GREEN PAPER Marine Knowledge 2020 from seabed mapping to ocean forecasting
Date: 2012-08-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic resources, energy research, innovation, reflation, resources of the sea, scientific research, sea, sea-bed

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 29.8.2012  
COM(2012) 473 final 

GREEN PAPER 

Marine Knowledge 2020 
from seabed mapping to ocean forecasting 

(Text with EEA relevance) 

{SWD(2012) 250 final} 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
  
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Vision ........................................................................................................................... 3 

This Green Paper.......................................................................................................... 3 

The need for marine knowledge................................................................................... 6 

Industry ........................................................................................................................ 6 

Public authorities.......................................................................................................... 7 

Science ......................................................................................................................... 7 

Civil Society................................................................................................................. 8 

Availability and interoperability .................................................................................. 8 

Bottlenecks................................................................................................................... 8 

Multiple use of marine data.......................................................................................... 8 

Competitiveness and Innovation.................................................................................. 8 

Progress so far .............................................................................................................. 9 

National efforts ............................................................................................................ 9 

European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet)................................. 10 

GMES Marine Service ............................................................................................... 12 

Data Collection Framework for fisheries................................................................... 12 

Research ..................................................................................................................... 14 

Environmental Reporting ........................................................................................... 14 

Climate Change Adaptation ....................................................................................... 15 

International Initiatives .............................................................................................. 15 

Governance ................................................................................................................ 16 

Balance between efforts of EU and Member States................................................... 16 

EU support to assembly and processing of marine data ............................................ 16 

Involvement of Neighbours........................................................................................ 17 

Selecting priorities ..................................................................................................... 17 

Private Sector Involvement ........................................................................................ 18 

Responding to Green Paper........................................................................................ 19 

1. 

2. 

3. 

3.1. 

3.2. 

3.3. 

3.4. 

4. 

4.1. 

4.2. 

4.3. 

5. 

5.1. 

5.2. 

5.3. 

5.4. 

5.5. 

5.6. 

5.7. 

5.8. 

6. 

6.1. 

6.2. 

6.3. 

6.4 

7. 

8. 

EN 

2 

   EN 

 
GREEN PAPER 

Marine Knowledge 2020 

from seabed mapping to ocean forecasting 

(Text with EEA relevance) 

1. 

VISION 

The  oceans  and  seas  that  surround  Europe  offer  new  opportunities  to  meet  the 
Europe  2020  goals1.  To  realise  this  potential,  we  need  to  make  it  easier  for 
companies to invest. We need to lower costs, reduce risks and stimulate innovation. 
And we need to ensure that this expansion of the blue economy is sustainable. The 
resources are large but not infinite. To ensure that the expansion of the blue economy 
happens, that it is sustainable and that Europe's seas will achieve good environmental 
status2 we need to know what the state of the sea is now, how it was in the past and 
how  it  might  change  in  the  future.  The  Commission  aims  to  work  together  with 
Member States to bring together available resources and mechanisms to deliver that 
knowledge for the benefit of industry, public authorities, researchers and society. 

This  will  include  a  flagship  project  to  prepare  a  seamless  multi-resolution  digital 
seabed  map  of  European  waters  by  2020.  It  should  be  of  the  highest  resolution 
possible,  covering  topography,  geology,  habitats  and  ecosystems.  It  should  be 
accompanied  by  access  to  timely  observations  and  information  on  the  present  and 
past  physical,  chemical  and  biological  state  of  the  overlying  water  column,  by 
associated data on human activities, by their impact on the sea and by oceanographic 
forecasts.  All  this  should  be  easily  accessible,  interoperable  and  free  of  restrictions 
on use. It should be nourished by a sustainable process that progressively improves 
its  fitness  for  purpose  and  helps  Member  States  maximise  the  potential  of  their 
marine observation, sampling and surveying programmes. 

While  the  EU  can  provide  support  through  the  Common  Strategic  Framework  for 
the  European  Maritime  and  Fisheries  Fund, 
structural  funding, 
commitment  from  Member  States  and  the  private  sector  is  needed  to  achieve  this 
goal. 

including 

THIS GREEN PAPER 
The Commission’s ‘Marine Knowledge 2020’ Communication of September 20103, 
explained  why  we  need  to  unlock  the  economic  potential  of  Europe’s  wealth  of 
marine observations. It showed this would contribute towards meeting Europe 20204 
targets  on  employment,  innovation,  education,  social  inclusion  and  combatting 
climate  change.  It  would  provide  the  knowledge  base  to  facilitate  the  growth  of  a 

Europe  2020  A  strategy  for  smart,  sustainable  and  inclusive  growth  Brussels,  3.3.2010  COM(2010) 
2020 
As required under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) by 2020. 
Marine  Knowledge  2020:  marine  data  and  observation  for  smart  and  sustainable  growth,  8.9.2010 
COM(2010) 461. 
See footnote 1 

2. 

