The dataset on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) established under the framework of the Regional Sea Conventions (RSCs) was created in 2023 by Cogea for the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). It is based on spatial data provided by HELCOM (HELCOM_MPAs_2019_2), by SPA/RAC and MedPAN through the MAPAMED database (MAPAMED_SPAMI_2019_edition_version_2), and by OSPAR (OSPAR_MPAs_202107_001). It is available for viewing and download on EMODnet web portal (Human Activities, https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/human-activities). The dataset displays all the MPAs as officially reported by the respective Contracting Parties to the Helsinky Convention, to the Barcelona Convention and to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic. The RSCs MPAs are established in order to promote the cooperation in the management and conservation of natural areas, as well as in the protection of threatened species and their habitats. Each RSC MPA may be established in the marine and coastal zones subject to the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the Parties and in areas situated partly or wholly on the high sea. Thus, the dataset covers the MPAs Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) and the MPAs in following countries: Albania, Algeria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Monaco, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom. Where available each polygon has the following attributes: code, name (english and/or original), designation, country, status (adopted/designated, managed or partly managed, proposed), establishement year, area sqkm (reported, calculated), marine area sqkm (reported, calculated) management authorithy, site link. For further information please visit the data providers websites. This dataset covers the last updated versions in the 2021 and 2022.

The dataset on Emerald Network sites was created in 2023 by Cogea for the European Marine Observation and Data Network. It is entirely based on spatial data from the European Environmental Agency (EEA), plus additional infos and selected EEA tabular data added as feature attributes. It is available for viewing and download on EMODnet web portal (Human Activities, https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/human-activities). The Emerald Network is an ecological network made up of Areas of Special Conservation Interest designated under Recommendation No. 16 (1989) and Resolution No. 3 (1996) of the Standing Committee to the Bern Convention. The objective of the Emerald Network is the long-term survival of the species and habitats. The Network involves all the European Union member States (the European Union contributes to the Emerald Network with its Natura 2000 sites), some non-Community States and a number of African States. The dataset cover the following countries: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Russian Federation (European part), Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. In the webmap the dataset has been filtered in order to show only marine and coastal sites. Where available each polygon has the following attributes: site code, site name, country code, country name, site type/description (A: SPA, Special Protection Areas - sites designated under the Birds Directive; B: SCIs and SACs, Sites of Community Importance and Special Areas of Conservation - sites designated under the Habitats Directive; C: where SPAs and SCIs/SACs boundaries are identical, sites are designated under both directives), site status (Proposed, Candidate or Adopted), compilation date, update date, area (ha), marine area percentage, marine/coastal location (1). For further information (e.g. biogeographic region, designation status, sites, habitats, impact, management, species and metadata) please visit the EEA's website hosting the Emerald tabular data (https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/emerald-network-data-1/emerald-tabular-data). This version covers the reporting in 2021.

The database on freshwater aquaculture in the EU was created in 2017 by AND-International for the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). The dataset provides information about the location of freshwater finfish farms in the EU and partner countries where data are available. For EU MS, it relies mainly on data collected under the Regulation (EU) 2016/429 (the ‘Animal Health Law’). As far as partner countries are concerned, data have been collected in Norway and in the UK (Scotland only), where detailed data are provided online. Data provided here cover Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and the UK (Scotland only). Each point has the following attributes (where available): status (Active, Expired, Inactive, Renewal), country, owner name, farm type (Carp, Diversified pond fish, Eel, Other diversified, Other specialised, Salmonids, Sturgeon, Trout), production method (Closed systems (recirculation), Ponds, Tanks/Raceways, Cages/Enclosures/Pens, Quarantine facility, Research facility, Other), production stage (Grow out for human consumption, Hatchery, Nursery, Brood stock, Put and take fisheries, Restoration of wild stock, Processing facility, Other), purpose (Commercial, Restocking, Other), Species from Source (English translation of the information provided on species grown in the source), point information (Polygon centroid, Original) depending on how the information is provided in the source (polygons or points), site_id and source_id (id from the source where available). The farm type relies on a typology established by AND-International, based on available information on species grown. A relational table provides harmonised information about species grown using Eurostat nomenclature for the Species Group (Carps, barbels and other cyprinids; Miscellaneous freshwater fishes; River eels; Salmons, trouts, smelts; Sturgeons, paddlefishes; Tilapias and other cichlids), the species name (commercial and scientific) and the code. Data have been updated for Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom. Data from Spain have been added.

