The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) is a network of European organisations working together to observe the oceans, to make the collected marine data freely available and interoperable, to create seamless data layers across sea-basins and to distribute the data and data products through the Internet. The primary aim of EMODnet is to unlock existing but fragmented and hidden marine data and make them accessible for a wide range of users including private bodies, public authorities and researchers.
This project NESBp (Northern European Sea Basins project) (November 2024 - May 2027) is a part of the Greater North Sea Basin Initiative (GNSBI) and focuses on promoting international and comprehensive cooperation in the maritime spatial planning of the North Sea and Baltic Sea basins. Furthermore, the NESBp aims to strengthen collaboration not only between the North Sea countries but also between the North Sea and Baltic Sea regions through the HELCOM-VASAB framework.
The first phase of the project focuses on disseminating the results of the eMSP NBSR project and transferring the objectives of the GNSBI into the project. This involves analysing what information is still missing and developing a strategy to fill the gaps. Activities in this phase include partner meetings, both general and work package-specific, as well as internal and external meetings. The Steering Committee, the Advisory Board are installed and the procedure for the project processes are developed.
In the second phase, stakeholder engagement is prioritized to address the identified gaps. Work package working groups involving stakeholders and an interim project conference are key activities during this phase. In the final phase, policy recommendations are prepared by the four work packages, which are then submitted to the GNSBI and HELCOM-VASAB. Workgroup meetings and a final conference are organized, and efforts are made to disseminate the results to a broad audience. The Community of Practice (CoP) method is applied throughout the project where appropriate.
As a project partner, Seascape Belgium will lead a task in WP5 ‘Knowledge transfer & sharing’, focusing on strengthening the data services in EMODnet for MSP stakeholders. The task will feed and promote EMODnet as the Spatial Data Infrastructure reference for MSP practitioners.