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European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet)

The latest EMODnet for Business workshop report "The Power of Marine Data for Ports, Marinas and Boating" showcased at BOOT 2025

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As an international watersports show, BOOT 2025 gathers stakeholders from around Europe and the world to showcase the latest innovations, technology and capabilities in boating and watersports. This provided a perfect opportunity to present findings from its latest business workshop report, highlighting the growing importance of marine data in supporting business operations, sustainability, and strategic decision-making.

The EMODnet for Business workshop, held online in October 2024, brought together key stakeholders to explore how EMODnet’s environmental and human activities data can benefit the sector. The event emphasized how ports, marinas and boating sector businesses, port authorities and wider stakeholders are increasingly turning to open-access marine data to enhance their services, improve operational efficiency, and support digitization and sustainability efforts, and how these sectors are also increasingly collecting marine environmental and wider data for their operations, which could be shared with EMODnet to further increase the pan-European offer of FAIR marine data and knowledge, open to all.

Kate Larkin at BOOT 2025, Blue Innovation Dock @EMODnet Secretariat

European Boating Industry (EGI) were co-organiser of the EMODnet workshop and key organizer of the BOOT 2025 Blue Innovation Dock. Philip Easthill, Secretary-General of the European Boating Industry (EBI), underscored the value of EMODnet’s engagement collaboration with the ports, marinas and boating sectors: "European Boating Industry was pleased to continue its collaboration with EMODnet through the recent business workshop. The report provides valuable insights into how EMODnet supports the recreational boating sector, offering concrete benefits for businesses that are increasingly looking at data to underpin their operations and strategy. We look forward to further collaboration, including data sharing initiatives.”

Marinas and ports also have a key role to play in both using and contributing to EMODnet’s data resources. Melanie Symes from TransEurope Marinas who also co-organised the EMODnet workshop highlighted the opportunities for the marina sector to engage more actively with EMODnet: "TransEurope Marinas was honored to be invited to co-design a fascinating EMODnet workshop on setting out the potential for ports and marinas to both benefit from and contribute to EMODnet’s vast marine data platform. The report from EMODnet’s recent workshop offers a fascinating introduction to their environmental and cultural marine data platform. From contributing to data collection to improving information services for boaters, marinas have a huge potential for productive collaboration.”

The full workshop report is now available, providing a detailed overview of discussions and key takeaways. It offers practical insights into how marine data is shaping the future of the recreational boating industry. Businesses, policymakers, and marine professionals can access the report here: EMODnet Business Workshop Report.

In addition to the report, EMODnet has a video showcasing EMODnet for Business, including how EMODnet’s data can be used to improve decision-making, operational efficiency, and environmental monitoring. It can be accessed here: EMODnet for Business.

The discussions at BOOT 2025 reinforced the growing demand for high-quality marine data across these sectors, and how EMODnet’s offer can add value and save costs to businesses, helping them harness the power of open-access marine knowledge.