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 tender responds to the call launched by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), acting under the powers delegated by the European Commission. The subject for this call is “Study for Reporting Obligations for Ocean Observations (CINEA/EMFAF/2021/3.4.9)” (acronym: AllOceanObs) with the reference number CINEA/2021/OP/0009 (August 2022 - November 2023).
The tender relates to the European Union initiative “Ocean Observation - Sharing Responsibility” Initiative which aims to achieve a coherent approach to European ocean observation. Better coordination will allow Member States to build and operate marine observation infrastructure that meets their priorities, and maximises the potential of ocean observations by measuring once and using them for multiple purposes.
Currently, EU member states spend more than €1.5 billion a year in ocean observing activities. However, the collection of ocean observations is fragmented, with the responsibility split, on many instances, between several ministries, departments and agencies within European Nations. As a result, each sector (fisheries, environmental monitoring, research, etc) work in isolation setting its own priorities and using its known own assets, with little knowledge about the activities from the other sectors.
Indeed, in 2018 a call to action was issued to European countries and the EU to examine what is currently being done under their responsibility and establish roadmaps towards better integration, transparency, and coordination. The benefits of improved coordination and integration are many including increased productivity through sharing assets and effort, increased innovation through the creation of opportunities for new technologies and increased efficiency through transparent planning that enable the collection of observations for multiple purposes.
An EU Ocean Observation initiative aims to achieve a coherent approach to European ocean observing and may require Member States to report their ocean observing activities in the future. As such the main objective of this Tender is to deliver findings and recommendations on a framework for Member States to report their ocean observing activities and programmes. In addition to delivering recommendations on how future reporting by EU Member States could progress and be upscaled in a standardised and efficient process, work under this tender will include a digital prototype for reporting that is co-developed and tested by two EU Member States. The digital template will be designed according to INSPIRE principles, and will have the ability to display the information as a digital map and will also include information that considers the needs of meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic institutes.
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