The EMB Habitat Mapping Working Group faced challenges in creating accurate and comprehensive marine habitat maps, particularly due to limited biological data and gaps in deep-sea coverage. EMODnet data—such as EUSeaMap, biology layers, and high-resolution bathymetry—was crucial in addressing these issues by providing detailed, accessible, and high-quality spatial data. This enabled the group to identify critical data gaps, assess habitat conditions, and inform future mapping priorities. EMODnet’s tools also supported policy development and marine conservation by facilitating data-driven decision-making.
Organisation
The European Marine Board (EMB) provides a pan-European platform for its member organisations to develop common priorities, advance marine research, and bridge the gap between science and policy. Established in 1995, EMB represents 38 member organisations from 19 European countries, including national marine and oceanographic institutes, research funding agencies, and university consortia. The EMB promotes and supports knowledge transfer for improved leadership in European marine research, providing policy advice to national agencies and the European Commission. By facilitating enhanced cooperation between European marine science organisations, the EMB plays a strategic role in fostering a common vision on the strategic research priorities for marine science in Europe.
The EMB’s efforts are focused on addressing future marine science challenges and opportunities, advocating for increased investment in marine research and innovation, and promoting sustainable ocean governance. Through its publications, strategic foresight activities, and stakeholder engagement, the EMB aims to ensure that marine science contributes effectively to societal needs and policy development. More information about their initiatives, publications, and membership can be found on their website.
Challenges faced
The EMB Habitat Mapping Working Group aims to highlight the science and policies needed to advance marine habitat mapping to fulfil the objectives of the European Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and the international commitments on biodiversity and climate. The Working Group (WG) also makes links to the societial outcomes of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The WG is comprised of international experts in the field of habitat mapping, including representatives from EMODnet Seabed Habitats (ESH).
The WG used EMODnet marine data in the analysis and collation of high-quality marine habitat maps to inform EMB's Marine Habitat Mapping Future Science Brief No.11. The analysis of these collated habitat maps for European Seas and their subsequent outputs supports the implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the European Green Deal. EMODnet data helped address challenges related to the spatial extent and thematic resolution of marine habitat maps, identifying critical gaps, particularly in deep-sea regions. By leveraging EMODnet data (habitat maps, EUSeaMap, Essential Ocean Variables, and biology layers), the EMB WG was able to conduct thorough analyses that revealed significant insights into the current state of marine habitats at European scale. This included identifying areas where data was lacking, thus pinpointing where future mapping efforts should be focused.
The data also highlighted the lack of sufficient biological information in many seabed maps, which is crucial for understanding species and community distributions. This information is essential for policymakers to propose funding for detailed marine habitat mapping programs, ensuring compliance with policies such as the Nature Restoration Law; and in order to deliver the ambitious plans of the European Green Deal. These maps play a critical role in assessing environmental status and in making data-driven decisions aimed at achieving Good Environmental Status (GES) of marine waters, as mandated by the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).
EMODnet services used
The EMODnet data products included EUSeaMap, biology layers, composite data products, modelled maps, broad-scale and detailed habitat maps, which provide comprehensive coverage of seabed habitats across European waters. The utilised EMODnet Seabed Habitat maps contained information on substrate type, habitat complexity, and the presence of key biological assemblages. Additionally, high-resolution bathymetry data, backscatter data from multibeam echosounders, and habitat classification schemes were used. These products are essential for understanding the physical characteristics of the seabed and identifying areas of biological significance. The EMODnet Seabed Habitat maps and data products offered detailed thematic resolution, allowing for the distinction between different habitat types and the assessment of their condition and extent.
The EMODnet Portal facilitated easy access to these data products, enabling the EMB Habitat Mapping Working Group to perform detailed spatial analyses and generate outputs that support the implementation of various European policies. The high-quality and freely accessible data products from EMODnet were fundamental in addressing the challenges of spatial extent and thematic resolution in marine habitat mapping, thus supporting informed decision-making for marine conservation and management.
Impact of EMODnet
The availability of EMODnet data has significantly enhanced the EMB's ability to support European marine policies and initiatives. By providing a centralised and accessible repository of marine habitat maps, EMODnet has enabled the EMB Habitat Mapping Working Group to perform comprehensive analyses of marine habitats across Europe. This has facilitated the identification of critical gaps in mapping and the need for more detailed biological data, including presence/absence data and higher resolution species distribution information, directly informing policy recommendations. The ability to access and use these maps for analysis has also contributed to the efficient dissemination of information to policymakers, aiding in the development of informed decisions regarding marine spatial planning (MSP), and marine conservation and restoration efforts. Furthermore, the ease of access to high-quality data has promoted ocean literacy among stakeholders and the general public, highlighting the importance of marine habitats, their wealth as a resource, and their role in achieving sustainability goals. The EMODnet Portal is an excellent example of how marine habitat mapping data products can be shared and freely accessed.
Efforts to collate and host these files (e.g., by EMODnet Seabed Habitats) have greatly improved their collective extent, visibility, and overall value.
Figure showing various elements from the Marine Habitat Mapping Future Science Brief No.11, including visuals and figures in which EMODnet Seabed Habitat data was used to support seabed habitat analysis. The figure includes: the cover of the Science Brief (left), high-resolution bathymetric maps of Ireland’s coastal waters and offshore territory (top), photos of marine and seabed habitats (bottom left), and in situ and remote sensing approaches used for marine habitat mapping. © European Marine Board, © INFOMAR, © G. Castellan (CNR-ISMAR), © Mišo Pavičić, IZOR, Graham Saunders © Crown copyright, George Stoyle © NatureScot. All rights reserved.