"EMODnet News Digest" Newsletter Issues

EMODnet: An indispensable service for the EU Digital Twin Ocean: Highlights from the Digital Ocean Forum 2024 (27/06/2024)

EMODnet had a key role at the Digital Ocean Forum (DOF) 2024 held on 12-13 June 2024, at the Palace of the Academies in Brussels. Organised within the Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU, this milestone event unveiled the prototype of the European Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO), namely the EDITO-Infra backbone infrastructure and data lake powered by EMODnet and the Copernicus Marine Service. The event was co-organised by Mercator Ocean International (MOi), Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Seascape Belgium and the European Commission, with coordination from DG MARE and DG RTD.

The EMODnet Annual Report 2023 is now online! (27/06/2024)

2023 was a milestone year for EMODnet with the unification of thematic services, the OSL 3.0 Hackathon, the EMODnet Open Conference 2023 and much more! Learn more in the EMODnet Annual Report 2023, now published. This provides a comprehensive overview of the EMODnet service’s main achievements in 2023, user metrics and key facts and figures, thematic offer updates including new data products, new coverage for the Caribbean Sea and Caspian Sea, EMODnet data ingestion, EMODnet for the European Digital Twin Ocean, wider EU and global partnerships and EMODnet’s key role in the EC communication tool European Atlas of the Seas, etc.

EMODnet Quarterly Technical Blog #2 (June 2024) : Showcasing the EMODnet Map Viewer: Your tool for integrated marine knowledge discovery (27/06/2024)

In Spring 2024 EMODnet launched a technical blog, championed by the EMODnet Technical Coordinator Conor Delaney, to update EMODnet's diverse user community on latest service developments. This latest blog (#2 in the series) focuses on the EMODnet Map viewer, explaining how this key tool can be used to discover EMODnet's diverse offer of marine environmental and human activities data and data products and the latest features and functionalities, from map projections to visualisations. Dive in and discover EMODnet!

EMODnet 20th Steering Committee Minutes are published on EC Maritime Forum (27/06/2024)

EMODnet has published the presentations and minutes of the EMODnet 20th Steering Committee (SC), now available on the EC Maritime Forum. The event took place online on 29-30 April 2024. The open session included the EMODnet SC, Technical Working Group (TWG), and representatives from the EC (multiple DGs) and EU agencies. Key discussions focused on EMODnet’s service evolution, and EMODnet for EU Policy, with a session chaired by Rémy Denos, EC DG MARE and involving DG DEFIS, DG ENV, JRC and EEA, among others. Updates on thematic data, user uptake, and portal developments were presented. The closed session covered the EMODnet communication strategy, use cases, partnerships, and planning for Open Sea Lab 4.0. 

Strengthening Global Marine Biodiversity Data Collaboration (28/06/2024)

Two global biodiversity data networks, Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) and Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), have agreed to a joint strategy and action plan that will deepen their collaboration, improve the flows and services of high-quality data about marine and coastal biodiversity, and support research and decision-making on the world's oceans. This agreement will have positive implications for EMODnet Biology as data curation and management will become more streamlined and we expect a better and strengthened collaboration we have been developing over the years.

Vessel density maps receive an update with 2023 data (28/06/2024)

EMODnet’s vessel density maps have received their yearly update. The time series now covers the full period 2017-2023. Released for the first time in 2019, vessel density maps are one of the most popular EMODnet’s data product. The maps report vessel density per square kilometre per month and are broken down by ship type, available for viewing and download on the EMODnet Portal. The maps are created based on a bespoke method developed by the EMODnet team, which is made available on the Portal and has quickly become a de facto standard in the literature, being used by organisations and researchers from all over Europe and beyond. The vessel density maps are updated every year with data from the year before. With the latest update in 2024, the time series available on EMODnet covers the entire period from 2017 and 2023, thus making it possible to have historical comparisons of the evolution of ship traffic.

EMODnet Data in Action: Beach Litter Monitoring App and Venice Lagoon Plastic Free (28/06/2024)

EMODnet’s coastal and marine Litter data has been used in the REMEDIES Shoreline Marine Litter App co-designed by the Venice Lagoon Plastic Free (VLPF), together with Infordata Sistemi (Italy), developed within the Horizon Europe REMEDIES project. VLPF is a non-profit organization based in Venice (Italy), listed on the National Single Third Sector Registry (RUNTS), the EMODnet data providers list, supporter of the WWF Plastic Smart City Initiative and signatory of the EU Charter Restore our Ocean and Water mission. In the App, EMODnet’s extensive historical marine litter data were used for the pan European marine litter database.

Monthly dive into the European Atlas of the Seas (24/06/2024)

Four ‘Maps of the Week’ were published on the Maritime Forum and the EMODnet website: ‘World Ocean Day – Deepening our Understanding of the Ocean’, ‘Addressing Beach Litter - #EUBeachCleanup campaign’, ‘Day of the Seafarer and Maritime Traffic’ and ‘Nature Restoration and Marine Protected Areas’.

EMODnet, EDITO-Infra and the Digital Ocean Forum 2024 (28/06/2024)

EMODnet is the in situ pillar of EDITO-Infra and the European Digital Twin Ocean , playing a key role at the Digital Ocean Forum (DOF) 2024, held on 12-13 June 2024, at the Palace of the Academies in Brussels. The event celebrated the ongoing technical partnership between EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service that has delivered the prototype European Digital Twin Ocean, with the event being co-organised by Mercator Ocean International (MOi), Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Seascape Belgium and the European Commission (see News Digest highlight for more information).

EDITO is presented at Ecopath 40 Years (28/06/2024)

In early June 2024, the prototype European Digital Twin Ocean (DTO) EDITO-Infra platform was presented to the marine ecosystem modelling community by the EMODnet Technical Coordinator, Conor Delaney. The session “Data Lakes for Ecosystem Modelling” took place in the context of a wider Conference "Ecopath 40 Years – The Ecosystem Continuum: From Knowledge to Decisions", organized by the European Marine Board, held in Ostend, Belgium, from 3-8 June 2024.

EMODnet, Copernicus Marine Service, EUMETSAT and ECOPS deliver joint webinar on Marine Data for the UN Ocean Decade: A European focus (28/06/2024)

On 19 June 2024, EMODnet, Copernicus Marine Service, EUMETSAT and ECOPS delivered a joint webinar on Marine Data for the UN Ocean Decade: A European focus. Attracting > 300 registrations from ocean professionals spanning early to later career, and from many nations in Europe and beyond, the webinar showcased EU earth observation capacity, and EC marine data services that offer in situ and satellite marine data, open for all.

EMODnet collaborates with the EU Blue Economy Observatory and European Environment Agency at EMD 2024 (28/06/2024)

On 31 May 2024, EMODnet, the European Blue Economy Observatory (EBEO) and the European Environmental Agency (EEA), co-hosted an engaging workshop titled "Diverse Data Serving EU Policies and the Blue Economy for a Sustainable Future" as part of European Maritime Day (30-31 May 2024) in Svendborg, Denmark.The workshop presented the marine knowledge offer and services of EMODnet, EU-BEO and EEA and discussed the uses of diverse data from the marine environment, human activities at sea and socio-economic data to provide more integrated and holistic ocean knowledge as interoperable data layers that can work together for multiple uses, and as the marine knowledge evidence-base for ocean and wider environmental assessments. A new article with further information on the workshop is now available on the EMODnet Portal.

EMODnet Chemistry experts present at ONE BLUE project webinar (28/06/2024)

As part of European Green Week 2024, EMODnet Chemistry was invited to bring its experience and present EMODnet at the event "ONE-BLUE: synergies towards the Ocean and Marine Environment Protection". The event took place on 6 June and was centered on the Horizon Europe ONE-BLUE project, which aims to research the effects of emerging pollutants and climate change on marine biodiversity and biota. EMODnet’s Chemistry offer on marine pollutants and contaminants are very relevant for this work.

EMODnet at the Marine Habitat Mapping Brown Bag Lunch (28/06/2024)

On Monday, 17 June 2024, the European Marine Board (EMB) hosted a Brown Bag Lunch focused on marine habitat mapping to meet biodiversity, conservation, and restoration objectives. This event also marked the launch of EMB's Future Science Brief No. 11 on 'Marine Habitat Mapping.' The Future Science Brief was developed by the EMB Working Group on Marine Habitat Mapping, which includes several EMODnet Seabed Habitats experts.

Webinar showcasing EMODnet’s Chemistry offer for data exploration and extraction (28/06/2024)

Sebastian Mieruch and Reiner Schlitzer from the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) presented the Ocean Data View (ODV) software and its online version, i.e. webODV, to the EMODnet Chemistry Board of experts on the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive in a webinar on 31 May. AWI, a regular partner of EMODnet Chemistry since its inception, has been developing the ODV software for three decades and launched the webODV Data Explorer and Extractor in 2016. This provides cutting-edge and flexible tools for users who want to get the most out of EMODnet Chemistry's eutrophication and contaminant data.

EMODnet at the JPI Oceans Strategic Navigation Forum 2024 (28/06/2024)

EMODnet participated in the JPI Oceans Strategic Navigation Forum 2024, held on 11 June at the Comic Arts Museum in Brussels. This high-level event brought together stakeholders from the national, regional and European levels to discuss marine and maritime priorities post-2025. EMODnet experts are involved in a number of JPI activities including the JPI-Oceans and JPI-Climate Knowledge Hub for Sea-Level Rise, which will deliver the first European Sea-Level Rise Assessment later in 2024, and a new Knowledge Hub on Blue Carbon. EMODnet’s Head of Secretariat Kate Larkin emphasized the opportunity of using EMODnet and the European Digital Twin Ocean for integrated ocean knowledge and future marine and maritime decision-support tools. The event also discussed the importance of viewing ocean observation and marine data services not as costs but as crucial investments with significant returns on investment (ROI). 

The forum featured a plenary session with keynote addresses from leaders in marine and maritime research, followed by expert-led discussion panels and brainstorming, which will all be used to inform JPI-Oceans future agendas. 

For more details about the forum you can visit the JPI Oceans website

EMODnet Marine Data for Ports, Marinas and Boating Online Workshop (22/10/2024)

Join us on 22 October 2024 for the EMODent for Business online workshop "Marine data for ports, marinas and boating". The workshop will demonstrate the EMODnet service for the ports, marinas and boating industry sectors including how these Blue Economy sectors can further use and benefit from EMODnet, together with opportunities for data sharing.

The workshop is by invitation only. To express interest to attend, please contact: emodnet4business@emodnet.eu

Atlantic & Arctic Lighthouse Weekly Hour with EDITO (03/07/2024)

On 3 July 2024 from 2:00-3:00 PM CEST, BLUEMISSIONAA will host the Atlantic & Arctic Weekly Hour featuring the European Digital Twin Ocean (EDITO). In this webinar, Dr. Conor Delaney, European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet), will showcase the successful centralization of EMODnet and demonstrate how to find and download the data products of EMODnet. In addition, the role of EMODnet in the European Digital Twin Ocean infrastructure project (EDITO-Infra) will be described and attendees will get an understanding of what functionalities are available. EDITO-Infra is a joint EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service project to publish their respective data products on a common Data Lake that will provide fast, robust and scalable data access and computation and can be used for building Digital Twins of the Ocean.

