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EMODnet experts showcase network achievements and global contributions at IODC 2022

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On 14-16 February 2022, EMODnet experts came together with international representatives of ocean data in Sopot, Poland and online to present the latest status, achievements and future evolution of EMODnet at the International Ocean Data Conference 2022 - The Data We Need for the Ocean We Want organized by IOC-UNESCO and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE), in collaboration with the Institute of Oceanology of Polish Academy of Sciences (IO-PAN), eCUDO.pl and the Polish National Oceanographic Data Committee. A total of 591 participants from 65 countries followed the conference online, and around 60 people were on site.

The EMODnet Secretariat kicked-off EMODnet inputs with a presentation in the Opening Session looking at EMODnet’s achievements including >59,000 unique users accessing the EMODnet Central Portal in 2021 alone, the added value – including the data products that are only made possible by the pan-European integrated data layers based on hundreds of diverse ocean observation and marine monitoring efforts, and key contributions to the EU marine data space and global ocean data ecosystem through the UN Ocean Decade.

Over the 2.5 days of Conference programme, EMODnet was further represented by a large and diverse number of EMODnet thematic and data ingestion experts spanning across Bathymetry, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Human Activities, Physics, Seabed Habitats ranging from EMODnet’s high contribution to global marine data services e.g., through the collaboration between EMODnet Biology, EurOBIS and OBIS, EMODnet Physics offer of pan-Atlantic and some global datasets and EMODnet Bathymetry contribution to Seabed 2030. EMODnet Geology showcased the expansion in geographical coverage to neighbouring regions including the Caspian Sea. And EMODnet’s key role in delivering marine data and information for EU marine policy was also underlined in contributions by EMODnet Chemistry, Biology and EMODnet Seabed Habitats to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the expansion of EMODnet Human Activities as a EU focal point for Member State national Maritime Spatial Plans. Other presentations recognised other key EU marine data infrastructures e.g., SeaDataNet that form a key component of the EU marine data management pipeline.

On the final day, EMODnet Secretariat and Data Ingestion representatives joined a Panel on the UN Ocean Decade Data Vision as speakers and moderators, including a presentation on the Data Coordination Platform for the UN Ocean Decade by Jan-Bart Calewaert, co-Chair of the Ocean Data Coordination Group.

All Conference presentations (pre-recorded and those given live on-site) are now available on the IODC Conference website online programme. You can also read further information on the EMODnet representation and the EMODnet Recommendations for the future evolution of marine data services in the context of IODE and the UN Ocean Decade.

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