The dataset on dredging activities in the EU was created in 2014 by AZTI for the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). It is the result of the aggregation and harmonization of datasets provided by several sources from all across the EU. It is available for viewing and download on EMODnet - Human Activities web portal (https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/human-activities). The database contains points representing dredging sites in the following countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands and United Kingdom. Where available, each point has the following attributes: Id (Identifier), Position Information (e.g.: Estimated, Original, Polygon centroid of dredging area, Polygon centroid of dredging polygon), Country, Sea basin, Sea, Extraction Area, Year (when data is for a time period, the first year of the period is indicated), Permitted Amount (m3), Permitted Amount (t), Extracted Amount (m3), Extracted Amount (t), Extraction Type (e.g.: Harbour dredging, Estuary dredging, Sea lane), Purpose (e.g.: Maintenance dredging, Capital dredging, Others), End Use (e.g.: Beach nourishment, Commercialization, Confined deposit, Construction material, Embankment, Filling material, Land deposit, Reuse, Sea disposal, Wetland restoration), Material type (e.g.: silt, sand, gravel), Notes, Link to Web Sources. In the 2022 update, extraction data until 2020 has been included.

The dataset on coastal and marine protected areas in the European seas for those countries or territories that are not covered by the the EEA's Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) was created in 2022 by Cogea for the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). This dataset is entirely based on GIS vector data from UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2023, (Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas, WDPA, [Online], September 2023, Cambridge, UK: UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, available at: www.protectedplanet.net), plus additional info and selected tabular data added as feature attributes, as well as the calculation of marine and coastal location of features. It is available for viewing and download on EMODnet web portal (Human Activities, https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/human-activities). The WDPA is the most comprehensive global database of marine and terrestrial protected areas, it is a joint project between UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and it is managed by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), in collaboration with governments, non-governmental organisations, academia and industry. In the webmap the dataset has been filtered in order to show only marine and coastal areas. Geographical coverage: Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark (only the Faroe Islands), Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, France (only Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin French part), Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Jamaica, Lebanon, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands (only Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Sint Maarten Dutch part) Nicaragua, Norway (only Svalbard and Jan Mayen), Palestine, Panama, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom (including Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Montserrat), United States (only Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the US Minor Outlying Islands in the Caribbean Sea), Venezuela. Where available each polygon has the following main attributes: country code, territory code, country name, territory name, WDPA ID, name (english and original), designation name (english and original) and type (International, National, Not Applicable, Regional), IUCN category and description (Ia: Strict Nature Reserve; Ib: Wilderness Area; II: National Park; III: Natural Monument or Feature; IV: Habitat/Species Management Area; V: Protected Landscape/ Seascape; VI: Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources; Not applicable; Not assigned; Not reported), marine location (1: predominantly marine; 2: entirely marine), area sqkm (reported, calculated), marine area sqkm (reported, calculated), status (Adopted, Designated, Established, Inscribed, Not Reported, Proposed), government type (Collaborative governance, Federal or national ministry or agency, For-profit organisations, Government-delegated management, Indigenous peoples, Individual landowners, Joint governance, Local communities, Non-profit organisations, Not Reported, Sub-national ministry or agency), ownership type (Communal, For-profit organisations, Individual landowners, Joint ownership, Multiple ownership, Non-profit organisations, Not Reported, State), management authorithy and plan info, marine/coastal location (1). For further information please visit the Protected Planet website. Compared with the previous release, this one includes the updated dataset 'WDPA_Sep2023_Public' published by the WDPA in September 2023 and it includes the marine and coastal protected areas in the Caribbean Sea.

The dataset on Ocean Energy Test Sites in the EU was created in 2016 by AZTI for the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). It is the result of the aggregation and harmonization of data provided by several sources from all across the EU. It is updated every year, and is available for viewing and download on EMODnet - Human Activities web portal (https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/human-activities). The database contains polygons representing Ocean Energy test sites in the following countries: Denmark, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Where available, each polygon has the following attributes: test site code, name, location, country, sea basin, sea, distance to coast (metres), resource type (wave, tidal), starting year, ending year, lease status, site status, capacity (kW), depth (metres), area (square km), grid connection, number of berths, developer, position info (it indicates if the attribute value is original from the source or has been estimated) and the studies conducted for the Environmental Assessment (EIA). In 2022 the status of the test sites has been been updated.