EMODnet Survey (28/06/2024)

Your Feedback Matters! EMODnet continues to evolve to better serve your needs. Our survey is designed to gather your valuable feedback on our services. Whether you have spotted a technical bug, or you visited to search for the latest data products or use cases, we want to hear from you! Your input is crucial in enhancing our website's user-friendliness and usability. Share your thoughts and help us improve your EMODnet experience by filling out our survey. 

EMODnet makes waves at European and International Conferences in May 2024 (31/05/2024)

EMODnet made waves in May at a number of key European and International Conferences. EMODnet’s engagement with the industry-led Geospatial World Forum 2024 in Rotterdam, Netherlands in mid-May featured dialogues with Hydrographic offices and EMODnet Associated Partner Fugro. This was followed by a large delegation of EMODnet experts at the International Conference on Marine Data and Information Systems, held in Bergen, Norway. The same week EMODnet attended the European Maritime Days 2024 in Svendborg, Denmark, where EMODnet co-organised a workshop with the EU Blue Economy Observatory and European Environment Agency and celebrated with EC DG MARE and CINEA 10 years of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF, formerly EMFF). EMODnet also had an exhibition booth, in partnership with Seabed 2030 and the International Hydrographic Offices (IHO). EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service also co-organised a booth for the EU Digital Twin Ocean. June 2024 is also set to bring EMODnet’s key partnerships to the forefront with EMODnet speaking at the Copernicus Marine Service General Assembly and Digital Ocean Forum, providing expert mentors to the OceanHack2024 and running a joint webinar on EU marine data services for the UN Ocean Decade. See below and stay tuned for more information!

EMODnet Seabed Habitats at GEOHAB 2024 (31/05/2024)

EMODnet Seabed Habitats participated in the recent GEOHAB 2024 Conference held in Arendal, Norway from 6-10 May 2024. This event was co-hosted by GRID-Arendal/University of Tasmania and the Geological Survey of Norway, in partnership with Ophelix Scandinavia AS.

EMODnet Biology reflects on one year of Phase V (31/05/2024)

As EMODnet Biology reaches the end of the first year of Phase V, the thematic provides an overview of activities and a forward look to the year ahead.

Ocean acidification (OA): EMODnet experts join workshop with NOAA and UNESCO on OA global data management (31/05/2024)

On 7-8 May EMODnet Chemistry joined a hybrid workshop in Venice (Italy) and online which also brought together experts from ICOS, NOAA and UNESCO to discuss how to manage ocean carbon system data on a global scale. Monitoring and reporting ocean acidification data is an important prerequisite for minimising and combating the effects of ocean acidification, which is one of the targets of Goal 14 "Life Below Water" of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

EMODnet Geology celebrates outgoing Coordinator and extends collaboration with Seabed Habitats (31/05/2024)

The EMODnet Geology partner meeting was held at the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) headquarters in Espoo, Finland, on 14-17 May 2024. About 50 project delegates gathered to discuss EMODnet Geology’s current activities, which included an exchange with the coordinator of Seabed Habitats to deepen collaboration between the two lots. EMODnet Geology partners also celebrated their long-time Coordinator Henry Vallius, who has excellently led the project for many years, as there will be a change in the coordination in June when Dr Vallius and the deputy coordinator Anu Kaskela change roles.

EMODnet Biology data underpins modelling marine mammal distributions for conservation action (31/05/2024)

Two ongoing EU Horizon Europe projects, MPA Europe and MARCO-BOLO, are working on producing species distribution models to support conservation action. The underlying species occurrence information is sourced from EMODnet Biology holdings available in OBIS through the European regional OBIS node (EurOBIS). MPA Europe and MARCO-BOLO are collaborating and exchanging experiences in distribution modeling. As a case study, models for the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) were developed and compared, showing that different approaches successfully capture the species' distribution.

A simple dashboard for visualising trends in oxygen and nitrate concentrations, utilising EMODnet Chemistry (31/05/2024)

The EU-funded H2020 project EOSC-Future ran from April 2021 to March 2024, implementing the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). It offered European researchers a virtual platform for sharing and accessing data across disciplines and borders. EOSC-Future developed key EOSC components. EMODnet Chemistry helped addresses the data integration challenges, enabling users to explore diverse environmental data.

EMODnet Marine litter data used to develop and test the first Marine Litter Assessment Tool (31/05/2024)

EMODnet Chemistry marine litter data has contributed to a marine litter assessment tool developed by the EUROqCHARM EU-funded H2020 project that lasted from 1 November 2020 – 31 October 2023. The project provided harmonised methodologies for the monitoring and assessment of marine plastics (macro-, micro- and nano-) in all environmental compartments: water, soil/sediment, air, and biota. Additionally, it released blueprints for standards of marine litter monitoring and data management and recommendations for policy and legislation.

Monthly dive into the European Atlas of the Seas (21/05/2024)

A new map layer titled ‘European Maritime Day in My Country 2024’ has been added to the European Atlas of the Seas. The Atlas team has hidden five images in this map layer! They invite you to play a new game – the Blue Economy Challenge – to find these images. Five ‘Maps of the Week’ were published on the Maritime Forum and the EMODnet website: ‘AQUARIUS Project and Examples of Ocean Observation Instruments’, ‘European Maritime Day’, ‘European Maritime Day in My Country 2024’, ‘Marine Natura 2000 sites’ and ‘The EU4Ocean Coalition at European Maritime Day’.

EMODnet and the European Digital Twin Ocean (31/05/2024)

EMODnet will be well represented at the 3rd edition of the Digital Ocean Forum (DOF) in Brussels, Belgium (12-13 June 2024). As the key pillar for in situ marine data services, EMODnet is a key contributor to the public infrastructure backbone of the European Digital Twin Ocean (DTO) through the EDITO-Infra project, in collaboration with the Copernicus Marine Service. The high-level event will be web streamed, allowing you to follow all new European DTO developments live. Stay tuned for more information coming soon on our social media channels!

Data for the UN Ocean Decade – A European focus (31/05/2024)

Mark your calendars! Final planning is underway for the “EU marine data services Ocean Decade Data” Webinar kicking off on 19 June. This webinar is co-organized by EUMETSAT, Copernicus Marine Service, EMODnet and the ECOP Programme, in collaboration with the UN Ocean Decade Coordination Office for Ocean Data Sharing (ODS). The webinar will showcase European marine data services and how these already contribute to the UN Ocean Decade and global initiatives. This series is designed for international audiences from diverse backgrounds and aims to foster a user-driven approach to marine data utilization. You can find more information on participation here!

Geophysical World Forum 2024: Hydrospatial Infrastructure and Blue Economy Summit (31/05/2024)

The EMODnet Secretariat presented EMODnet’s diverse marine data service at the Hydrospatial Infrastructure and Blue Economy Summit, part of the Geophysical World Forum 2024 which took place between 13-16 May 2024. EMODnet joined a session on integrated ocean knowledge, together with Seabed 2030, Hub Ocean and the Danish Geodata Agency, among others. EMODnet partners and data contributors from national hydrographic offices were also present, speaking in related sessions together with EMODnet Associated Partner Fugro. Presentations and further information are available at: https://geospatialworldforum.org/  

EMODnet at IMDIS 2024 (31/05/2024)

EMODnet turned out in force for the International Conference on Marine Data and Information Systems (IMDIS) which took place between 27-30 May 2024 in Bergen, Norway, with multiple oral and poster presentations from EMODnet Data Ingestion, EMODnet thematics Biology, Chemistry, Bathymetry and others, together with the Central Portal technical team and Secretariat, together with other key actors in the marine data management community including SeaDataNet who also co-organised the event. More information is available here: https://imdis.seadatanet.org/ 

EMODnet at EMD 2024 (31/05/2024)

EMODnet teamed up with a number of European services and key stakeholders at EMD2024 held on 30-31 May 2024 in Svendborg, Denmark. EMODnet co-organised a workshop on diverse data for the Blue Economy and EU Policy with the European Blue Economy Observatory and the European Environment Agency (EEA). This included presentations by EMODnet Human Activities and the Secretariat. The EMODnet EC marine data service booth was visited by diverse stakeholders ranging from policy makers and the research community to the private sector, non-governmental agencies and citizen science initiatives. This year’s booth was held in partnership with the International Hydrographic Office (IHO) and Seabed 2030, enabling the dialogue on how EMODnet Bathymetry contributes to global seabed mapping initiatives. EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service also co-organised a booth on the EU Digital Twin Ocean showcasing EU marine data services supporting EU Green priorities. Read the newly published article on the ongoing is co-operation between these two EC marine data services here.

Ocean Predict Symposium 2024 (18/11/2024)

Join the Ocean Predict (OP) 2024 Conference from November 18-22 2024, to be held at the IOC-UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France. This event is specifically designed to strengthen cooperation and partnerships among diverse ocean science and service communities. The event will address sustainable development, the blue economy, and societal awareness. OP 24 will feature sessions on ocean predictions, covering global, basin-scale, coastal, regional, and polar ocean and sea ice predictions. Attendees will explore new developments in measurements, observations, modeling, data assimilation, machine learning/AI, and digital twins.

EMODnet at the UN Ocean Decade Conference (29/04/2024)

EMODnet experts from the Secretariat and wider partnership represented EMODnet at the first United Nations Ocean Decade (UN OD) Conference 2024, held in Barcelona from 10-12 April. EMODnet contributed to the Ocean Prediction booth and to number of sessions and week-long side events spanning Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPS) for the European Digital Twin Ocean (DTO), CoastPredict and the JPI Knowledge Hub on Sea Level Rise, the UN OD Challenge 8 digital representation of the ocean, and invited presentations at European project side events.

EMODnet Vision 2035 Drafting Group kicks-off (29/04/2024)

EMODnet formally kicked off its Vision 2035 activities in April 2024 with the first meeting of the EMODnet Vision 2035 Drafting Group, which is coordinating a Vision to 2035 of EMODnet’s service evolution. The Group consists of representatives from all EMODnet thematics, data ingestion, central portal and Secretariat, also including Sea-basin Checkpoint Coordinators, EMODnet Associated Partners and key actors from the EU and Global stakeholder community. A key input to the Vision 2035 will be a public consultation, planned for launch in early summer 2024, open to all. Stay tuned to have your say in EMODnet’s future evolution!

EMODnet 20th Steering Committee meets online (30/04/2024)

On 29-30 April 2024 the EMODnet Steering Committee (SC) met online for its 20th meeting. The open session was attended by diverse representatives of the EC and EU agencies, including CINEA, EC DG MARE, DEFIS, ENV, RTD, JRC, and the European Environment Agency (EEA), with a dedicated discussion on EMODnet for EU Policy, Chaired by Rémy Denos, EC DG MARE. EMODnet thematic and data ingestion Coordinators together with the Central Portal technical team presented the latest EMODnet offer and ongoing developments. The closed session included operational discussions, including planning for the next EMODnet hackathon ‘Open Sea Lab 4.0’ (more news to follow).

