Supporting the EU’s green priorities with Copernicus Marine and EMODnet [Promoted content]

EU coastal regions are home to about 40% of European citizens and provide 4.5 million jobs through activities connected to the blue economy. Against this backdrop, it is not surprising that since 2008 the European Union has been raising awareness around the marine environment and the economic activities that depend on it through a dedicated yearly occurrence: the European Maritime Day. 

Laurence Crosnier is the Head of Markets & Services at Mercator Ocean International.

Innovation and Sustainability at the Heart of European Maritime Day 

This year, the European Maritime Day will take place in the coastal town of Svendborg, Denmark, on 30 and 31 May. It will be an occasion for public institutions, businesses, academia and enthusiastic EU citizens to discuss the most pressing issues related to maritime affairs and sustainable blue growth. 

Over the past years, the European Maritime Day has acquired even more weight in light of the central place that the marine environment plays in the European Green Deal and many of the related priorities; most notably the Green Deal aims to ensure the sustainability of our blue economy and fisheries sectors, protect biodiversity and reduce water pollution. 

But effective policymaking and policy implementation strategies rely on a comprehensive knowledge base. The European Commission, with the support of EU Member States, has been advancing such a knowledge base of the Ocean through a series of science-based initiatives.  

Advancing European marine data services through collaboration 

A key milestone underpinning the current European effort to foster marine knowledge is the cooperation between two cornerstone data initiatives of the European Commission: the Copernicus Marine Service and the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) . This close coordination was kickstarted by a high-level agreement and the signature of the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding between the Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) and the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), which respectively manage the two initiatives.  

The Copernicus Marine Service is one of the six services of Copernicus, the Earth Observation component of the EU Space Programme, and is implemented by Mercator Ocean International. The Copernicus Marine Service is at the forefront of delivering high-quality, near-real-time data and information about the state of the global ocean. It integrates satellite observations, in situ measurements and advanced numerical models.  

The agreements that kickstarted closer collaboration between EMODnet and the Copernicus Marine Service aim to ensure that the two initiatives evolve through close interaction and complementarity and that the data products launched by multiple organisations and derived from different technologies at the European level are harmonised and integrated into the respective access portals. 

EMODnet is the most comprehensive European in situ marine data service of the European Commission, as it provides a knowledge base on the marine environment through in situ measurements that span several disciplines, such as physics, chemistry, biology, geology, bathymetry, seabed habitats, and human activities at sea. The initiative is implemented by a network of more than 120 organisations committed to providing standardised, harmonised and openly available data to support EU environmental policy implementation, Blue economy operations and ocean management and conservation efforts. 

Complementing in situ measurements with satellite observations and numerical models, and vice-versa 

With EMODnet and the Copernicus Marine Service, the European marine data landscape has undergone a significant transformation.  

Joint use cases also illustrate how marine data from both services benefits the sustainable Blue Economy. For instance, multiple companies employ this data to develop applications that monitor a series of phenomena affecting European Seas and the performance of aquaculture activities, from bacteria reproduction and harmful algal blooms to oil spills.  

The synergy between EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service ultimately optimizes data flows, improving the overall value proposition of the European marine data service ecosystem. This joint effort ensures that comprehensive marine data, in situ,satellite-based, and numerical models are available for various applications, including one of the latest, cutting-edge initiatives of the European Commission: the European Digital Twin Ocean. 

Cutting-edge technology: the European Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO) 

Drawing from a vast array of data sources, including satellite observations, in situ measurements, and advanced numerical models, Digital Twins represent digital replicas of the ocean’s dynamics and processes. By simulating key variables ocean currents, temperature variations, marine life parameters, and even the impacts of human activities such as pollution and resource extraction, the European Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO) enables scientists, policymakers and stakeholders to anticipate and respond to emerging challenges with greater foresight and efficacy.  

The development of the EU DTO was launched by the European Commission at the One Ocean Summit in February 2022 in the context of the EU Mission to Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030, through research and innovation, citizen engagement and blue investments; with its multi-decade experience in ocean simulation systems, Mercator Ocean International plays a primary role in the development of the EU DTO’s public infrastructure and next generation ocean numerical models. 

The EU DTO will benefit from the integration and upgrade of key components of EMODnet and the Copernicus Marine Service, resulting in a single digital framework. The two initiatives will underpin the EU DTO by providing its data infrastructure and integrating its data streams in a common data lake and their supporting services. 

By feeding data into the EU DTO and already providing models and in situ and satellite-based measurements to public and private stakeholders, the Copernicus Marine service and EMODnet are fundamental tools in the implementation of the European Green Deal and the EU Mission: Restore Our Ocean and Waters. 

The European Maritime Day will represent the perfect opportunity to learn more about the EU DTO and the collaboration between EMODnet and Copernicus Marine thanks to a dedicated booth. 

About Mercator Ocean International  

Currently in the process of transforming into an intergovernmental organisation, Mercator Ocean International is a non-profit organisation which provides ocean science-based services benefiting the scientific community, policymakers and citizens. 

Mercator Ocean International will also be present at the EMD with a booth showcasing the applications and use-cases of the Copernicus Coastal Thematic Hub, a single entry-point for all Copernicus data related to European coastal regions.