The 2-year extension to Phase 5 of the EMODnet Seabed Habitats project commenced in September 2025 and will run for two years through to 2027. The project aims to build on the existing data libraries and products hosted on the EMODnet Portal. This extension phase will also launch EUSeaMap 2025 (broad-scale habitat map for all European sea basins) which was improved during Phase 5 (2023-2025) with new and revised input data. While the consortium remains the same, the project will have an additional sub-contractor in the Spanish Oceanographic Institute (IEO). IEO will contribute significant habitats and environmental data to the project which will enhance the spatial distribution and resolution of the offering. Sub-contracted partners, South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute (SAERI) will continue their ongoing engagement and network establishment in the Caribbean. Significant progress has been made to date and it is intended to host a workshop in Anguilla in Q2 2026, to engage stakeholders and enhance visibility of EMODnet in the region.
Identification and ingestion of datasets in non-FAIR data environments, such as the Caribbean, proves challenging. However, the consortium and its sub-contractors have successfully secured data co-operation with the likes of Ifrecor (French Coral Reef Initiative), French Scientific Ocean Assistance, Natural Reserve of St-Martin Office of Biodiversity, Turks & Caicos Islands Governement, and Martiniquan Marine Environment Observatory (OMMM). It is an aim of EMODnet Seabed Habitats to demonstrate the value of contributing data to the effort through development of relevant, usable and freely available products in these areas.
EMODnet Seabed Habitats – EUSeaMap 2025 (EUNIS 2022 Level 2), EUSeaMap 2025. ©EMODnet Seabed Habitats
EMODnet Seabed Habitats – EUSeaMap 2025 (EUNIS 2022 Level 2)
The project coordinator for this phase is the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)
In this extension phase, the EMODnet Seabed Habitats project will:
• Continue to grow Europe's only comprehensive library of habitat maps from surveys and collection of survey sample points.
• Create new composite data products from our library of collated maps showing the extent and distribution of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems and potentially degraded habitats in and around Europe.
• Update the EMODnet broad-scale seabed habitat map for Europe (EUSeaMap).
• Engage with Regional Sea Conventions (RSCs) and Expert Working Groups to deliver habitat mapping products for their reporting and monitoring requirements.
• Continue co-operation across the thematic areas to enhance the EMODnet offering.
• Maintain and improve a common method of access to data held in repositories.
• Continue to support the efforts of EMODnet as an implementing partner of the UN Ocean Decade.