Just over two years ago, in January 2023, EMODnet took a bold step by transforming from seven distinct Thematic Portals—covering Bathymetry, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Human Activities, Physics, and Seabed Habitats—into a single, unified web portal. Spearheaded by the EMODnet Central Portal Technical Team and thematic coordinators, this transition consolidated marine data access, simplifying user experience and enhancing efficiency.
EMODnet Biology is 3 months away from ending the two years of work planned for Phase V. During the next few weeks, the final deliverables will be published.
The product, developed by Deltares in cooperation with the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, identifies areas suitable for reef habitats in the North Sea based on four key species occurrences and environmental variables such as bathymetry, grain size distribution, temperature and salinity.
EMODnet’s Biology experts have published a new open access paper addressing the challenges of creating biodiversity data products to address user needs, due to the complexity of biological systems and of the data derived from surveys designed without explicit biodiversity policy or management guidance, and the key role of EMODnet’s expertise for this thematic area.
Dear EMODnet partners, colleagues and friends, A very Happy New Year to you all! As the Head of the EMODnet Secretariat, it is my pleasure to bring you the EMODnet New Year’s letter, an annual tradition that celebrates the collective achievements of the EMODnet community in 2024 and that looks ahead to EMODnet’s continued evolution and Vision to 2035
Following the EMODnet Biology and LifeWatch-ERIC Autumn Data School held previously, EMODnet Biology is now offering a Data Management training course to Mediterranean organisations in mid-May 2025, in Tunisia. The course will cover data management aspects applicable to marine biology and will focus on the procedures required to publish data in medOBIS and subsequently in EMODnet Biology.
The DTO-BioFlow project has launched its Second Open Call, inviting international networks, citizen science groups, research institutes, universities, and NGOs to help establish long-term biodiversity data flows to the European Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO) through EMODnet Biology.
In December 2024, EMODnet Biology completed a major data publication, increasing its biodiversity data holdings by over 1.2 million new occurrence records, spanning a historical time period of > 100 years for a broad range of taxonomic groups from algae to marine mammals and more. This significantly enhances data coverage and accessibility across European regional seas and the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.
EMODnet Biology hosted an online workshop on 19-20 November, with more than 40 representatives from EU projects, EU project officers and DG MARE. The focus was on projects that collect biodiversity data or create products based on these data.
EMODnet Seabed Habitats provides a single access point to European seabed habitat data and unique products like the EUSeaMap broad-scale seabed habitat map for Europe, with diverse uses from produces aiding marine spatial planning to supporting marine habitat assessments. EMODnet has recently updated a storymap which visually illustrates the data and data products available from EMODnet Seabed Habitats on the EMODnet Portal.
