Marine Biodiversity Data Barriers in Europe: A practical guide
Creators: name: Cronne-Grigorov, Lise
name: Holdsworth, Neil
name: CHIARINI, MATTEO
name: Spedicato, Maria Teresa
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025

description: Marine biodiversity is crucial to the health of our oceans and ecosystems, but accessing and utilising the data necessary to monitor and protect marine life is an ongoing challenge.

Across Europe, barriers exist that prevent seamless data flow, hindering the effective use of critical biodiversity information. These barriers—ranging from technical obstacles to governance issues—prevent the full potential of marine data from being realised

The DTO-BioFlow project aims to break down these barriers by providing a comprehensive guide to understanding and overcoming the challenges of marine biodiversity data access, integration, and use. 

The Barriers Playbook is scheduled for release in Autumn 2026, this playbook will offer:



Technical Solutions: Step-by-step guides for overcoming technical issues related to data formats, integration tools, and automation.

Governance Models: Real-world examples and recommendations for improving collaboration, data sharing agreements, and regulatory frameworks.

Case Studies: Insights from the project’s data flows, including challenges faced and lessons learned from the Genomics, Plankton Imaging, Biologging, and Cetacean Passive Acoustics pathways.

End-to-End Approaches: Holistic strategies for data management from collection to integration, ensuring the long-term sustainability of data flows into the EU Digital Twin of the Ocean (EU DTO). 


Key Barriers to Marine Data Access

Through a comprehensive review of European reports, a DTO-BioFlow partner survey, and the project’s data blueprint, we've identified several key barriers that prevent data from flowing efficiently and effectively into the EU Digital Twin of the Ocean (EU DTO).

These barriers span across various sectors and require coordinated efforts to overcome.

1. Resource Barriers

Many organisations lack the funding and staffing needed to manage and share marine biodiversity data consistently. Without adequate resources, critical data often remains dormant or inaccessible.

2. Technical Barriers

The lack of standardised formats and integration tools makes it difficult to connect diverse datasets. Incompatible data systems, along with the absence of common data standards, prevent seamless data flow across platforms.

3. Cultural and Governance Barriers

Data are often siloed within specific organizations or sectors, and the lack of collaboration between stakeholders makes it challenging to share data effectively.

4. Legal Barriers

Complex legal frameworks, such as data rights, intellectual property issues, and data sharing restrictions, prevent the free exchange of marine biodiversity data, hindering its wider use and integration. Different policies and governance frameworks across countries and institutions further complicate the situation.

Why Is This Guide Important?

Effective marine biodiversity data is critical to supporting EU policies like the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Data-driven tools ensure more reliable decision-making, improving the management of marine ecosystems and strengthening biodiversity protection.

Without addressing the existing barriers to data access and use, meaningful progress will remain out of reach. This guide will equip policymakers, scientists, and marine data stakeholders with the knowledge and tools to overcome these challenges and contribute to a sustainable and data-driven ocean. 

Download the Marine Biodiversity Data Barriers in Europe: A Practical Guide!