EMODnet Ingestion New Phase Kick-Off Meeting in Malta (29/04/2024)

The University of Malta hosted the kick-off meeting for the new phase of EMODnet Ingestion, welcoming around 45 partners to discuss the project's progress and plan its next steps. The gathering was an opportunity for stakeholders to review the challenges encountered, celebrate achievements, and outline the future direction for EMODnet Ingestion, one of the key components of the EMODnet network.

EMODnet Biology Annual Meeting and Workshop with the Regional Sea Conventions (29/04/2024)

This year colleagues from NIMRD, Romania hosted the EMODnet Biology annual meeting. The meeting took place over two days, on April 16th and 17th and had 20 colleagues joining on-site and 16 others online. Back-to-back EMODnet Biology organised a workshop with Regional Sea Conventions.

Data quality: EMODnet Chemistry Coordinator OGS becomes a UNESCO-accredited data centre (29/04/2024)

The National Oceanographic Data Centre of the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophisics (OGS) coordinate EMODnet Chemistry. As OGS celebrates its twentieth anniversary it also reached an important achievement: UNESCO certification of OGS as a UNESCO-accredited data centre, confirming the quality of the work done by the OGS NODC Italy team.

EMODnet at EGU 2024 (29/04/2024)

EMODnet made a significant impact at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly (EGU 2024) in Vienna, with presentations from EMODnet experts spanning the Chemistry and Geology thematics, among others. At the event, EMODnet Chemistry highlighted its collaboration with NOAA and UNESCO, focusing on accurate, detailed open-access data on ocean acidification. This is crucial for monitoring and reporting on progress towards specific ocean acidification targets under the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Simultaneously, EMODnet Geology presented its comprehensive range of products, including the innovative seabed erosion index database. This showcase reflected the work of a robust consortium of 40 partners and subcontractors, committed to delivering harmonized marine geological data products.

EMODnet Welcomes three new Associated Partners (29/04/2024)

EMODnet is pleased to announce and welcome 3 new associated partners in Spring 2024: Renewable Grid Initiative (RGI), Voice of the Ocean (VOTO) and Oceano VOX. Each new member brings unique expertise and a strong commitment to advancing collaboration with EMODnet in the areas of data sharing, best practices in marine data, information technology and data services, and expanding the users of EMODnet, including for the Blue Economy.

EMODnet eutrophication data used in climatology for the Adriatic Sea (29/04/2024)

As part of the AdriaClim project, researchers from the University of Bologna and the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change in Italy utilized EMODnet Chemistry data to create a detailed 3D biogeochemical model for the Adriatic Sea. Their analysis yielded insights into future biogeochemical changes driven by climate change, affecting marine ecosystems and key economic sectors like fisheries.

Monthly dive into the European Atlas of the Seas (16/04/2024)

On 12 April 2024, the European Atlas of the Seas’ team participated in the kick-off event of the European Youth Week . The Atlas was promoted at the combined Youth4Ocean Forum and Education for Climate booth. This provided a great opportunity to meet young people and to share the story of the cooperation between the Education for Climate Coalition and the European Atlas of the Seas that led to the development of the map layer ‘Education for Climate: Water surface temperature measured by students’. On 25-26 April, teachers and students participating in the Science is Wonderful! science fair were able to learn about the Atlas through a quiz and Atlas demonstrations. Four ‘Maps of the Week’ were published on the Maritime Forum and the EMODnet website: ‘Land-Sea Interface and European Coastline Formations’, ‘Youth4Ocean Forum Activities at the European Youth Week’,‘United Nations Ocean Decade Conference and European Union Mission to Restore our Ocean and Waters’ and ‘Science, marine research infrastructures and Ocean Literacy’.

EDITO at the UN Ocean Decade Conference 2024 (29/04/2024)

EMODnet has a key role in the EDITO project underpinning the European Digital Twins of the Ocean (DTO). In this capacity, EMODnet presented at the “DTO4ECOPS” satellite event in Barcelona on 9 April, as part of the Ocean Decade week ahead of the United Nations Ocean Decade Conference. This engaging session brought together leading European and international marine data services to explore the impact and potential of DTO's. A key focus was on how these innovative tools can empower Early Career Ocean Professionals, fostering new opportunities and insights in ocean science and management. The Central Portal technical team of EMODnet (VLIZ and the EMODnet Secretariat) continue to coordinate EMODnet’s contribution to the European Digital Twin Ocean via the EDITO infrastructure project. This is increasingly engaging all EMODnet thematics to enable EMODnet’s full offer to be made available in cloud-optimised formats on the EDITO platform. The latest developments will be showcased at the Digital Ocean Forum (DOF) on 12-13 June 2024 in Brussels.

UN Ocean Decade Activities by EMODnet (29/04/2024)

EMODnet is a UN Ocean Decade Implementing Partner. In April 2024 the EMODnet network was very active in presenting EMODnet at the UN Ocean Decade Conference and related side events in Barcelona, including for Digital Twins of the Ocean, Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPS), Ocean Observing and Ocean Prediction, Private Sector Data Sharing, Sea Level Rise, and more. In addition, EMODnet, EUMETSAT and Copernicus Marine Service will host a joint webinar on 19 June 2024 titled “Data for the UN Ocean Decade: A European focus”. Further information will be shared soon on EMODnet and co-organiser social media channels.

EMODnet at the GREAT Final Event (29/04/2024)

EMODnet experts from VLIZ and the Secretariat participated in the final event of the Green Deal Data Space (GREAT) Project, held on 23 April at the Press Club in Brussels. This event marked the end of the 20-month project on the Green Deal Data Space Preparatory Action, celebrating the project achievements which included wider stakeholder surveys. As a result of proactive inputs by the EMODnet community into these consultations, EMODnet was highlighted as a best practice for data spaces in the marine domain, a key component of the future trans-domain Green Deal Data Space (GDDS). The event highlighted key findings and successful collaborations that have laid a solid foundation for future projects. If you missed it, re-watch the live stream: https://go.egi.eu/rv8NV.

European Maritime Day 2024 (30/05/2024)

EMODnet will be active at the upcoming European Maritime Day (EMD) 2024, with an EMODnet booth, contributions to an EDITO (EU DTO) booth and with EMODnet co-organising a workshop on 31st May at 11:15am-12:45pm on diverse data for EU policy and the Blue Economy, together with the European Blue Economy Observatory and the European Environment Agency (EEA). Register by 10 May to secure your spot and stay tuned for more information. We look forward to seeing you there!

European Blue Forum 2024 (30/05/2024)

Back-to-back with EMD2024,  the European Blue Forum will hold its Annual Meeting, "From Position to Practice," in Svendborg, Denmark, on May 30, 2024. This year's event, offers an invaluable platform to collectively shape the blue economy's future. The event is hybrid, in person or online and will include interactive workshops designed to transform ideas into impactful practices, and the future workplan for the next 18 months, promoting collaboration with stakeholders to build sustainable practices that benefit the oceans and us all. Registration is open until May 8, 2024.

OceanHack4EU Hackathon (03/06/2024)

The virtual Copernicus Marine Service #OceanHack4EU hackathon will be held online from 3-7 June, gathering participants to tackle one of the many challenges the ocean faces. Teams will be invited to create innovative and impact-driven ocean solutions using marine earth-observation data, to contribute to protecting and restoring the health of our ocean. Data from EMODnet and EUMETSAT will also be made available during the hackathon.

Register now!

EMODnet EUSeaMap is showcased in new EMB publication on ‘Marine Habitat Mapping.’ (17/06/2024)

EMODnet Seabed Habitat experts played a key role in a new European Marine Board Future Science Brief No. 11 which will be launched at an event on 17th June 2024 in Brussels, Belgium. This publication was written by the EMB Working Group 'Marine Habitat Mapping, which included multiple EMODnet experts as members. The resulting publication showcases the unique off of the EMODnet EUSeaMap, a pan-European broad-scale seabed habitat map, and the key role that EMODnet has played as a data aggregator, standardising and harmonising data from diverse sources to produce an interoperable data product and data layers for Europe. There is still time to register to join in-person or online and learn how marine habitat mapping can best support key European and international commitments on marine biodiversity, conservation, restoration and management.

EMODnet showcased at the European Ocean Days 2024 (27/03/2024)

EMODnet was presented at the European Ocean Days 2024, which took place in Brussels between 4th-8th March. EMODnet experts joined multiple events across the week-long activities, including the EU Mission: Restore Our Ocean and Waters Forum and related European Parliament event, the 'Where Next for Europe's Seas' event and BlueInvest Day. EMODnet and the EU Atlas of the Seas were also exhibited at the Ocean Literacy in Action Day, highlighting the power of the EMODnet EC marine data service and EU Atlas EC web mapping communication tool for providing open and free access to marine data, information and knowledge for professional users and society.

EMODnet launches a Technical Blog on EMODnet services (27/03/2024)

BLOG #1 (March 2024): EMODnet’s technical state-of-the-art as a unified Portal. The EMODnet EC in situ marine data service is enabled by a large expert community of technical experts in thematic data, data and web services, data ingestion and more. One year on from the launch of EMODnet’s unified Portal, EMODnet launches a technical blog that brings the technical developments and achievements of the EMOD-network to the forefront, championed by EMODnet’s Technical Coordinator, Conor Delaney. The blog is intended for wider stakeholders who use and/or contribute to EMODnet and would like to know more about the latest state-of-the-art in EMODnet services. The technical blog will be released quarterly.

Explore EMODnet Open Conference 2023 Highlights Video: Out Now! (27/03/2024)

Four short months ago, the EMODnet community gathered in Brussels for the EMODnet Open Conference and Jamboree 2023 Re-immerse yourself in the energy and insights of the Conference plenary, panel discussions, townhalls and networking, and get a snapshot of EMODnet’s rich and diverse network and valued stakeholders, all in the newly released EMODnet OC 2023 highlights video!  This video complements the Conference Report that was released earlier this year. The Conference Virtual Exhibition remains open until November 2024.

EMODnet Guidelines for European Project Data Submissions (27/03/2024)

EMODnet Data Ingestion, in collaboration with EMODnet Thematic Coordinators and the Secretariat, have produced an EMODnet Guidance document on European project data submissions to EMODnet. This is an output from the webinar 'EMODnet for Horizon Europe and Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters' on 28th February 2024, organised by EMODnet, in collaboration with EC DG MARE.

EMODnet stakeholder workshop explores harmonized data management in offshore licensing procedures (27/03/2024)

On 29th February 2024, stakeholders from 18 different countries gathered online for an EMODnet Data Ingestion workshop, focusing on data management in offshore licensing procedures. The workshop, organized by EMODnet Data Ingestion and facilitated by partner Deltares, aimed to provide an overview of the diverse approaches and practices surrounding marine data management in offshore licenses, particularly in aquaculture and renewable energy sectors.