1 

2 
3 

4 

EN 

3 

   EN 

 
                                                 
sustainable,  job-creating  ‘blue  economy’  in  marine  and  maritime  sectors  by 
improving  the  competitiveness  and  efficiency  of  industry,  public  authorities  and 
researchers.  It  would  stimulate  innovation  and  improve  our  understanding  of  the 
behaviour  of  the  sea.  The  Communication  then  outlined  the  basic  principles  for  a 
strategy  that  would  enable  investments  in  marine  observation  from  Member  States 
and the EU to realise their potential for creating sustainable growth and jobs. 

Central to this strategy was the concept of a European Marine Observation and Data 
Network (EMODnet5), a network of marine organisations that would provide a single 
entry  point  for  accessing  and  retrieving  marine  data  derived  from  observations, 
surveys or samples from the hundreds of databases maintained on behalf of agencies, 
public authorities, research institutions and universities throughout the EU. It would 
also  deliver  digital  map  layers  of  parameters  derived  from  these  primary  data  for 
entire sea basins around Europe. 

But the ‘Marine Knowledge 2020’ initiative is broader than EMODnet. It provides a 
unifying framework for all ongoing activities on marine observation within the EU. It 
embraces the full cycle, from initial observation through to interpretation, processing 
and  dissemination.  It  enshrines  basic  principles  such  as  ‘collect  data  once  and  use 
them  for  many  purposes’  and  ‘data  should  be  interoperable,  accessible  and  free  of 
restrictions  on  use’.  These  common  principles,  rules  and  standards  ensure  that 
Member States’ programmes, as well as other significant EU efforts can contribute, 
together with EMODnet, to create a capability much greater than the sum of its parts. 
These  include  the  marine  service  of  the  European  Earth  monitoring  programme 
(GMES)6,  the  Data  Collection  Framework  in  fisheries  and  new  pan-European 
research  infrastructures  identified  by  the  European  Strategy  Forum  for  Research 
Infrastructures (ESFRI). 

Since  the  adoption  of  ‘Marine  Knowledge  2020’,  there  has  been  good  progress. 
Preparatory  actions  under  the  integrated  maritime  policy  have  delivered  prototype 
thematic portals for EMODnet for selected sea-basins. An interim evaluation7 based 
on user feedback has confirmed the basic soundness of the technological choices and 
the  processes  for  assembling  disparate  data  sets.  On  this  basis,  a  second  phase  of 
EMODnet,  financed  by  the  Integrated  Maritime  Policy  Financial  Regulation8,  has 
begun. This will provide access to a digital map of all European waters by the end of 
2014. 

This  will  show,  through  a  single  access  point,  the  depth  of  water,  as  well  as  the 
nature  of  sediments,  the  whereabouts  of  minerals,  zones  of  human  activity  and  the 
type  of  habitat.  It  will  be  accompanied  by  observations  of  physical,  chemical  and 
biological  parameters  such  as  temperature,  salinity,  acidity,  chemical  pollution  and 
marine life. It will be tightly linked to the GMES marine service which will continue 
to  deliver  progressively  more  refined  observations  and  forecasts  of  the  state  of  the 
ocean. 

However, there are a number of new challenges to be faced: 

5 

6 

7 
8 

In this Green Paper we will endeavour to limit the use of acronyms but please indulge us in this one 
which will recur throughout the text. 
Commission  Communication  on  the  European  Earth  monitoring  programme  (GMES),  30.11.2011, 
COM(2011) 831 final. 
Annexed to this Green Paper. 
Regulation (EU) No 1255/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2011 
establishing a Programme to support the further development of an Integrated Maritime Policy. 

EN 

4 

   EN 

 
                                                 
(1)  major  EU  initiatives,  especially  EMODnet  and  GMES,  have  so  far  been 
implemented through limited-duration projects that will finish by 2014. 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

the prolonged financial crisis has focused attention on public spending. There 
is  an  even  greater  need  to  ensure  that  some  one  and  a  half  billion  euro  spent 
annually  by  EU  Member  States  on  Europe’s  marine  monitoring  network  is 
cost-effective. 

easier access to fisheries data has not happened. 

the  March  2011  earthquake  and  tsunami  tragedy  in  Japan,  followed  by  the 
nuclear  accident  at  Fukushima,  highlighted  the  benefits  of  bringing  near-real 
time  information  on  the  state  of  the  marine  environment  into  the  public 
domain. 

(5)  uncertainty as to the present and future impact of climate change on Europe’s 
seas and coasts is stalling local and regional authorities’ efforts to adapt. 

and also new opportunities: 

(1) 

a study9 has shown that private companies collect even more data than public 
authorities, but these have not been incorporated within EU initiatives so far. 

(2)  what will be provided through EMODnet in 2014 is an improvement over what 
exists  and  will  already  provide  useful  services  to  public  and  private  bodies. 
However, it does not stretch the capabilities of current technology. The digital 
terrain model of the European seabed will be delivered at a resolution of about 
250 metres; four times better than what was previously publicly available on a 
pan-European  scale.  Surveying  instruments  have  a  precision  of  centimetres, 
which would allow the creation and distribution, at least in some regions, of the 
much higher resolution product that users want. 

