EMODnet Biology

This project website provides information on the progress of the biological preparatory action of the European Marine Observation and Data Network and gives access to the marine biological data portal and metadata catalogue.

The Maritime Policy Blue Book, welcomed by the European Council in 2007, announced that the European Commission would take steps to set up a European Marine Observation and Data Network to improve access to high quality marine data for private bodies, public authorities and researchers. A set of preparatory actions (2009-2011) on biological data, hydrographic data, physical data, chemical data, geological data and broad scale habitats has been launched for a limited set of Sea Basins. It aims at gathering experience for a later permanent operational system.

The main objective of the biology project was the development of an online marine biological data portal allowing the access and download of marine biological data across Europe. The biological lot focused on gathering available information and on the temporal and spatial distribution of species composition, abundance and biomass of phytoplankton, zooplankton, angiosperms, macro-algae, invertebrate bottom fauna, bird communities, sea mammals and reptiles. You can consult the final report of the biology preparatory action.