EMODnet Biology first data harvest of 2024 (27/03/2024)

More than 100,000 new occurrence records have been published by EMODnet Biology in the first data harvest of 2024, including more than 100,000 biodiversity occurrence records, making EMODnet Biology data holdings surpass the 40 million occurrence records threshold.

EMODnet services underpin science-based, data-driven Maritime Spatial Planning and Marine Protected Area networks (27/03/2024)

The Horizon Europe MSP4Bio project used EMODnet multidisciplinary marine in situ data, including from Bathymetry, Biology and many other thematic data, to inform an Ecological-Socio-Economic (ESE) management framework used for science-based MSP to safeguard and restore biodiversity in a coherent European MPA network. Read the use case here.

Monthly dive into the European Atlas of the Seas (21/03/2024)

In March, the European Atlas of the Seas’ team contributed to the Ocean Literacy in Action conference and exhibition organised in the framework of the European Ocean Days and the EU4OCEAN Science Projects Online Workshop (SPOW) on Plastic Pollution and Working with Ocean Technology. The team organised a workshop in Dutch for pupils in the fifth grade of primary school at the De Plataan school in Merchtem (Belgium). The Atlas poster was featured at the VLIZ Marine Science Day and the "Where next for Europe’s Seas" event. Five ‘Maps of the Week’ were published on the Maritime Forum and the EMODnet website: ‘European Ocean Days - Mission Restore our Ocean & Waters Forum’, ‘EU4Ocean – Ocean Literacy in Action’, ‘Regional Sea Conventions’, ‘World Water Day – Cooperation towards sustainable management of water and peace’ and ‘International Day of Zero Waste’.

Join us at the Digital Ocean Forum 2024 (27/03/2024)

The Digital Ocean Forum (DOF) 2024 takes place on 13th June 2024, from 10:00 to 16:30 CET at the Palace of the Academies in Brussels. This high-level gathering will be hybrid and open to the public and will feature the prototype of the European Digital Twin of the Ocean (DTO), powered by EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service via EDITO. The DOF 2024 Forum will showcase the capabilities of the EU DTO as a Commission public service, building on existing EU marine data service capability and demonstrating the European DTO's role as an additional asset to drive applications and solutions for ocean resource management, ocean and climate change and a green transition and sustainable operations for the Blue Economy. Discover how the EU DTO aligns with the Green Deal and the UN Decade of Science for Sustainable Development.

EMODnet presents EDITO-Infra at the European Iliad project webinar series (27/03/2024)

EMODnet, represented by EMODnet Biology Coordinator Joana Beja, VLIZ, Belgium, presented EDITO-Infra and EMODnet’s contribution in a webinar hosted the European project Iliad titled ‘Digital Twins of the Ocean and Biodiversity’.

Join EMODnet at the UN Ocean Decade Conference 2024! (27/03/2024)

EMODnet experts from across the network will be in Barcelona for the week-long UN Ocean Decade Conference 2024, 8th-12th April. You will find us in the official Conference exhibition area in a joint booth of EMODnet, Copernicus Marine Service and the Ocean Prediction Decade Coordination Centre, and at numerous side events spanning Digital Twins of the Ocean, Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPS), Ocean Observing, Private sector data sharing, Sea Level Rise and more.

EMOD-PACE article highlights EMODnet global partnerships (28/03/2024)

EMOD-PACE (The EMODnet Partnership for China and Europe) between the National Marine Data and Information Service of China (NMDIS) and EMODnet has produced an article published in the Friends of Europe magazine. The article highlights the importance of EMODnet global partnerships and ocean data sharing collaborations at global level to tackle global challenges. You can read the full article here.

EMODnet Biology Training Course with IOC/OTGA: Enhancing Marine Biodiversity Data Sharing (27/03/2024)

The EMODnet Biology/EurOBIS team presents an invaluable training course designed to empower data providers in understanding the EMODnet Biology project and its connections with international initiatives like OBIS and GBIF.

Ocean Data Sharing Survey for Decade Actions (27/03/2024)

The Decade Coordination Office (DCO) for Ocean Data Sharing has prepared a survey to solicit feedback from all Decade Actions to better understand the needs and challenges you face to find, use, manage and share ocean data and information. Your responses would greatly help the DCO to identify where and how they can best support your Action(s). The survey will remain open until Friday 5th of April. The EMODnet secretariat is preparing a submission, and wider partners and stakeholders are encouraged to also submit. Visit the DCO-ODS website and complete the Ocean Data Sharing Survey!

EMODnet is demonstrated at VLIZ Marine Science Day 2024 (27/03/2024)

EMODnet demonstrated its cross-disciplinary services alongside EMODnet Biology and EDITO-Infra at an exhibition at VLIZ Marine Science Day 2024. The event took place at De Grote Post in Ostend on Wednesday, 6th March 2024 and attracted over 450 researchers, many from higher education and early career professionals.

EMODnet is showcased at OI 2024, the OI 2024 Special Edition Hydro International magazine and EOOS Technology Forum (27/03/2024)

EMODnet was well represented at the Oceanology International 2024 and European Ocean Observing System (EOOS) Technology Forum that took place back-to-back in mid-March 2024 in London, UK. EMODnet Physics, Chemistry, Data Ingestion and wider experts were on-site, complementing a pan-EMODnet feature article in the Hydro International magazine that accompanied the OI 2024 event. 

Value of Ocean and Climate data is emphasised at Equinox II Summit (28/03/2024)

The EMODnet Secretariat attended the Equinox Summit "European Climate change Science Summit" on 26th March 2024 in Brussels, co-organised by JPI Climate and European project MAGICA and held under the auspices of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union. The event was attended by many National representatives from Ministries and public authorities, EU policy makers, JPI Climate, JPI Oceans, European projects and wider stakeholders. The event highlighted the value and crucial role of high-quality ocean and climate data, information and science to understand Climate Change and to inform mitigation and adaptation solutions. The EMODnet offer of marine environmental and human activities data spans Ocean and Climate, including Sea Level Rise data products, relevant for the first European Assessment Report on Sea Level Rise coordinated by JPI Oceans and JPI Climate, which will be launched in late Spring 2024.

EMODnet continues to inform EU MSP at MSP Data Tools and Guidance Workshop by EC TEG on Data for MSP (27/03/2024)

EMODnet experts from the Human Activities and Secretariat presented EMODnet and provided technical advice at the Technical Expert Group (TEG) on Data for Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) workshop “MSP Data tools and Guidance” which was held as a hybrid event on 13th March 2024.

Join EMODnet at the European Maritime Day 2024: Registration is now open! (30/05/2024)

Secure your spot at European Maritime Day 2024, taking place in Svendborg, Denmark, on 30th-31st May 2024. EMODnet will be there with an exhibition booth and co-organising a joint workshop on 2 EC services ‘EMODnet and the Blue Economy Observatory’ to be held on-site on 31st May late morning.  All plenary sessions will be live-streamed, however on-site participation is recommended for full engagement with the hundreds of marine and maritime stakeholders attending. Register by 10th May 2024: Register now for the European Maritime Day 2024!The EC are also hosting the European Blue Forum on 30th May 2024 back-to-back with EMD 2024, with separate registration.

Hear EMODnet service updates at IMDIS 2024: Registration is open! (27/05/2024)

EMODnet has multiple oral and poster presentations at the International Conference on Marine Data and Information Systems (IMDIS) taking place in Bergen, Norway, and online on 27th-29th May 2024. Join the large SeaDataNet, EMODnet and wider data management community for the latest developments in this space. Registration is open (early bird rate by 15th April). 

Registration is open for the Thalassa 2024 Marine Sciences Conference! (28/05/2024)

The Thalassa 2024 Marine Sciences Conference, organised by EMODnet Associated Partner the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI), will take place on 28th-29th May 2024 in Larnaca, Cyprus. Registration is open until 15th April here.

The EGI2024 Call for Abstracts is now open. (24/04/2024)

This year, the EGI federation of computing and storage resource providers are holding their annual EGI conference in Lecce, Italy, in collaboration with the CMCC Foundation from 30th September until 4th October 2024. Different contribution types are accepted (short and long talks, posters, and demonstrations) across a variety of topics. Deadline: 24th April, 2024. 

Register for the ICES Annual Science Conference 2024! (09/09/2024)

Registration has opened for the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Annual Science Conference 2024, to be held in Gateshead, UK on 9th-12th September 2024. This edition, EMODnet and ICES are co-organising a themed session (J) on Marine data, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, and will co-host an early career scientist networking event. Register by 1st September 2024 and explore the event here.

EMODnet webinar for European Research and Innovation and Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters projects (29/02/2024)

On 28th February 2024, EMODnet hosted a webinar titled “EMODnet for Horizon Europe and EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters.” This invitation-only webinar was attended by over 95 participants representing at least 45 EU projects. Organised by the EMODnet Secretariat, Data Ingestion and thematics, in collaboration with DG MARE and CINEA, the webinar focused on how EMODnet can support European Research and Innovation (R&I) projects, including the use of EMODnet’s marine knowledge in EU R&I, demonstrations of the EMDOnet Data Ingestion workflow, and guidance on how R&I projects can optimize the collection, curation and submission of FAIR data and metadata to EMODnet services, and its large userbase.

EMODnet Physics and the MOANA project expand EMODnet’s data offer in the Pacific Ocean (29/02/2024)

More data from the Pacific Ocean (New Zealand area) is now available through EMODnet. EMODnet Physics increased the amount of data available from this region via the collaboration with MetOcean Solutions, the MOANA project and the Fishing Vessel Ocean Observing Network. With MOANA historical and near-real-time ocean temperature and salinity data are collected through affordable novel technology to get more observations in New Zealand’s coastal seas, and making existing ocean observations available to everyone. MOANA developed a small, smart temperature sensor which can be attached to commercial fishing gear delivering more data useful to increase ocean observations in this region helping modelling our oceans better.

Pollutant concentration: a guided tour to EMODnet Chemistry maps (29/02/2024)

The EMODnet Map Viewer provides users with information on the spatial and temporal variability of the measurement points and the concentration of selected pollutants measured in the water column, in biota and in sediment. Currently, maps are available for 12 pollutants in all European sea basins and beyond. These hazardous substances belong to the following groups of variables: Heavy metals, hydrocarbons, pesticides and biocides, and antifouling agents. Follow us on this guided tour to explore the Map Viewer features and make the most of them.

EMODnet Seabed Habitats for the Caribbean Workshop (29/02/2024)

EMODnet Seabed Habitats organised a workshop in Anguilla in the Caribbean to guide local stakeholders and data contributors through the EMODnet data submission process. The publication of a suite of marine habitat maps for the Caribbean on the EMODnet Map Viewer demonstrates the benefits of such collaborations.