(3) 

the 2014-2020 financial framework for the EU offers an opportunity to develop 
a more sustainable governance structure in which the collection, assembly and 
dissemination of marine data moves from being a set of projects defined by the 
Commission  to  a  continuous,  integrated  process  with  priorities  based  on  the 
needs of users in industry, public authorities and the research community. 

(4) 

the  rapid  expansion  of  offshore  wind  power  will  transform,  stimulate  and 
augment the overall marine economy. Benefits of better access to marine data 
calculated on the basis of the 2010 economy will be underestimates. 

(5) 

the  new  Horizon  2020  research  programme  offers  an  opportunity  to  improve 
technologies for gathering and processing marine observations. 

(6)  Member  States  and  Associated  Countries  have  agreed  to  pool  resources  in  a 
Joint  Programming  Initiative  ‘Healthy  and  Productive  Seas  and  Oceans’  that 
can provide a framework for coordination of observation programmes10. 

This Green Paper takes stock of what has been done. It then opens a debate on the 
best  strategy  for  moving  forward  to  a  new  phase  that  meets  the  challenges  defined 
here  and  profits  from  the  opportunities  to  deliver  an  accessible,  sustainable  digital 
mapping of European sea-beds by 2020. It would also provide timely information on 

9 

10 

Marine  Data  Infrastructure, Final  Report  submitted  to  DG  Maritime  Affairs  and Fisheries,  November 
2009. 
Commission  Recommendation  of  16  September  2011  on  the  research  Joint  Programming  Initiative 
‘Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans’ (2011/C 276/01). 

EN 

5 

   EN 

 
                                                 
the  present  and  past  physical,  chemical  and  biological  state  of  the  overlying  water 
column and forecasts, together with a process that helps Member States maximise the 
potential of their marine observation, sampling and surveying programmes. 

3. 

THE NEED FOR MARINE KNOWLEDGE 

3.1. 

Industry 

Our seas and oceans can provide the stimulus we need to get our economies moving. 
They  can  provide  challenging,  rewarding  jobs  that  meet  the  expectations  of  our 
young  people.  They  can  provide  the  clean  energy  we  need  if  we  are  to  avoid  a 
climate  catastrophe.  They  can  provide  protein  for  healthy  diets.  They  can  provide 
pharmaceuticals  or  enzymes  from  organisms  that  inhabit  the  greatest  extremes  of 
temperature,  light,  and  pressure  encountered  by  life.  And  a  growing  global  hunger 
for raw materials is increasing the economic attractiveness of deep-sea mining. 

These  new  opportunities  for  blue  growth  and  jobs  are  being  driven  by  two 
developments.  First,  a  shortage  of  available  land  and  freshwater  is  encouraging 
mankind to look again at the 71 % of the planet covered by saltwater. Second, rapid 
advances  in  underwater  observation,  remote  handling  and  construction  technology, 
developed primarily in the petroleum industry, now allow safe operations in deeper 
waters under a wider range of oceanographic and meteorological conditions. 

In  some  sectors  the  growth  is  already  happening.  For  instance,  wind  energy  is  the 
fastest growing form of electricity generation in terms of installed capacity. Already, 
10 % of wind installations are offshore and this proportion is growing. The European 
Wind  Energy  Association  reckons  that  by  2020,  30 %  of  new  construction  will  be 
offshore and 60 % by 2030. Success breeds success. Investments such as electricity 
grids for these offshore wind platforms will bring growth to other industries in their 
wake. 

However,  working  at  this  new  frontier  will  inevitably  be  costlier  and  riskier  than 
operating  on  land  if  each  offshore  facility  needs  to  construct  its  own  ancillary 
services  such  as  cabling  or  supply  networks.  Or  if  all  are  obliged  to  carry  out 
separate surveys of the sea bottom, to measure tide and currents, assess marine life 
that might be disturbed by their activity and monitor risks from tsunamis, storms or 
unfriendly marine life. 

For instance, aquaculture operators need warnings of approaching toxic algal blooms 
or jellyfish invasions. Mining companies need to know the topography and geology 
of the seafloor. Insurance companies and investors in ports and tourism need data on 
past  extreme  events  to  estimate  the  likelihood  of  future  damage  and  to  develop 
climate-proof  coastal  infrastructure.  Biotechnology  companies  looking  for  new 
pharmaceuticals or enzymes to catalyse industrial processes need to know where to 
look  for  the  strange  life  forms  that  can  live  without  light  or  withstand  extremes  of 
temperature. 

Marine knowledge is needed in the licencing, design, construction and operation of 
offshore installations. A leading licensee  of offshore wind energy has argued11 that 
marine data should be a public good, that business could be more competitive and the 
cost  of  generating  offshore  energy  cut  if  there  were  clearer  public  policies  on  data 

11 

Twelfth meeting of Marine Observation and Data Expert Group, 10 March 2011 
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/maritimeforum/node/1709. 