The dataset on areas for aggregate extraction in the EU was created in 2018 by AZTI for the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). It is the result of the aggregation and harmonization of datasets provided by several sources from all across the EU. It is available for viewing and download on EMODnet - Human Activities web portal (https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/human-activities). The database contains polygons representing areas of seabed licensed for exploration or extraction of aggregates, in the following countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands and United Kingdom. Where available, each polygon has the following attributes: Id (Identifier), Area code, Area name, Country, Sea basin, Sea, Starting year (the year when the license starts), End year (the year when the license ends), Site Type (exploration area, extraction area, extraction area (in use)), License status (Active, not active, unknown), Material type (e.g.: sand, gravel, maerl), Notes, Distance to coast (in metres), Link to Web Sources. In the 2022 update, new areas have been included, and the data on the existing polygons have been updated.

The dataset on aggregate extraction in the EU was created in 2014 by AZTI for the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). It is the result of the aggregation and harmonization of datasets provided by several sources from all across the EU. It is available for viewing and download on EMODnet - Human Activities web portal (https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/human-activities). The database contains points representing aggregate extraction sites, by year (although some data are indicated by a period of years), in the following countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands and United Kingdom. Where available, each point has the following attributes: Id (Identifier), Position Info (e.g.: Estimated, Original, Polygon centroid of dredging area, Estimated polygon centroid of dredging area), Country, Sea basin, Sea, Name of the extraction area, Area of activity (km2), Year (the year when the extraction took place), Permitted Amount (m3) (permitted amount of material to be extracted, in m3), Permitted Amount (t) (permitted amount of material to be extracted, in tonnes), Requested Amount (m3) (requested amount of material to be extracted, in m3), Requested Amount (t) (requested amount of material to be extracted, in tonnes), Extracted Amount (m3) (extracted amount of material, in m3), Extracted Amount (t) (extracted amount of material, in tonnes), Extraction Type (Marine sediment extraction), Purpose (e.g.: Commercial, Others, N/A), End Use (e.g.: Beach nourishment, Construction, Reclamation fill, N/A), Material type (e.g.: sand, gravel, maerl), Notes, Link to Web Sources. In the 2022 update, extraction data until 2021 has been included.

The dataset combines data collected from several sources: data collected and processed by the “Service hydrographique et océanographique de la marine” (SHOM) under the product “Wrecks and obstructions” for France (Hexagone and outermost regions and territories), The National Monument Service Wreck Viewer for Ireland, Historic England and the University of Oxford - The Oxford Roman Economy Project (Strauss, J. (2013). Shipwrecks Database. Version 1.0. Accessed (date): oxrep.classics.ox.ac.uk/databases/shipwrecks_database/) for archeological remains of ship wrecks in the Mediterranean. The different products were developed with different purposes and therefore provide information of different nature. The product developed by SHOM aims to identify objects emerging from the seabed and likely to hinder navigation, while the three other products focus on the historical value of the wrecks. The choice was made to keep as much information as possible. When possible fields from different sources have been merged (e.g. least depth available in SHOM data and the Oxford Roman Economy Project), but other fields correspond to a specific source. When available, information is provided on the nature of the objects (object description, ship characteristics, object type, artefacts, estimated tonnage), on the aging of the wrecks (sink year, dating, period), on the circumstances of the sinking (sink context, place of origine, place of destination), on the location (least depth, max depth, other depth information, object length, location precision, site area, coast distance), on the protection status (only for England) and on sources and additional information available (source information, references, website, website 2). The additional processing carried out by EMODnet consisted in translating the available information to English (through partly-automated translation), extracting the year of the sinking when available and calculating the distance to coast. Last update of the product by SHOM was made in November 2021, last update of the Historic England data was made in August 2021, update of the National Monument Service Wreck Viewer in Ireland was made I April 2018 and the Oxford Roman Economy Project was carried out in 2013.

The dataset on status of bathing waters in the EU was created in 2015 by Cogea for the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). It is based on the dataset 'Bathing Water Directive - Status of bathing water' provided by The European Topic Centre on Water and made available by the European Environment Agency at https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/bathing-water-directive-status-of-bathing-water-14. The EU Bathing Water Directive requires Member States to identify popular bathing places in fresh and coastal waters and monitor them for indicators of microbiological pollution (and other substances) throughout the bathing season which runs from May to September. The dataset presents the latest information as reported by the Member States, Albania, Switzerland and the United Kingdom for the 2021 bathing season, as well as some historical data since 1990, and it is available for viewing and download on EMODnet - Human Activities web portal (https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/human-activities). Only coastal and transitional sites are shown on the viewer, while the dataset also contains lake and river sites. The geographic coverage is: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. More information are available at https://rod.eionet.europa.eu/obligations/787. Classifications were not made for the UK sites for the 2020 season due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sampling programme. Compared with the previous version, the dataset has been updated according to the latest EEA version. 2021 data for UK sites come from national authorities.