Monthly dive into the European Atlas of the Seas (20/02/2024)

A new video tutorial has been released on the Atlas’ measure tool which shows how users can measure distances and estimate surface areas in the Atlas as well as see the geographical coordinates for any location on a map. A great help to resolve the geocaching game, treasure hunt and boat races in the Teachers Corner! In February, four ‘Maps of the Week’ were published on the Maritime Forum and the EMODnet website: ‘World Wetlands Day, Rivers and Marine Natura 2000 sites’, ‘Marine habitats and biodiversity conservation’, ‘Plastic Pollution and Seabed Litter’ and ‘Ensuring Sustainability in Fisheries’.

EMODnet Secretariat participated in DCO-ODS & IODE joint webinar (29/02/2024)

At the first joint webinar on ‘Data and information management and sharing in the Decade: why, who, what and how?’ co-organised by the Decade Coordination Office for Ocean Data Sharing (DCO-ODS) and IODE on 31 January, Vicente Fernandez (EMODnet Secretariat), highlighted EMODnet as an important regional node contributing to ocean data sharing and interoperability to the global ocean data ecosystem, and its contribution, together with Copernicus Marine Service, to the establishment of the public infrastructure backbone for the European digital representation of the Ocean.

EMODnet Biology workshop for the Regional Sea Conventions (18/04/2024)

On April 18th, EMODnet Biology will host a half-day workshop that is aimed at the Regional Sea Conventions. The workshop will represent an important opportunity of interaction, and of collection of feedback and of gaps and needs by RSCs. in terms of data, products and/or tools required for marine ecosystem status assessment.

The Ecopath 40 years – The Ecosystem Continuum: From knowledge to decisions” conference (03/06/2024)

The “Ecopath 40 years – The Ecosystem Continuum: From knowledge to decisions” conference, will take place in Ostend, Belgium from June 3-5, 2024. The event will celebrate four decades of progress in utilizing the 'Ecopath with Ecosim' (EwE) modelling software approach across various fields such as fisheries management, marine conservation, ecosystem dynamics, climate impacts, and ecosystem-based management (EBM). The conference will also introduce new facilities for the EwE approach, offering an international scientific gathering for ecosystem modelers utilizing the EwE framework and software. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a milestone event in ecosystem modeling. Visit http://www.ecopath.org/ for more information.

Call for Posters for ICES ASC 2024! Submit Your Abstracts Today (22/03/2024)

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Annual Science Conference (ASC) 2024 is just around the corner, and the call for abstracts is now open! We invite you to submit your posters for consideration, with a deadline of 22 March 2024. This year's theme session J, "Moving the latest developments from machine learning and AI closer to exploiting mountains and lakes of data," co-convened by EMODnet, promises to be an exciting opportunity to showcase advancements in data utilization. Don't miss this chance to present your work and engage with the global marine science community at ICES ASC 2024. Submit your abstract today!

EMODnet at the Hydrospatial Infrastructure and Blue Economy Summit (13/05/2024)

We are excited to announce that EMODnet will be an Institutional Partner and key speaker for the Hydrospatial Infrastructure and Blue Economy Summit at the upcoming Geospatial World Forum (GWF) 2024. Save the dates for this event taking place May 13-16, 2024, in Rotterdam, Netherlands. During the summit, the EMODnet Secretariat and EMODnet Bathymetry will deliver key speeches, sharing insights and expertise. Join for a focused program on "The Hydrospatial Infrastructure and Blue Economy Summit," where we will delve into the need for ocean knowledge and explore opportunities for growth within the blue economy.  Find out more and register today.

EMODnet Geology at the 37th International Geological Congress 2024 - Deadline for abstract submission has been extended (25/08/2024)

EMODnet Geology is set to take part in the 37th International Geological Congress (IGC) in Busan, Republic of Korea, from August 25-31, 2024. EMODnet Geology will host a dedicated session focused on marine mapping, highlighting their latest standards and innovations in revealing Earth's seabed geology. 
More information will follow soon, and you can take advantage of the deadline extension and submit your abstract for the congress by 15 March! 

EMODnet at the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Symposium (29/02/2024)

EMODnet participated in the first Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Symposium, held on February 13-14, 2024, which launched its second call for funding with the event bringing together diverse stakeholders to promote the transformation towards a sustainable blue economy.

EuroGEO Survey: Shape the Future of Earth Observation Cooperation (08/03/2024)

The EuroGEO initiative, Europe's contribution to the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), along with the EuroGEOSec project, has launched a crucial survey to gather stakeholder support and insights. The survey aims to inform the establishment of a EuroGEO Secretariat, which will enhance cooperation among Earth Observation (EO) private sectors, stakeholders, and research institutions in the EU. This Secretariat will also ensure continuous collaboration with other regional GEOs and the GEO Secretariat. Complete the survey before the deadline on March 8th, 2024, to have your voice heard.

GreenData4All - Call for Evidence: Share Your Views on Geospatial Environmental Data (25/03/2024)

The European Commission invites feedback on the 'GreenData4All' initiative, updating EU rules on environmental geospatial data and public access to environmental information. Aligning with Europe's green and digital transformation goals, this initiative aims to facilitate greater data sharing between the public, private sectors, and the general public. The Call for Evidence is open from February 26 to March 25, 2024 (midnight Brussels time). Your input will help fine-tune the proposed directive, fostering innovation and evidence-based decision-making. To contribute, register or log in using your social media account. Share your views and shape the future of environmental data access in Europe. Learn more and provide feedback using this link.

Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership: Second Transnational Call Now Open (10/04/2024)

The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership has announced its second joint transnational call, offering support to research and innovation projects lasting 36 months. This call, co-branded as part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, focuses on four priority areas: Digital Twins of the Ocean, Blue economy sectors and marine multi-use infrastructures, Planning and managing sea-uses at the regional level, and Blue Bioresources. Applicants have until April 10, 2024 (15H00 CEST) to submit their pre-proposals, with a deadline for full proposals expected in November 2024

EMODnet 2024: An EU asset powering Marine Data Services in Europe and beyond (30/01/2024)

Dear EMODnet partners, associated partners, colleagues and wider stakeholders,

A very Happy New Year to you all! 

The EMODnet New Year’s letter is something of a tradition, written by the Head of the EMODnet Secretariat. In 2024, the baton passes to me, Kate Larkin, as I took on the role of Head of Secretariat in Spring 2023. On behalf of the EMOD-network I wish the previous Head, Jan-Bart Calewaert, well in his new activities in the global ocean data domain, whilst he remains a trusted advisor to EMODnet. As we end the first month of the New Year it is time to take stock of EMODnet’s landmark achievements in 2023, and to look forward to 2024 – a year which is set to be an extremely exciting and impactful one! Stay tuned for more information on all of these activities and get ready to have your say in shaping EMODnet’s future!

EMODnet Physics is a driving force in largest ocean citizen science initiative (29/01/2024)

Between 20th – 28th January at Boot Düsseldorf 2024, the German Ocean Foundation, EC DG MARE, EMODnet and the Scuba Schools International (SSI) unveiled the largest Ocean Citizen Science Initiative to-date, which sees divers and wider water sports enthusiasts collecting ocean data using low-cost, high-quality sensors, with in situ data being made available through EMODnet as the EC marine data service. EMODnet Physics is the driving force behind this collaboration on behalf of the EMOD-network.

EMODnet Chemistry celebrates 15th year of service (29/01/2024)

At the dawn of its 15th year in business, EMODnet Chemistry celebrates the best results of the past year with EMODnet stakeholders. A full article gives key achievements and a forward look, which sees the confirmation of the same consortium at the helm of EMODnet Chemistry for the next two years, coordinated by OGS.

New contaminants maps for EMODnet Chemistry (29/01/2024)

EMODnet Chemistry has recently created new maps on pollutants. The products are grouped into 4 map categories that provide information on the spatio-temporal distribution of measurements in all European seas and beyond, for parameters prioritised in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

EMODnet Biology data are used in UNESCO World Heritage Marine Sites for marine biodiversity (12/01/2024)

UNESCO and IUCN have compiled a first-time assessment of the status and trends of species within UNESCO World Heritage sites, revealing specific insights in the species richness of these sites. A number of the marine World Heritage sites are located within European waters, for which EMODnet Biology contributed data.

EMODnet data used in EU project dashboard for informing offshore wind energy sites in Spanish waters (15/01/2024)

The University of Girona used EMODnet datasets in the Horizon EU project Blue-Paths, to develop a dashboard demonstrator with the goal to inform the wider audience in a dynamic manner about the geographic and social, ecological and economic characteristics of the high-potential areas for offshore wind energy in the Spanish sea space.

EMODnet's Pivotal Role in the EU DTO through EDITO-Infra (25/01/2024)

Starting in this edition, we are launching a news section dedicated to EMODnet's key role in the European Digital Twin Ocean (DTO). EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service collaborate in the EDITO-Infra project which is upgrading EC marine data services to provide the backbone infrastructure to the EU DTO. At the heart of EDITO-Infra's technical advancements lies the establishment of a comprehensive data lake. This innovative feature seamlessly integrates both EMODnet and Copernicus Marine products. Leveraging cutting-edge, open-source technologies from the cloud computing industry, the data lake offers robust and scalable object storage, coupled with high-performance computing (HPC) resources. This combination is pivotal for enabling on-demand data analysis and the creation of sophisticated 'what-if' scenarios. Stay tuned for more information.

Monthly dive into the European Atlas of the Seas (25/01/2024)

In January, three ‘Maps of the Week’ were published on the Maritime Forum and the EMODnet website: ‘Seamount and ocean seabed’ in connection to the discovery of a new seamount, ‘Vessel density and sustainable nautical tourism’ in relation to the boot 2024 yacht and watersports show in Düsseldorf (Germany) and ‘Education and Sustainable Development: European Blue Schools Find the Blue!’ referring to the International Day of Education celebrated on 24 January 2024. This allowed to cover three key topics addressed by the Atlas: scientific research, the blue economy and education!

EMODnet launches its report on Marine Data for Coastal Tourism (29/01/2024)

On 26-27 September 2023, EMODnet together with the European Commission, DG MARE, organised an online workshop on ‘’EMODnet Marine Data for Coastal Tourism’’. The main objective of the workshop was to facilitate cross-sectoral dialogue and share experiences from key coastal tourism stakeholders regarding their in situ data needs, existing and emerging uses of EMODnet and wider open source marine environmental and human activities data for coastal tourism operations and applications, and opportunities for private-public data sharing, including optimization of dataflows and EMODnet data ingestion as a public service supporting the European ocean observation and data collection community to enable Findable, Accessible, Reusable and Interoperable (FAIR) data.

“EMODnet for Horizon Europe and EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters projects" Webinar (28/02/2024)

Discover the latest insights on how EMODnet's marine data and data product offerings can serve as a foundation for essential ocean knowledge and the crucial role of EMODnet's Data Ingestion service in supporting seamless data submission to both the European and global ocean data ecosystem, at the upcoming “EMODnet for Horizon Europe and EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters projects" webinar on February 28, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Aimed at representatives of European Horizon Europe and EU Mission Ocean projects collecting in situ marine data, the webinar focuses on streamlining data submission processes, guiding participants in data and metadata collection, and optimizing data flow into EMODnet. For more details and to express your interest in participating, please send an email to: secretariat@emodnet.eu.