EN 

6 

   EN 

 
                                                 
ownership,  less  cost-recovery  pricing  from  public  bodies  and  common  standards 
across jurisdictions and disciplines. 

And, since ‘even an entire society, a nation, or all simultaneously existing societies 
taken  together,  are  not  owners  of  the  Earth.  They  are  simply  its  possessors,  its 
beneficiaries,  and  have  to  bequeath  it  in  an  improved  state  to  succeeding 
generations’12, this new marine economy needs to be sustainable. Offshore operators 
need  marine  knowledge  to  assess  and  limit  the  environmental  impact  of  any 
proposed activity. 

3.2. 

Public authorities 

Coastal  authorities  need  knowledge  of  erosion  rates,  sediment  transport  and 
topography  to  determine  whether  protection,  accommodation  or  retreat  is  the  most 
appropriate strategy for managing shorelines. Fisheries authorities need data on past 
effort  and  catch  composition  to  set  quotas  for  the  following  year.  Public  health 
authorities  need  to  assess  whether  the  sea  is  safe  for  bathing  and  seafood  safe  for 
eating. Civil protection authorities need to be able to calculate where an oil spill will 
hit  the  shore.  Coastguards  need  to  know  how  long  survivors  of  an  accident  can 
survive  in  the  water.  Environmental  authorities  need  to  assess  the  environmental 
status  of  their  seas  and  oceans  and  to  ensure  they  remain  safe  and  clean13.  The 
achievement  of  EU  goals  on  integrated  coastal  zone  management14  and  maritime 
spatial  planning15  requires  knowledge  of  human  activities  and  sensitive  habitats. 
Maritime surveillance by radar or sonar is improved with knowledge of sea-surface 
conditions, temperature and salinity. 

3.3. 

Science 

Scientific  understanding  underpins 
protection. 

industrial 

innovation  and  environmental 

Marine science depends on observations. We cannot run controlled experiments with 
two planet Earths. Only by looking back at the past can we understand what might 
happen in the future. Gaps left in the record cannot be filled later. An editorial on this 
subject  in  the  scientific  periodical  ‘Nature’  argued  that  ‘an  accurate  and  reliable 
record of what is going on can trump any particular strategy for trying to understand 
it’16. 

With these observations, scientists can begin to reduce uncertainty about the past and 
present behaviour of processes such as ocean circulation, ice melting, sea-level rise, 
carbon  uptake,  ecosystem  shifts  or  ocean  acidification  —  all  of  which  have 
significant impacts on human well-being and natural ecosystems. Better monitoring 
of  the  seas  and  oceans  is  not  enough  to  reduce  this  uncertainty,  but  it  is  certainly 
necessary. The Economist17 has suggested that governments are not spending enough 
on satellite observations. 

12 
13 

14 

15 
16 
17 

Karl Marx, Capital Vol. III Part VI Transformation of Surplus-Profit into Ground-Rent. 
Directive  2008/56/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  17  June  2008  establishing  a 
framework  for  community  action  in  the  field  of  marine  environmental  policy  (Marine  Strategy 
Framework Directive) . 
Recommendation  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  30  May  2002  concerning  the 
implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Europe OJ L 148, 6.6.2002, p. 24–27. 
Maritime Spatial Planning in the EU — achievements and future development, COM/2010/0771 final . 
Editorial Nature 450, 761 (6 December 2007). 
Editorial Economist ‘Something to watch over us’. 12 May, 2012. 

EN 

7 

   EN 

 
                                                 
Reducing  uncertainty  in  the  past  and  present  can  improve  forecasts  for  Europe’s 
climate that are fed into the review and assessment process of the Intergovernmental 
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Wide international participation and careful peer-
review  ensure  that  the  Panel’s  assessments  are  the  main  vehicle  for  informing 
government officials responsible for introducing adaptation measures. 

3.4. 

Civil Society 

Citizens in a democracy need information for holding their elected representatives to 
account  on  issues  that  affect  their  neighbourhood,  their  livelihoods,  their  health  or 
the planet Earth that they wish to bequeath to their children. Experience has shown it 
is wrong to assume that the technical background to these issues is best left entirely 
to the appropriate responsible authorities. An editorial in Nature18 used the example 
of the Fukushima accident to make the case that better public access to data would 
contribute  to  better  risk  assessment:  ‘This  would  unleash  the  diverse  creativity  of 
academic researchers, journalists, software geeks and mappers’. 

4. 

4.1. 

AVAILABILITY AND INTEROPERABILITY 

Bottlenecks 
The European Commission, in its 2010 Communication ‘Marine Knowledge 2020’19, 
pointed  out  that  bottlenecks  were  preventing  investments  in  marine  data  from 
delivering  their  potential  benefits.  Data  were  held  by  hundreds  of  different 
institutions in the EU — hydrographic offices, geological surveys, local authorities, 
environmental  agencies,  research  institutes,  universities.  Finding  out  who  held  the 
data  was  a  major  challenge.  Obtaining  them  could  take  weeks  of  negotiation.  And 
putting them together to provide a complete picture could be a complex and lengthy 
process. Many data were typically neither accessible nor interoperable. 

