On 25 September 2025, EMODnet featured prominently in the fourth webinar of the EU Ocean Decade Series, titled “Making Sense of the Ocean: From Observation to Actionable Knowledge.” As an official Implementing Partner of the UN Ocean Decade, EMODnet showcased its contributions to advancing global marine data accessibility and innovation. The webinar highlighted EMODnet’s role in supporting several Decade Challenges, including expanding the Global Ocean Observing System (Challenge 7) through partnerships like OBIS via EurOBIS, which provides over 20 million marine biodiversity records. These datasets are instrumental in international biodiversity assessments and the identification of Ecologically or Biologically Significant marine Areas (EBSAs), including in EU overseas territories.
Figure 1.Louis Demargnie (FUGRO) speaking at the EU Ocean Decade Webinar Series© EU Ocean Decade Webinar Series
EMODnet also contributes to Challenge 8 by supporting the European Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO) and collaborating with global initiatives such as GEOSS, ODIS and the Ocean Best Practices repository. In addition, it placed a key role in promoting ocean literacy and inclusive participation (Challenges 9 and 10) through partnerships with the Ocean Teacher Global Academy and the European Atlas of the Seas. The webinar, co-organised with EUMETSAT, the Copernicus Marine Service, the ECOP Programme, and the UN Ocean Decade Coordination Office for Ocean Data Sharing, emphasised the importance of transforming marine in situ observation and modelled data into actionable knowledge for sustainable ocean management.
Figure 2. EMODnet for Challenge 8: Create a digital representation of the ocean© EMODnet Secretariat