Managing your Scientific Code using Git and GitHub Course (08/05/2024)

This course is suitable for anyone who would like to learn about how to use version control tracking changes and effective collaboration on their projects. This 2-day course will take place online and you will be introduced to the most popular open-source software for version control (Git) and the most popular platform for sharing and collaborating on projects online (GitHub) using a graphical interface to both (GitKraken Client). The course is designed to get researchers started with version control, demonstrate how to collaborate effectively as well as introduce version control best practices, as practiced by research software engineering teams.

Introduction to Programming in R Course – Early Bird Prices until end of January (19/03/2024)

Long-time EMODnet Biology partner, the Marine Biological Association, is offering a 3-day, online introduction to Programming in R course, ideal for anyone wanting to use R for data analysis. They are offering Early Bird Discounts for those booking prior to the end of January and there is a free online talk by the course tutor available on their website.

2024 EOOS Technology Forum “Catching the momentum in ocean observing technology: optimising value and data provision” (13/03/2024)

The 2024 EOOS Technology Forum “Catching the momentum in ocean observing technology: optimising value and data provision”, will take place on the 13 March 2024 at the Oceanology International, Excel, London. The 2024 EOOS Technology Forum will bring together technology developers, manufacturers and users to exchange knowledge on platforms and sensors of all types, costs and levels of technical sophistication with the goal to enhance accessibility of ocean observations.

The call for abstracts for ICES ASC 2024 is now open (25/01/2024)

The International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) has released the Call for Abstracts for the Annual Science Conference 2024 in Gateshead, UK (meeting taking place 9-12 September 2024). This year, EMODnet has teamed up with ICES for a joint session "Theme session J: Moving the latest developments from machine learning and AI closer to exploiting mountains and lakes of data" This session is open for abstracts from the ICES and wider community, including those that demonstrate connection between ICES and EMODnet. The deadline for abstract submission is 22 March 2024.

Call for Expression of interest for the Scientific & Technical Workshop of the Digital Ocean Forum 2024 (25/01/2024)

The EDITO initiative, powered by EDITO-Infra, extends an invitation to ocean twinning projects and national initiatives throughout Europe. The primary focus of this initiative is to enhance the capabilities of the European Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO). Successful participants will have a unique opportunity to showcase their work at the high-level dedicated session during the Digital Ocean Forum 2024.

EC Nitrates Directive: Stakeholder Consultation (25/01/2024)

The European Commission has initiated a public consultation on the evaluation of the Nitrates Directive, which aims to protect water bodies from nitrate pollution caused by agricultural practices. The consultation, open until March 8, 2024, assesses whether the directive is still effective in promoting sustainable agriculture and food security, especially considering changing environmental conditions. The evaluation will focus on adaptation of farmers, support for new agricultural practices, and promotion of nutrient recycling. Key objectives include simplification, reducing burdens and costs, and aligning with global biodiversity goals. The Nitrates Directive sets limits on fertilizers and encourages good farming practices to prevent harmful effects of excessive nitrates, such as water pollution and economic losses. The evaluation aims to ensure diverse stakeholder interests are considered across the EU.

19th EMODnet Steering Committee meeting (20/12/2023)

On 1 December 2023, the EMODnet Steering Committee met in Brussels to exchange on EMODnet operations, strategic partnerships and plan upcoming events and activities in 2024, ranging from the EMODnet webinar for EU Mission and Horizon Europe on 28th February 2024 to EMODnet’s contribution to the UN Ocean Decade Conference 2024 and Digital Ocean Forum 2024. The meeting took place directly after the EMODnet Open Conference and Jamboree 2023.

EMODnet Geology increases its offer with new and updated data products: an extended seabed substrate map for the Caribbean Sea, and a new data product seabed erosion (18/12/2023)

Key outputs of the EMODnet Geology last phase (centralisation contract that ended in late September 2023) include completely new as well as updated data products, produced with data collected over the past two years, and now uploaded on the EMODnet Portal. The greatest extension in areal coverage was gained with a new seabed substrate map added for the Caribbean Sea. This new map covers some 2.700.000 km2, in practice the whole Caribbean Sea. Also, a completely new data product on seabed erosion was added to the portal, that includes available seabed erosion studies and related background information.

EMODnet Chemistry starts a new phase and present future plans at the EMODnet Jamboree and Open Conference 2023 (18/12/2023)

The Consortium of 16 partners, responsible for the development of EMODnet Chemistry, has been confirmed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency to continue its work until 2 October 2025. The consolidated management structure and the most important goals for the next two years were illustrated during the project full group meeting, which took place in Brussels during the EMODnet Jamboree and Open Conference 2023. To dive into EMODnet Chemistry data and data products and for more information, visit the EMODnet portal The consolidated management structure and the most important goals for the next two years were illustrated during the project full group meeting, which took place in Brussels during the EMODnet Jamboree and Open Conference 2023. To dive into EMODnet Chemistry data and data products and for more information, visit the EMODnet portal

EMODnet Chemistry: New marine litter maps online (18/12/2023)

The latest version of the maps visualising the spatial and temporal distribution of marine litter are now available on the EMODnet map viewer. The new version contains for the first time 16 maps for floating microlitter in all European sea basins and beyond. These data products are based on the latest data collections published in 2023, as described in a recent EMODnet news article.

An autumn of events for EMODnet Physics (18/12/2023)

In addition to the EMODnet Conference and Jamboree 2023, EMODnet Physics has been busy attending external events in Q4 of 2023. At Festival della Scienza, there were two interesting contributions: the talk “OceanBigData” and the collaboration at OGS Lab Quando la scienza dà i numeri - L’impatto dei dati scientifici, giusti e sbagliati. The keynote “Seas of Data: EMODnet commitment” was held at REMEDIES cluster meeting. Finally, a lecture was given at the IOI at University of Malta on EMODnet utility and functionality for managers and policy makers.

EMODnet Biology: Open and free marine biodiversity data (14/12/2023)

EMODnet Biology continuously provides free and open access to marine biodiversity data. The last data publication of 2023 has been completed and EMODnet Biology looks forward to continue collaborations with existing European research infrastructures e.g., EMBRC, LifeWatch, networks, Horizon Europe projects working on the marine biodiversity data pipeline e.g., DTO-Bioflow and MARCO-BOLO and initiatives to make more existing and historical marine biodiversity data available into the future.

EMODnet Biology expert contribution to the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans Initiative (FSOI) workshop (14/12/2023)

EMODnet Biology was invited to provide expert input to a G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans Initiative (FSOI) workshop in September 2023 (work ongoing) entitled “Towards a global marine plankton observing network: development of a strategy and implementation plan”. The main tasks were in Goal 2: “Unlocking plankton data: enhancing interoperability and fairness for comprehensive plankton data analysis, ecological understanding, and forecasting “, and EMODnet Biology led a discussion on the interoperability between dataspaces.

EMODnet Welcomes three new Associated Partners (19/12/2023)

We are thrilled to announce and welcome three new Associated Partners to EMODnet, each bringing unique expertise and a strong commitment to advancing collaboration with EMODnet in the areas of data sharing, best practices in marine data, information technology and data services, and expanding the users of EMODnet, including for the Blue Economy.

Monthly dive into the European Atlas of the Seas (13/12/2023)

Following the presentations on the EU Atlas of the Seas as part of the EMODnet Open Conference 2023, the EU Atlas and EMODnet team now extend an invitation to the wider public to visit the Atlas room in the EMODnet Virtual Exhibition has been posted on the EC Maritime Forum. Visitors can learn about the latest developments of the Atlas, watch a video tutorial on the My Maps tool and access quizzes and games. In December, three ‘Maps of the Week’ were published on the Maritime Forum and the EMODnet website: ‘European Union Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters’, ‘Climate change and global mean sea level regional trend’ and the ‘Network of European Blue Schools’.

EMODnet signs COP 28 Ocean Declaration and contributes to UN Global Compact ORE/MSP report (14/12/2023)

EMODnet has signed the COP 28 Ocean Declaration which calls upon the international community for more sustained ocean observation and marine knowledge for “the science we need for the ocean we want”. EMODnet partners Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ, Belgium), Ifremer (France) are also amongst the signatories, together with EuroGOOS, EMB, POGO and others. The COP 28 Declaration is in-line with the EMODnet Call to Action released on 30th November 2023 that calls for sustainable and appropriate funding for EMODnet and the wider marine knowledge value chain. EMODnet experts from the EMODnet Steering Committee also contributed to a series of workshops and reports by the UN Global Compact on offshore renewable energy and maritime spatial planning. The final outcomes were presented on 4 December 2023 at a COP28 hybrid event “The role of Industry in the Ocean Decade Data Enterprise” with panelists from UN Global Compact Ocean Stewardship Coalition, the UN OD Coordination Office for Data Sharing, FUGRO, Van Oord and more.

UN Ocean Decade calls for stakeholder input to develop the ocean science data and information strategy (19/12/2023)

The UN Ocean Decade Data Coordination Group is developing a Data and Information Strategy. They are now calling for stakeholder feedback to shape the strategy to achieve 'the science we need for the ocean we want.' Follow the link below to submit your input.

Shape the Future of Ocean Science: Join the DITTO Steering Committee (19/12/2023)

The Digital Twins of The Ocean (DITTO) program invites experts to contribute to a groundbreaking initiative integrating marine and satellite data with AI and high-performance computing. Help create sustainable ocean solutions and drive innovative digital twinning projects. Apply now to be part of a diverse team transforming our understanding and management of the oceans. Deadline: 15 January 2024

EMODnet interview: Seabed 2030 Podcast (19/12/2023)

During the EMODnet Open Conference 2023, Kate Larkin, Head of the EMODnet Secretariat, recorded a podcast for the Nippon Foundation & GEBCO Seabed 2030 initiative. She spoke about the objectives and operations of EMODnet, and EMODnet’s offer of high resolution pan-European bathymetric data and data products e.g., Digital Terrain models, for global users. EMODnet is an active contributor to contribution to Seabed 2030, and also works with the private sector e.g., Fugro to increase data sharing. The podcast was produced by Steve Hall, Head of Partnerships for Seabed 2030, and colleagues. Tune into the podcast, interview #2 to find out more!

EMODnet Webinar: EMODnet for Horizon Europe and EU Mission: Restore Our Ocean and Waters projects, 28 February 2024 (19/12/2023)

Save the Date for our upcoming webinar designed to help guide EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters and Horizon Europe projects to harmonise and submit their data to EMODnet. The webinar will take place online on 28 February 2024, 11am-12:30pm CET. Join in the dialogue with EMODnet experts on how to optimise your project output. More information and registration to follow soon in January 2024!