4.2.  Multiple use of marine data 

The same marine observations on physical, chemical and biological parameters can 
meet the needs of a multitude of end-users. For example, data on ocean temperature 
and  salinity  are  used  for  assessing  ocean  climate  change,  choosing  sites  for 
aquaculture or determining the limits of sonar to detect submarines. Data on seabed 
substrata  are  needed  to  plan  the  extraction  of  aggregates  or  hydrocarbons,  ensure 
secure  foundations  for  wind  turbine  platforms,  or  assess  the  impact  of  fishing.  The 
same data on marine habitats can be used to assess the impact of a new facility or to 
report on the state of the environment. 

It  is  this  multiple  functioning  of  underlying  marine  data  across  disciplines  and 
sectors that makes an open access policy the most efficient option. For such a policy 
to be efficient and effective, the data need to be publicly available and interoperable. 
Commission policy is that marine data should be relevant, accessible, free of charge 
and free of restrictions on use. 

4.3. 

Competitiveness and Innovation 

There  is  a  clear  cost  to  the  fragmentation  and  inaccessibility  of  marine  data.  The 
impact assessment20 accompanying the Communication estimated that existing users 
 300  million  a  year  if  the  data  were  properly  integrated  and  managed. 
would  save  €

18 
19 
20 

‘A little knowledge’, Nature 472, 135 (14 April 2011). 
See footnote 3. 
European Marine Observation and Data Network Impact Assessment, 8.9.2010, SEC(2010) 998 . 

EN 

8 

   EN 

 
                                                 
These  estimates  do  not  take  into  account  inevitable  future  growth  in  the  marine 
economy and the consequent increased demand for data. The first specific objective 
of  ‘Marine  Knowledge  2020’  is  to  reduce  costs  for  industry,  public  authorities  and 
researchers. 

Without  better  accessibility  to  marine  data,  added-value  services  such  as  fish  stock 
assessment  or  vulnerability  of  coastal  infrastructure  to  storm  surges  can  only  be 
provided  by  the  organisations  holding  the  data.  This  is  inefficient  and  anti-
competitive.  Opening  up  these  resources  allows  new  operators  to  enter  the  market. 
Interoperability  allows  small  businesses  or  academics  to  develop  new  products  and 
services based on data from different sources and of different types. The value of this 
to the EU economy is hard to estimate, but the impact assessment suggested it could 
be of  the order  of  €
 200 million per year. The second specific objective of ‘Marine 
Knowledge 2020’ is to stimulate innovation. 

That  estimate  does  not  take  into  account  a  rationalisation  of  present  marine 
observation  systems  that  would  reduce  uncertainty  in  our  understanding  of  the 
behaviour of the sea. The economic value of this is even harder to guess, but could 
be  even  greater.  Indeed,  uncertainty  is  a  principal  enemy  of  those  responsible  for 
designing offshore structures that can withstand the vagaries of the sea, for managing 
fish stocks or for designing protected marine areas. It has been estimated2120 that a 
25 %  reduction  in  uncertainty  in  future  sea-level  rise  would  save  public  authorities 
responsible for coastal management approximately €

 100 million per year. 

An  optimised,  accessible  and  interoperable  marine  observation  system  that  helps 
scientists  reduce  uncertainty  would  be  a  major  contribution  to  climate  change 
adaptation.  Ocean  acidification  or  changes  in  ocean  salinity  and  dissolved  oxygen 
will certainly have an impact on marine ecosystems and our ability to harvest from 
them.  Earlier  information  will  give  industries  such  as  that  for  shellfish  aquaculture 
time  to  adapt.  And,  although  it  is  certain  that  the  planet  is  warming,  it  is  not  clear 
what  is  going  to  happen  to  local  climates  in  Europe  over  the  next  decades22. 
However, it is known that changes in ocean circulation drive the severity or mildness 
of Europe’s seasons. With more certainty, forecasts of energy demand or agricultural 
production  can  be  improved.  Investments  in  adaption  can  be  made  in  confidence. 
The third specific objective of ‘Marine Knowledge 2020’ is to reduce uncertainty in 
our understanding of the behaviour of the sea. 
These specific objectives were endorsed by the Council in December 201123. 

1. 

Are  there  any  reasons  why  there  should  be  exceptions,  other  than  those  related  to 
personal privacy, to the Commission’s policy of making marine data freely available 
and interoperable? 

5. 

PROGRESS SO FAR 

5.1. 

National efforts 

Data on the marine environment are a valuable asset. Long-term trends can only be 
if 
distinguished  from  seasonal  changes  and  decadal-scale  natural  variation 
observations  from  the  past,  including  those  collected  before  the  advent  of  digital 

21 
22 
23 

See footnote 20 
The real holes in climate science Nature Vol 463, 21 January 2010FEATURE. 
3139th Environment Council meeting Brussels, 19 December 2011. 

