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.

Oonagh McMeel holds a BSc in genetics and a PhD in molecular phylogenetics from Queen’s University Belfast. She worked as a molecular biologist for more than ten years in a range of academic and government institutions including the National University of Ireland, Galway, the Northern Ireland Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute and the Irish Marine Institute. Her research focused primarily on the use of advanced molecular techniques to address life-history and conservation management questions in selected fish species. From 2012 to 2014, Oonagh worked as a Senior Scientist with eCOAST Marine Research in Ostend, Belgium. As work package leader in the FP7 PharmaSea marine biodiscovery project, she worked in partnership with key stakeholders to promote a dialogue on legal and policy frameworks governing the access and use of marine genetic resources for scientific and commercial purposes. Oonagh joined Seascape’s team in Spring 2015 as a Knowledge Transfer Officer for the EMODnet Secretariat, working on the translation of marine observations and data to the private sector as part of the H2020 COLUMBUS project. Currently she is coordinating Seascape Belgium’s contributions to other projects such as SOPHIE project on interactions between Seas, Oceans & Public Health in Europe and the INMARE project focusing on biodiscovery of enzymes from marine origin for use in industrial processes. Oonagh is currently working as a Senior Consultant with Seascape. In 2017, she relocated to Ireland but continues to work with Seascape Belgium.