Use Cases

Collaboration between EMODnet Biology, EMODnet Seabed Habitats and OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) has facilitated richer dataset publication and ensured the greatest volume of high-quality species and habitat data are available for reporting, assessments and informed decision making.

A joint Copernicus Marine and EMODnet data catalogue for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) has been developed. It gathers all relevant marine data products from Copernicus Marine Service and EMODnet for all the MSFD descriptors (except Descriptor 4) in the Baltic Sea.

Outcomes:  Users were able to apply a marine ecosystem services model to the Lithuanian sea to identify areas where anthropogenic impacts most greatly affected valuable fish provisioning areas and cultural coastal regions. Authors stated the information was particularly useful for regional authorities to apply an ecosystem-based management approach to marine spatial planning. 

How EMODnet Seabed Habitats helped the user: EMODnet provided best available and free substrate data for the Lithuanian portion of the Baltic Sea.

The European Commission (EC) supports policy development and implementation within the EU, working to support the EU’s framework for marine environmental protection. The Commission is also responsible for ensuring that member States apply EU environmental law correctly, helping them to comply with agreed legislation, as well as following up on complaints from citizens and non-governmental organisations.

Outcomes: Users were able to apply a demonstrator tool able to map the Risks of Cumulative Effects (RCE) of different pressures, using benthic habitats within France as an example.

How EMODnet Seabed Habitats helped the user: Coverage of benthic habitats was sourced for the entire French Exclusive Economic Zone.

Who used it: French Office for Biodiversity

When was it used: 2020

This study was published by a group of authors, including representatives from a range of universities and research organisations. The lead author is the University Technology Sydney’s fish ecology lab, which aims to provide novel research to inform on the sustainability of the oceans and their fish populations. They actively engage in public debate on a wide range of issues affecting the marine environment, and also act as a hub for student research training. Their studie

Users identified the main areas where disturbance from bottom-contact fishing was predicted to cause the most significant impact to benthic marine habitats. This work fed directly into the OSPAR Intermediate Assessment (2017) with future implications towards the Marine Strategy Framework Directive assessments.

The ADRIPLAN project (10 December 2013 until 10 June 2015) was funded by the European Commission and worked towards an ADRiatic-Ionian maritime spatial PLANning (ADRIPLAN).  The project focused on improving the ongoing process to develop Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) in the region to overcome barriers of full participation of all neighbouring countries in the process.

Outcomes:  Authors were able to map the potential cumulative impacts of multiple anthropogenic activities and their related stressors on the coastal and estuarine ecosystems in Danish waters of the North Sea – Baltic Sea transition zone.  Following this, authors analysed the differences in stressor contributions between offshore and inshore waters, and the relative local importance of stressors along a gradient from inner fjords to offshore waters.  It was determined that the five most significant stressors are nutrient introduction, climate anomalies, the introduction

Outcomes: Researchers were able to model the suitable habitat for European hake, Merluccius merluccius, in their first year of life (0-group) in the Mediterranean Sea.  The results show that hake nurseries require stable bottom temperatures, low bottom currents and a frequent occurrence of productive fronts in low chlorophyll-a areas in order to support successful recruitment, with conditions occurring recurrently in outer shelf and shelf break areas.  This prediction explains the role of unfavourable environmental conditions on low recruitment in past years.