EN 

9 

   EN 

 
                                                 
storage devices, can be compared with those of the present. If these data are lost they 
are gone forever. Observations cannot be repeated. 

And  they  need  to  be  available  for  use  immediately  to  prepare  for  threats  such  as 
incoming oil-slicks. 

Accordingly, a number of Member States are setting up national processes for proper 
stewardship of data that ensures not only safe archiving, but also cataloguing using 
standards  and  technology  that  allows  fast  retrieval  of  data  through  automated 
processes.  These  national  systems  are  the  foundations  of  the  distributed  processes 
that  are  being  built  up  at  EU  level  using  INSPIRE24-based  standards.  Examples 
include  MEDIN  in  the  UK,  the  French  Ifremer-Sextant  geoportal,  the  German 
MaNIDA  coordination  of  research  data  and  their  MDI-DE  initiative  for  agencies. 
Regional  initiatives,  such  as  the  Spanish  Balearic  Islands  Coastal  Observing  and 
Forecasting System25, can also contribute. 

2. 

How can Member States ensure that the data they hold are safely stored, available, 
and interoperable? 

5.2. 

European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) 

The concept of a European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) that 
would unlock fragmented and hidden marine data resources was first mooted in the 
2006  Green  Paper  for  maritime  policy26.  EMODnet  is  a  network  of  organisations 
supported by the EU’s integrated maritime policy. These organisations work together 
to  observe  the  sea,  to  render  the  marine  data  collected  freely  available  and 
interoperable,  to  create  seamless  data  layers  across  sea-basins  and  to  distribute  the 
data and data products through the internet 

A  first  set  of  preparatory  actions  was  launched  in  2009  to  set  up  prototype  data 
platforms.  Six  thematic  assembly  groups  —  for  hydrography,  geology,  physics, 
chemistry,  biology  and  physical  habitats  —  brought  together  a  network  of  53 
organisations. These were largely public bodies — hydrographic offices, geological 
surveys,  oceanographic  institutes  —  that  already  manage  marine  data  themselves. 
They  were  supported  by  private  companies  with  expertise  in  data  processing  and 
dissemination. 

These  groups  constructed  internet  gateways  to  data  archives  managed  by  Member 
States  and  international  organisations.  They  reinforce  and  build  on  ongoing  efforts 
within the Member States such as those listed in section 5.1. From these six portals, 
public  or  private  users  of  marine  data  can  now  not  only  access  the  standardised 
observations themselves, together with data quality indicators, but also data products 
such as sediment or physical habitat maps for entire sea basins. No restrictions have 
been  imposed  on  access  or  use  of  these  data  products.  The  work  builds  on  and 
reinforces  the  INSPIRE  Directive27,  the  Environmental  Information  Directive28  and 

24 

25 
26 

27 
28 

Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2007 establishing an 
Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE). 
This is not an exhaustive list of national endeavours. 
Green Paper ‘Towards a future Maritime Policy for the Union: A European vision for the oceans and 
seas’, 7.6.2006 COM(2006) 275. 
See footnote 24 
DIRECTIVE 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2003 on public 
access to environmental information 

EN 

10 

   EN 

 
                                                 
the Directive on the re-use of public sector information29. The Common Information 
Sharing Environment (CISE)30 will be able to import EMODnet data and so provide 
information  to  maritime  authorities  in  environment,  fisheries,  transport,  border 
control, customs, and general law enforcement as well as defence. 

The  work  was  guided  and  monitored  by  an  independent  group  of  experts  and  an 
interim evaluation31 has confirmed the soundness of the approach. Accordingly, the 
work is being extended under the 2011 Regulation to support the Integrated Maritime 
Policy32 to cover all European sea basins. A thematic group on human activities will 
be  set  up  to  complement  the  other  six.  By  2014,  the  aim  is  to  deliver  a  medium-
resolution33 mapping of European seas for these seven themes. 

The  Regulation  also  supports  prototype  ‘sea-basin  checkpoints’  for  the  first  time. 
These  are  mechanisms  to  identify  whether  the  present  observation  infrastructure  is 
the most effective possible and whether it meets the needs of public or private users. 
The first two will cover the North Sea and the Mediterranean. 
The Commission proposal for a new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund34 under 
the 2014-2020 financial framework aims to provide financial support for EMODnet’s 
move  towards  operational  capability.  With  a  secure  budget,  the  Network  can  move 
from  being  a  set  of  finite-duration  projects  specified  by  the  Commission  to  a 
continuous and sustainable process, with priorities defined by the needs of industry, 
public  authorities  and  the  research  community.  Options  for  a  governance  structure 
for this process are outlined in section 6 of this paper. 