European Ocean Days (19/12/2023)

Organised for the first time in 2024, European Ocean Days 4-8 March 2024 will be a week of events related to European maritime topics. It will include the EU Mission Ocean and Waters Forum, events on future priorities for Europe’s Seas, BlueInvest bringing together blue innovators and investors as well as ocean literacy activities and more. EMODnet will be there. Will you? Follow the link below for more information and registration.

Bring European Maritime Day to your country in 2024! (20/12/2023)

The European Maritime Day (EMD) 2024 will be a fully-fledged physical event, in Svendborg, Denmark on 30-31 May 2024. Registration will open soon. In the meantime, you can already apply for “EMD In My Country 2024 events” which will also take place all over Europe from 1 April till 31 October 2024. Are you ready to submit your event(s) for 2024? Fill in the online application form before 29 February 2024 and bring European Maritime Day 2024 to your country!

Ecopath 40 Years Conference (14/12/2023)

The “Ecopath 40 years – The Ecosystem Continuum: From knowledge to decisions” conference and workshops will be held in Ostend, Belgium from 3-8 June 2024. The conference will showcase four decades of progress of using the Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) approach in different fields: e.g., fisheries management, marine conservation, ecosystem dynamics, climate impacts, and ecosystem-based management (EBM), as well as introduce new facilities for the approach.

Blue Economy: launch of ‘EU Blue Champions’ scheme to support innovative projects helping to restore the ocean and waters (14/12/2023)

The European Commission, in collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB), is launching the new pilot scheme ‘EU Blue Champions’. It will be supported by the BlueInvest platform. Through this new initiative, the EIB Advisory Services, in collaboration with the EIB Projects Directorate, will provide financial advisory to selected projects in the blue economy.

EGU 2024: Call for abstracts (20/12/2023)

The European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2024 is calling for abstract submissions by 10 January. EMODnet is planning a number of submissions to this edition of EGU, and it would be great to see EMODnet partners, associated partners and wider stakeholders there.

EOOS Technology Forum 2024 – call to register interest (20/12/2023)

The European Ocean Observing System Technology Forum will take place in Excel, London, on 13 March 2024. The organisers are calling stakeholders to register their interest online.

11th International Workshop on Marine Technology (Martech) - Call for Abstracts extended to 15 January 2024 (14/12/2023)

The primary goal of the MARTECH Workshop is to exchange knowledge and perspectives on advanced research in various domains of marine technology through diverse categories. This includes a workshop on Seafloor observatories and sensor networks, co-organized by EMODnet Physics. You can find all information on pre-registration and the extended deadline for abstract submissions, now due by January 15th on the workshop website by clicking on the link below.

EMODnet celebrates 2023 and looks forward to 2024 (19/12/2023)

The EMODnet EC marine data service thanks all of its partners, associated partners and wider stakeholders for a productive and exciting 2023. We look forward to further collaboration in 2024. And in the meantime, Happy Holidays and ocean wishes for the New Year!

Highlights from the EMODnet Open Conference and Jamboree 2023 (06/12/2023)

Between 27-30 November 2023 over 340 partners, associated partners, and stakeholders of the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) gathered in Brussels for the third EMODnet Open Conference and Jamboree. The week kicked off with a Partner Jamboree with the >120 partners exchanging on their latest service developments and joint activities. The Open Conference was a public event, moderated by Karen Coleman. With a line-up of over 75 speakers across the 1.5 days, the event highlighted EMODnet’s crucial role in the European Marine Data Ecosystem, focusing on a "Digital and Green Future." If you missed a session or want to revisit the insights, the Plenary video recordings together with event photos are now available on the Conference website, with Plenary and Townhall presentations also being made available over the next few days. A full conference report will follow in early 2024. This November 2023 EMODnet News Digest is dedicated to Conference and Jamboree 2023 highlights, with news articles also posted on the EMODnet Portal (see links below). Further updates of the EMOD-network activities will come in the end of year issue, coming out end of December.

The EMODnet Partner Jamboree 2023 (06/12/2023)

Before the plenary stage opened for the EMODnet Open Conference 2023, the EMODnet community convened for the EMODnet Partner Jamboree 2023—an exclusive gathering of EMODnet partners and Associated Partners. This pre-conference event was attended by > 150 representatives of the EMOD-network and provided a unique setting for in-depth discussions, partner meetings, cross-thematic dialogues, and collaborative endeavors, setting the stage for the subsequent conference. Topics of discussion spanned EMODnet and Citizen Science, EMODnet Communication, EMODnet and the EU Digital Twin Ocean, and EMODnet content evolution, ranging from the coast to the deep sea and from the surface ocean to the seafloor, including ideas for new cross-thematic data products. A Partnership Dinner on 28th November evening included speeches by Kestutis Sadauskas, Deputy Director-General EC DG MARE and Kate Larkin, Head of the EMODnet Secretariat.

Launch of the EMODnet Call to Action (06/12/2023)

An EMODnet Call to Action was launched during the Closing Session of the EMODnet Open Conference on November 30th, 2023. This calls upon key actors across the National, Regional, European and Global marine knowledge community to increase their engagement with EMODnet, and to actively contribute to shape EMODnet’s evolution, taking community and political action to ensure EMODnet can not only consolidate, but also expand to meet user demand, to operate as a fully functioning, operational service of the European Commission.

EMODnet: A unified EC In Situ marine data service (06/12/2023)

The EMODnet Open Conference 2023 took stock of EMODnet’s evolution to-date into the operational European Commission in situ marine data service it is today, a flagship initiative funded by the EC DG MARE, and one of the main Marine Knowledge assets of the European Union. Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General of DG MARE opened the Conference with a keynote address, noting “I have seen EMODnet grow from a network of marine communities to a single point of access supporting sustainable marine policies. It is now an integral part of the Green Transition, establishing good practices by providing good data". This was followed by a welcome address from Kate Larkin, Head of the EMODnet Secretariat who spoke about the unified EMODnet service and the key features and functionalities of the EMODnet Portal, also recognizing the large and diverse EMOD-network community driving the innovation and success of the EMODnet services to-date.

The value of EMODnet: Coordinator and Stakeholder perspectives (06/12/2023)

The 7 thematic Coordinators of EMODnet then presented the latest EMODnet service offer, which includes pan-European data and data products across hundreds of parameters spanning the marine environment, namely bathymetry, biology, chemistry, geology, physics and seabed habitats, and human activities at sea. Finally, a Panel including wider stakeholders discussed the value of EMODnet, including perspectives from the Copernicus Marine Service, Regional Sea Conventions, the private sector, EU Member States, EMODnet associated partners and the winner of the EMODnet Open Sea Lab 3.0 Hackathon, and more.

EMODnet unified service: explainer video (06/12/2023)

At the EMODnet Open Conference 2023, a new video animation was released that explains the EMODnet unified service, noting the centralisation of all 7 EMODnet thematics into one portal, and what is means for EMODnet’s diverse user community. Follow the link to watch the full video.

EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service release joint communication on In Situ Marine Data (06/12/2023)

At the EMODnet Open Conference 2023 the two EC marine data services EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service, launched a joint communication on the EU in situ marine data landscape. The statement explains the complementarity between the two EU marine knowledge assets, and also how the services work together, following a high-level agreement between DG DEFIS and DG MARE and the signature of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2016. Copernicus Marine Service was represented at the EMODnet Open Conference 2023 in sessions including on the value of EMODnet, EMODnet for the digital era, and EMODnet, Ocean Observation and the marine knowledge value chain.

EMODnet for the Digital Era (06/12/2023)

EMODnet’s key role in the European Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO) was presented by Francisco (Tjess) Hernandez, VLIZ, Belgium, together with a policy perspective from John Bell, EC DG Research and Innovation. A Panel of experts with Conor Delaney (Technical Coordinator, EMODnet Secretariat), the European Commission, Copernicus Marine Service / Mercator Ocean International and representatives of wider initiatives who jointly explored the interplay of cutting-edge technology within EMODnet, its role in the EU DTO, including via the EDITO-Infra initiative, and collaborations with Destination Earth and related Horizon Europe projects.

EMODnet, Ocean Observation, and the Marine Knowledge Value Chain (06/12/2023)

EMODnet experts Dick Schaap, MARIS, The Netherlands; Antonio Novellino, ETT, Italy; and Sissy Iona, HCMR, Greece presented on EMODnet in the marine knowledge value chain, EMODnet’s partnership with the Copernicus Marine Service and EMODnet Data Ingestion. In two subsequent Panels, EMODnet's key role in the marine knowledge value chain and its strong connections with the ocean observation and data collection community were showcased. EMODnet’s contribution to the EC Ocean Observation Initiative, including the value of the EMODnet’s Sea-basin Checkpoint activities on data adequacy at regional sea-basin level, and EMODnet’s contribution to the European Ocean Observing System (EOOS) were also discussed with diverse stakeholder representatives.

EMODnet Community Townhalls (06/12/2023)

The interactive dialogues at the EMODnet Open Conference 2023 included a series of Townhalls which provided a unique platform for focused discussions on various critical aspects of EMODnet. Topics for the 2023 Townhalls included: EMODnet, Ocean Best Practices, and Interoperability; EMODnet for EU Policy; EMODnet and the Blue Economy; and EMODnet, EU Mission Ocean and wider society. These were organized and co-Chaired by members of the EMOD-network and invited experts, with EMODnet and the European Marine Board Secretariats jointly serving as rapporteur and facilitators. For each Townhall, a representative presented key messages back to the Plenary on Day 2.

EMODnet Community Posters and Wider Perspectives (06/12/2023)

EMODnet is about the people and its diverse community. At the Open Conference 2023, an interactive session featured an overview of the EMODnet Virtual Exhibition, together with diverse community poster pitches, and an open mic Panel where members of the community could provide perspectives and recommendations.

EMODnet Associated Partners (06/12/2023)

EMODnet Associated Partners were active at the EMODnet Open Conference 2023, with members FUGRO, SOCIB, CMMI, HR Wallingford and more presenting in Plenary and taking part in Townhall discussions. During the flagship EMODnet week, EMODnet also welcomed three new Associated Partners, namely, e-BO Enterprises, Puertos del Estado and Marine Centre Wales, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, promoted on the EMODnet Portal website and on social media.

EMODnet Impact for Society (06/12/2023)

EMODnet has a very diverse and expanding user base, across European stakeholder communities, and beyond. A session was dedicated to these users, bringing together stakeholders from EU Policy, Blue Economy, and Wider Society to discuss the tangible value of EMODnet data, data products and services. Panels explored its application in EU Policy, including the EU Green Deal, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Maritime Spatial Planning Directive and more, supporting the Blue Economy – including Offshore Renewable Energy and Coastal Tourism, and benefiting wider society, supplying marine data and knowledge to non-governmental organisations and the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters and Horizon Europe projects, and working with these entities including citizen science to bring more societal data into EMODnet, which also powers the EC European Atlas of the Seas for Ocean Literacy.

