to tackle pressing ocean challenges. Check out the Hackathon report and post-event video to learn about the activities and outcomes of the three-day hackathon.

EMODnet recently launched four new webpages, each dedicated to supporting sustainable ocean management, fostering innovation, and aiding evidence-based policymaking. Explore how EMODnet supports society, research and innovation, EU and global policy, and the blue economy, under the ‘Solutions’ tab of the EMODnet Portal. These new resources were published in time for European Maritime Day 2025 in Cork, Ireland.

Collaboration between Edge Hill University (EHU) and EMODnet Geology has enhanced understanding of coastal hazards, paving the way for sustainable coastal management in Europe. The collaboration, involving EHU student interns and an international team of experts, has developed the new EMODnet Geology coastal resilience/vulnerability map. The students used their digital mapping and data analyses skills to produce the map that underpins the data product. EMODnet Geology has provided valuable work experience, in an international setting, helping to train the next generation of geospatial analysts. Read more:

https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/emodnet-geology-collaborates-next-generation-geospatial-new-coastal-resilience-and-vulnerability