The thematic groups allow the appropriate experts to define a common structure for 
all data within each theme. For instance, biological species observations need at least 
common  descriptions  for  the  time,  place  and  method  of  sampling,  the  name  of  the 
species and precision of measurement. The interim evaluation of EMODnet35 found 
the proposed fields for thematic groups logical, but suggested that consideration be 
given  to  merging  the  hydrography  and  geology  groups.  Nearly  all  nations  have 
separate  hydrographic  agencies  and  geological  surveys  with  separate  missions,  but 
there  is  now  some  overlap.  Both  are  now  concerned  with  environmental  protection 
and  some  of  the  instruments  and  methods  used  for  surveys  are  the  same.  Both 
construct knowledge of the seafloor from multibeam echosounder surveys. 

Are  the  seven  thematic  groups  of  the  European  Marine  Observation  and  Data 
Network  the  most  appropriate?  Should  some  be  combined?  (e.g.  geology  and 
hydrography) or should some be divided?  

What should be the balance in EMODnet between providing access to raw data and 
developing digital map layers derived from the raw data across seabasins? 

Directive 2003/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the re-use of public 
sector information 
Communication  on  a  Draft  Roadmap  towards  establishing  the  Common  Information  Sharing 
Environment for the surveillance of the EU maritime domain, 20.10.2010 COM/2010/0584 
See footnote 7 
Regulation (EU) No 1255/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2011 
establishing a Programme to support the further development of an Integrated Maritime Policy (. 
For instance one eighth of a minute longitude and latitude for digital terrain model and 1:250 000 for 
seabed sediments. 
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Maritime and 
Fisheries Fund , 2.12.2011, COM(2011) 804 final. 
See footnote 7 

3. 

4. 

29 

30 

31 
32 

33 

34 

35 

EN 

11 

   EN 

 
                                                 
5.3. 

5. 

6. 

5.4. 

GMES Marine Service 
The  European  Earth  monitoring  programme  (GMES)36  is  a  flagship  of  European 
Union space policy37. The main objective of its marine service is to deliver products 
and  services  that  added-value  service  providers  can  build  on  to  provide  services  to 
public and private users. The vision is to ensure that products are developed from the 
most  advanced 
technology,  satellite  observations,  computational  power  and 
forecasting capability available in Europe. 

Under  the  GMES  programme,  a  marine  service  has  been  progressively  developed 
and implemented by 60 organisations. This processes and analyses information from 
in-situ  and  space  measurements  to  deliver  two  classes  of  information:  (1)  ocean 
observations and (2) monitoring and forecasting. 

Ocean  models  are  used  to  deliver  three-dimensional  past,  present  and  future  ocean 
states38 at a global and European sea-basin level for different parameters such as sea 
temperature,  currents,  salinity,  sea  ice,  sea  level,  wind  and  biogeochemistry.  Until 
now,  this  marine  service  has  been  funded  through  the  EU’s  research  budget.  As  of 
2014,  GMES  will  enter  its  full  operational  phase  and  should  be  funded  through  an 
operational budget. 

In addition to the marine service which has, up to now, focused on observation and 
providing near-real time and forecasted information on the oceans, a GMES climate 
service is proposed. The simulation models of the current marine service need to be 
calibrated  and  validated  against  observations  of  the  past,  so  the  marine  service 
already has the capacity to store and process these time series of ocean observations. 
This  investment  will  be  useful  for  determining  changes  in  ocean  characteristics  for 
the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, as well as providing a valuable building 
block of the proposed new climate service. 

Standards are being developed so that both the GMES marine service and EMODnet 
can access the same in-situ data. 

Should  a  common  platform  be  set  up  to  deliver  products  from  both  GMES  and 
EMODnet? 

Should  the  GMES  marine  products  and  service  also  be  tailored  for  use  by  those 
studying  climate  change  and  environmental  protection  as  well  as  those  needing  a 
near-real-time operational service? 

Data Collection Framework for fisheries 
Since  200139,  the  EU  has  funded  the  collection  and  dissemination  of  data  on  EU 
fisheries  by  national  authorities.  Data  from  surveys,  samples  and  reported  catch, 
effort and discarding enable the impact on the fish stock to be assessed. Parameters 
such as fleet capacity, employment and profitability also enable analysis of the socio-
economic  health  of  fishing  communities.  The  primary  purpose  is  to  support 

36 
37 

38 
39 

See footnote 6 
Communication ‘Towards a Space Strategy for the European Union that benefits its citizens’ 4.4.2011 
COM(2011) 152 . 
Effectively the oceanographic equivalent of a weather forecast. 
Council Regulation (EC) No 1543/2000 of 29 June 2000 establishing a Community framework for the 
collection and management of the data needed to conduct the common fisheries policy. 