EMODnet, the European Atlas of the Seas and wider society (01/12/2023)

The European Atlas of the Seas was featured in several components of the EMODnet Open Conference and Jamboree, including the Virtual Exhibition, the Jamboree session “Citizen Science and EMODnet”, the Townhall ‘EMODnet, EU Mission Ocean and wider society’ and the panel “EMODnet by and for wider society” within the session “EMODnet impact for society”. These sessions showed how EMODnet can support the European Union Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” and included discussions on the benefits of the contribution of citizens and citizen science projects to data sharing and how this could be done. The Atlas poster was presented to the audience during the EMODnet Community poster pitches. Both the Atlas Teachers Corner and the My Maps tool were highlighted as tools to support education.

EMODnet and the Global Ocean Data Ecosystem (06/12/2023)

EMODnet’s recent unification has been a game-changer for its interoperability and contribution to global ocean data initiatives. A session was dedicated to EMODnet’s global impact, including presentations from Peter Pissierssens of IODE of IOC/UNESCO, Lennert Tyberhein of VLIZ, Belgium and Jan-Bart Calewaert, Head of the UN Ocean Decade Coordination Office for data sharing.

EMODnet for Global stakeholder perspectives (06/12/2023)

Two Panels discussed EMODnet’s global contributions. This included the harvesting of EMODnet in global ocean data and metadata initiatives including the Ocean Data and Information System (ODIS) of IODE, IOC/UNESCO, the Global Earth Observation System of systems (GEOSS), the Ocean Best Practice System (OBPS) and the UN Ocean Decade. EMODnet’s existing and emerging partnerships worldwide were also celebrated. This included a presentation from NMDIS, China, with whom EMODnet has a long-standing collaboration via the EU-China EMOD-PACE and CEMDNET projects, together with representatives speaking from the Mexican Geological Survey, Ocean frontiers Institute, Canada, the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), Morocco, and the European Polar Board.

EMODnet Evolution (06/12/2023)

The Open Conference 2023 Closing Session began with a speech by Delilah Al Khudhairy, Director of Maritime Policy and Blue Economy, EC DG MARE, who noted that “EMODnet has been one of the most important investments of DG MARE…We will move forward together” .  A Panel of 7 experts from the EMODnet stakeholder community exchanged on EMODnet’s achievements to-date and looked to the future of EMODnet and its evolution. Kate Larkin, Head of EMODnet Secretariat then presented an EMODnet Call to Action on behalf of the EMODnet Partnership (see article above).

Physical exhibition (06/12/2023)

The EMODnet Open Conference 2023 included a physical exhibition which served as a dynamic hub during networking breaks, showcasing EMODnet and key European and international ocean observation networks and infrastructures, marine data services and wider marine data initiatives.

Virtual Exhibition (06/12/2023)

To complement the EMODnet Open Conference 2023 on-site meeting and physical exhibition, a Virtual Exhibition was produced by the EMODnet Secretariat and Coordinators. contains many resources and updates on EMODnet thematic and data ingestion services, key partnerships spanning business to ocean observation and from EU to global, EMODnet videos and other communication outputs, the European Atlas of the Seas and community posters solicited and submitted specifically for the Open Conference 2023. This was showcased in Plenary during the EMODnet Open Conference 2023, just before community poster pitch presentations. The Virtual Exhibition remains open for 1 year until 30 November 2024. You can see the full EMODnet Virtual Exhibition by clicking on the button below.

EMODnet showcases European marine data service best practices at OBPS VII 2023 (31/10/2023)

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.

EMODnet Technical Working Group holds its 14th TWG Meeting (31/10/2023)

The 14th EMODnet Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting, was held online on 18th October 2023. At the TWG, EMODnet technical experts exchanged on the latest EMODnet Central Portal developments, including user-driven evolution for 2024 and beyond.

Syke is the new Seabed Habitats Coordinator at the start of a new Phase (30/10/2023)

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.

EMODnet Biology invites input to stakeholder survey (30/10/2023)

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.

New marine litter data collections now accessible via the EMODnet Products Catalogue (30/10/2023)

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.

EMODnet Chemistry at EUROqCHARM final conference (30/10/2023)

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.

Utilizing marine data for the design of a floating multiuse renewable energy platform (18/10/2023)

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.

Monthly dive into the European Atlas of the Seas (30/10/2023)

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.

EMODnet's Key Role in the EU Digital Twin Ocean Project highlighted at EuroGOOS Conference 2023 (30/10/2023)

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.

EMODnet presents its digital marine knowledge services at EurOCEAN 2023 (30/10/2023)

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.

EMODnet at Big Data event, Ostend Science Park (30/10/2023)

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 at Erasmus Maris Days (30/10/2023)

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.

EMODnet for Mission Ocean and Horizon Europe (28/02/2024)

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!

IMDIS 2024 conference – Call for papers (10/11/2023)

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 continues to evolve its services: help us to improve your experience! (29/04/2022)

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.

Release of the EMODnet Open Sea Lab (OSL 3.0) Hackathon Final Report & Video (27/09/2023)

We are pleased to announce the release of the OSL 3.0 Final Report and OSL 3.0 Highlights Video. These resources provide a summary of the event which took place in early Spring 2023, and the key results and outcomes. Thanks to all co-organisers, mentors, coaches and participants for an engaging and interactive event that pushed the boundaries of marine data innovation.

EMODnet Chemistry Data webODV - Online Analysis and Visualization (27/09/2023)

Did you know that EMODnet Chemistry operates the webODV tool to enable users to visualize marine chemistry and wider ocean changes, including eutrophication and contaminants, to drive ocean understanding and to enable informed decision making, utilizing marine knowledge for societal action.

EMODnet Chemistry bring expertise to national discussions on federated, interoperable databases (21/09/2023)

On 5 September, EMODnet Chemistry, represented by its Coordinating institute OGS, provided its expertise at the workshop “Building a federated architecture of interoperable databases”. This was part of a series of 5 workshops organised by the Back To Blue initiative to develop a draft roadmap to achieve zero pollution ocean. Each workshop focused on a topic from the Back To Blue issues paper, which was produced after extensive stakeholder consultation and contains the key questions that need to be answered for an effective and workable roadmap.

EMODnet Biology latest data harvest (21/09/2023)

EMODnet Biology experts completed another data harvest during summer 2023. In this new batch, EMODnet Biology integrated more than 230K new occurrence records from a total of 23 datasets, from which 4 were updates to already existing datasets.

Croatian Geological Survey uses EMODnet data to map Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea (07/09/2023)

The Croatian Geological Survey used EMODnet Geology, Bathymetry and Seabed Habitats data to develop the seabed substrate and geology maps within a project that aims to map the marine habitats of the coastal area of the Adriatic Sea down to a depth of 40 m, and down to 200 m in marine protected areas.

EMODnet at the EU-China Blue Partnership Forum for the Oceans (27/09/2023)

EMODnet was represented at an EU-China Blue Partnership Forum for the Oceans that took place on the 23rd of September in Shenzhen, China. The Forum, organized by EC DG MARE and Chinese authorities, served as a tool to advance jointly on relevant topics such as the Blue Economy, International Fisheries and Global Ocean Governance.

EMODnet and the European Atlas of the Seas (26/09/2023)

Starting this month, the EMODnet newsletter will include updates on the European Atlas of the Seas the EC DG MARE Ocean Literacy tool, powered by EMODnet. The EU Atlas of the Seas offers 275 marine data layers, with over 50% coming from EMODnet. This month the EU Atlas of the Seas has released 5 new predefined maps, a new tutorial for MyMaps tool, took part in outreach activities at the World Cleanup Day village in Brussels, and more!

EMODnet joins the ICES Annual Science Conference 2023 (28/09/2023)

EMODnet was pleased to exhibit at the ICES Annual Science Conference 2023 which took place in Bilbao, Spain on 11-15 September 2023. ICES is a key stakeholder to EMODnet, with ICES being a partner and data provider to multiple EMODnet thematics, including EMODnet Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Human Activities and Data Ingestion. EMODnet experts are also members of a number of ICES Working Groups. The event also saw the launch of the OSPAR Quality Status Report 2023, to which EMODnet data/data products contributed.

EMODnet presents at SBEP Ocean Observation event (29/09/2023)

On 27 September EMODnet was presented at a Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) workshop on Ocean Observation. Kate Larkin, EMODnet Head of Secretariat explained the diverse partnerships that EMODnet has with the Blue Economy, from data provision by the private sector, to the many uses and applications of EMODnet services by the Blue Economy, including Offshore Renewable Energy sector, Coastal Tourism and more. The meeting was attended by EC (DG MARE and RTD) with stakeholders including EuroGOOS, JPI OCeans, EuroSea , FAO, EMB, MOi and many National representatives.

EMODnet joins Fish-X Conference (29/09/2023)

On 27 September, EMODnet joined Panel discussions at the Fish-X project workshop 'Digitalisation of Small-Scale Fisheries'. The event was held at WWF EU Office in Brussels. Kate Larkin, EMODnet Head of Secretariat presented EMODnet services, including the existing offer for fish biodiversity data (including much wider than commercial species) and fisheries management data from the Biology and Human Activities thematics, noting that EMODnet aggregates open-source data, and receives most of its existing data layers from ICES. EMODnet's core role in the EU Digital Twin Ocean (DTO) was also highlighted with the invitation for Fish-X and other related projects to engage with the EDITO-Infra project to ensure interoperablity with the future EU DTO.

EMODnet for Business workshop: Marine data for coastal tourism (28/09/2023)

On 26-27 September 2023, EMODnet together with EC DG MARE organised a workshop on “EMODnet marine data for coastal tourism”. The workshop was attended by over 42 coastal tourism experts with representatives from diverse sectors including research, policy, marine data services and non-governmental agencies. EMODnet was well represented by thematic experts from geology, human activities, physics, Data Ingestion, Central Portal and the EMODnet Secretariat. The agenda included a demonstration of the latest EMODnet services, use cases of how the coastal tourism sector use EMODnet data and data products, and dialogues on data requirements and data sharing. A report will follow on the EC Maritime Forum.

EMODnet Open Conference 2023: Full programme released! (28/09/2023)

EMODnet is pleased to announce the release of the EMODnet Open Conference 2023 full draft programme including over 50 expert speakers and panelists. The event will take place on 29-30 November in Brussels, Belgium. Not yet registered? Join the > 200 stakeholders already signed up and secure your place today!

EMODnet Biology and LifeWatch ERIC Autumn Data School, Citizen Science Workshop (21/09/2023)

EMODnet Biology and LifeWatch ERIC have joined forces to organize a one-day workshop on citizen science platforms on the 15th of November 2023. This workshop will take place as a hybrid event, with the in-person location being in Lecce, Italy, and will focus on teaching participants how to use Citizen Science platforms, such as Zooniverse and the LifeWatch Citizen Science Platform. The purpose of this Training Session is to create Citizen Science projects and engage volunteers in the historical data rescue and standardization process.