European Marine Observation and Data Network | EMODnet

Syke, Finland took on the role of EMODnet Seabed Habitats Coordinator in September, as the thematic started a new Phase (5) which will run to 2025.

A survey was recently launched to gather feedback from various stakeholders identified by the EMODnet Biology consortium. The results will be used to help us plan two workshops that will be held in 2024 and to align our work with the wider community requirements.

It is now possible to access and download the new aggregated, harmonised and validated datasets for floating micro-litter, seafloor litter and beach litter from the EMODnet Portal, produced by EMODnet Chemistry. With one click users can access trusted, FAIR datasets from many sources of several countries bordering European marine regions. Visit the EMODnet Products catalogue and dive into EMODnet Chemistry's selection of data products. These include data collections and several different thematic maps for eutrophication, ocean acidification, contaminants, and marine litter.

On 11-12 October 2023, EMODnet Chemistry participated in the final conference of the EUROqCHARM project: a coordination and support action funded by EU Horizon 2020, the EU Programme for Research and Innovation 2014-2020. As a partner of EUROqCHARM, EMODnet Chemistry and its role as the data collector and manager of marine litter at European level was endorsed by many experts from different organisations such as Ifremer, the EC Joint Research Centre and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), which coordinates EUROqCHARM.

The University of Aegean is a partner in the MUSICA (Multiple Use of Space for Island Clean Autonomy) project, that developed a smart multi-usage of space (MUS) platform for the concurrent use of three types of renewable energy – wind, photovoltaic and wave – at small islands. The MUS also contributed to the advancement of a successfully tested multi-use platform (MUP), which was previously developed by the University of Aegean and the private company EcoWindWater. In the process of finding optimal siting areas for the MUP, MUSICA used EMODnet map services and data to highlight areas of potential constraints.

EMODnet showcased its European marine data services and best practices at the recent Ocean Best Practice Systems (OBPS) VII workshop that took place online between 5-19th October 2023. EMODnet showcased its contributions to the marine data and ocean knowledge ecosystem in several sessions and across multiple workshops, including a joint EMODnet Secretariat - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) presentation on the use of ERDAAP, where EMODnet’s Conor Delaney presented how ERDDAP is integrated across all EMODnet thematics before a second presentation on the unified EMODnet services and se of OGC standards, amongst others.

Since the last newsletter, the EU Atlas was presented at a meeting of the Province West-Vlaanderen in Ostend, Belgium which gathered managers of visitors’ centers (e.g., nature parks, musea) of the Belgian coast. Opportunities for them to integrate the Atlas in their activities were discussed. Two map layers were embedded in a blog article on the OceanICU project about ocean carbon and wider society. The Teachers’ Corner was revamped. And, on the Maritime Forum, ‘Maps of the Week’ were published on algae production facilities, the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions, Education and Ocean Literacy and wind energy.

The EuroGOOS Conference 2023, which took place between 3rd – 5th October in Galway, Ireland, brought together marine and oceanographic experts from around the world, providing a platform for discussing the latest developments and initiatives in the field. At this year's event, Conor Delaney, Technical Coordinator for the EMODnet Secretariat, shed light on the critical role that EMODnet is playing in the EDITO-Infra, the European Digital Twin Ocean infrastructure project, working in collaboration with the Copernicus Marine Service.

On 9th -10th October 2023, the European marine scientific community and wider stakeholders gathered in Vigo, Spain, for the EurOCEAN 2023 Conference, organized by the European Marine Board, European Commission and supporting partners. EMODnet’s Head of Secretariat Kate Larkin spoke on the Panel “Ensuring Ocean knowledge in the age of the digital Ocean” together with representatives from Copernicus Marine Service/Mercator Ocean International, European Commission DG RTD, EuroGOOS, and the scientific modelling community. EurOCEAN 2023 delivered the Vigo Declaration. This called for sustained and coordinated ocean observation and ocean knowledge to achieve climate neutrality, reduce pollution and restore nature, including integrated land-sea policies and management and increased societal engagement towards more committed citizens to deliver Ocean sustainability solutions.

On 17th October 2023, EMODnet and VLIZ presented at the event “Navigating Big Data” hosted by Ostend Science Park. The EMODnet Secretariat’s Conor Delaney and Kate Larkin presented on EMODnet’s EU marine data services, EMODnet’s contribution to the EU Digital Twin and how big data are informing future EMODnet developments. Lennert Tyberhein, head of data centre at VLIZ presented VLIZ’s core role in EMODnet Central Portal, Biology and many EOSC related and other EU projects and initiatives including its increasing capability in data science. The event was attended by many representatives from the Blue Economy including the Offshore Renewable Energy sector.

EMODnet attended the Erasmus Maris Days which took place in Valencia, Spain on 26-27 October 2023, building upon ongoing dialogues between the Erasmus Maris citizen science initiative and EMODnet Chemistry and Data Ingestion which are working together to ingest marine litter and wider data collected by schools and wider citizens from inland waters and seas into EMODnet and the European Atlas of the Seas.

Save-the-date for an EMODnet webinar on 28 February 28, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. The event will bring together European Horizon Europe and EU Mission Ocean projects, lighthouses and more to present how EMODnet’s marine data and data product offer can underpin the ocean knowledge required, and how EMODnet’s Data Ingestion service can support data submission to the European and global ocean data ecosystem. Stay tuned for more information, including registration details!

The 8th edition of the International Conference on Marine Data and Information Systems (IMDIS) will be held in Bergen, Norway, from 27 to 29 May 2024. Join EMODnet and communities and stakeholders working in the fields of information technology, marine data management, research, environmental protection and more to share and exchange on the latest ocean data standards, products, services and software, as well as recent activities in terms of marine environmental infrastructure and observation systems.

EMODnet works hard to be fit-for-purpose by taking into account user needs and requirements, implementing technical upgrades to further enhance and simplify the user experience. What do you think of the EMODnet services? We’d love to hear your feedback on how you have experienced EMODnet and how we could further improve the website’s user-friendliness and usability, by filling our feedback form. It will only take 5 minutes of your time.