EMODnet Chemistry phase IV

EMODnet (European Marine Observation and Data Network) is the long term marine data initiative supported by the European Commission since 2009 to ensure that European marine data will become easily accessible, interoperable, and free on restrictions on use.

EMODnet Chemistry aims at collecting, validating, and providing access to marine chemistry data, and generating and publishing marine chemistry data products, relevant for the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and its stakeholders at national, regional and European levels.

In the previous phases EMODnet Chemistry has already gathered a large collection of marine chemistry data sets and developed with involvement of stakeholders and chemistry experts data products concerning eutrophication and contaminants in water, seabed and biota for 5 major European sea regions: Baltic Sea, N.E. Atlantic (Celtic Seas, Iberian Coast, Bay of Biscay and Macaronesia), Greater North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea. The available data products concern include spatially interpolated concentration maps, with time evolution, as well as harmonised, aggregated and validated data collections. These are highly relevant for MSFD indicators 5 (Eutrophication), 8 (Contaminants) and 9 (Sea-food contaminants). Moreover, it has developed operational services for sharing and visualising these data and data products.

The scope of EMODnet Chemistry phase III (started March 06, 2017) involves progressing and strengthening the data collection and product generation for the MSFD indicators 5, 8 and 9, thereby engaging and tuning with major MSFD stakeholders. The scope now also includes gathering data and generating products for indicator 10 (Marine Litter), in particular: beach litter, seafloor litter as found in fishermen’s nets and micro plastics.