EMODnet Chemistry and ICES work together to optimise micro-litter formats and data flow

On 18-20 January 2023 EMODnet Chemistry participated in a workshop of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) on the revision of the format for marine litter data in the ICES Environmental Database. The hybrid event took place in Copenhagen (Denmark) and online.

’The EMODnet data format for micro-litter was developed in 2017 for floating micro-litter and in 2021 for micro-litter in sediment. In this context, we have been working closely with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive Technical Group on Marine Litter (TGML), which has called on Member States to manage data through EMODnet in early 2021.

EMODnet Chemistry was asked to share its in-depth knowledge of micro-litter data management. Matteo Vinci and Maria Eugenia Molina Jack from the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics, coordinator of EMODnet Chemistry, presented the updated guidelines and formats which data originators must use to submit floating micro-litter and in sediment to EMODnet Chemistry. They also illustrated the data management system and the main steps to set up and maintain the system such as the regular update of guidelines and templates, and the use of consolidated tools.

’The interaction with the TGML has continuously provided elements for further improvements. For example, work is underway to align EMODnet vocabularies with TGML requirements for micro-litter. Participation in projects dealing with monitoring microplastics in different matrices, such as EUROqCHARM, also contributes significantly to advancing marine litter data management.

Currently, marine litter data from trawls collected by ICES are available through the EMODnet Chemistry Data Discovery Access Service. Regarding micro-litter, EMODnet Chemistry has gathered, validated and made freely available 1670 floating micro-litter datasets collected from 11 countries bordering European sea basins between 2011 and 2021. 54 sediment micro-litter datasets that were collected by Spain, Estonia and Finland between 2014 and 2021, are also available on the EMODnet Chemistry data service.