EN 

12 

   EN 

 
                                                 
management of the Common Fisheries Policy, though a revision in 200840 extended 
the data to the aquaculture and processing sector and widened access for scientific or 
public awareness purposes. 
Article  37  of  the  Common  Fisheries  Reform  proposal41  goes  further.  It  obliges 
Member  States  to  collect  biological,  technical,  environmental  and  socio-economic 
data  and  to  cooperate  regionally.  These  provisions  of  the  Basic  Regulation  will 
replace  the  2008  Regulation.  The  details  will  be  spelled  out  in  a  new  EU  Multi-
Annual Programme for 2014-2020. 
The Commission proposal for a new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund42 under 
the 2014-2020 financial framework proposes that the Data Collection Framework for 
Fisheries  shift  from  centralised  to  shared  management,  so  that  Member  States  take 
over  responsibility  for  managing  funding  and  monitoring  implementation  from  the 
Commission. 

In  general,  fisheries  advice  requires  data  from  all  countries  that  fish  a  particular 
species  or  particular  area.  Once  the  data  are  assembled  for  a  specific  purpose,  the 
aggregated data may be published in a report. However, the raw data provided by the 
Member States cannot currently be distributed for other purposes without the consent 
of those who provided the data. In practice, this procedure is so cumbersome that it 
never  happens.  This  leads  to  a  lack  of  independent  checks,  which  severely  limits 
confidence in the results and stifles innovation. 

The  Commission  believes  that  overcoming  issues  of  personal  and  commercial 
confidentiality  is  straightforward.  It  is  perfectly  feasible  to  distribute  fisheries 
information  that  meets  all  requirements  for  understanding  the  ecosystem  without 
revealing the activity of individual vessels. The new Multi-Annual Programme 2014-
2020 has been framed accordingly. 

Currently,  EMODnet  does  not  provide  access  to  data  collected  under  the  Data 
Collection Framework. 

Should data that is assembled under the Data Collection Framework for a particular 
purpose  such  as  a  fish  stock  assessment  be  available  for  re-use  without  the 
requirement to obtain authorisation from the original providers of these data? 

Should an internet portal similar to those for EMODnet be set up to provide access to 
data  held  by  Member  States,  as  well  as  data  assembled  for  particular  stocks, 
particular fleet segments or particular fishing areas? If so, how should it be linked to 
EMODnet? 

Should  control  data,  such  as  that  derived  from  the  Vessel  Monitoring  System  that 
tracks  fishing  vessels,  be  made  more  available?  If  so,  how  can  confidentiality 
concerns be resolved? 

Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  199/2008of  25  February  2008  concerning  the  establishment  of  a 
Community  framework  for  the  collection,  management  and  useof  data  in  the  fisheries  sector  and 
support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy. 
Proposal  for  a  Regulation  on  the  Common  Fisheries  Policy  [repealing  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No 
199/2008] COM(2011) 425. 
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Maritime and 
Fisheries Fund , 2.12.2011, COM(2011) 804 final. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

40 

41 

42 

EN 

13 

   EN 

 
                                                 
5.5. 

Research 

EU  Member  States  spend  approximately  €
 1.85  billion  a  year  on  marine  research. 
About  half  is  on  infrastructure  for  facilitating  observation.  This  includes  ships, 
underwater  observatories,  floating  buoys,  drifting  devices,  remotely  operated  or 
autonomous underwater vehicles, all equipped with a range of sensors and analytical 
capabilities. The European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) has 
currently identified six pan-European infrastructures that will have an essential role 
for 
research  community.  The  Commission’s  2010 
Communication  on  an  ‘Innovation  Union’  proposes  that  60 %  of  infrastructures 
identified by ESFRI be launched or constructed by 2015. 

the  European  marine 

 350 million43  annually.  €

The EU’s contribution to marine and maritime research related actions in the Seventh 
Framework  Programme  amounted  to  €
 25-30 million  per 
year  of  this  is  dedicated  to  marine  research  infrastructures  and  research  on  marine 
observation  technologies  (sensors  and  systems  for  marine  observation).  The 
Framework Programme has also supported the SeaDataNet project, which has been 
instrumental  in  harmonising  marine  data  standards  and  ensuring  interoperability 
between marine databases. SeaDataNet technology is fundamental to the EMODnet 
platform. Other EU projects make observations to improve our knowledge of the sea. 

The  Commission’s  ‘Horizon  2020’  proposal  for  a  research  and  innovation 
programme in the years 2014-2020 includes a larger budget and simpler procedures 
than  the  outgoing  programme.  This  research  programme  can  contribute  to  the 
‘Marine  Knowledge  2020’  objectives  through  (1)  support  to  the  development  and 
integration of marine research infrastructures at EU level, (2) development of user-
oriented  and  cost-effective  marine  observation  technologies,  (3)  research  projects 
that  will  deliver  data  on  the  marine  environment  and  its  interactions  with  human 
activities, including for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. 

To  encourage  the  development  of  intellectual  property,  ideas  developed  in  EU 
research  programmes  become  the  property  of  the  researcher.  So  new  sensors  or 
marine  observation  platforms  will  not  only  support  more  efficient,  effective 
monitoring of our seas and oceans, but can also provide the basis for export potential 
in a high-technology sector with a global market. 

However,  ocean  observations  themselves  cannot  be  patented  and  will  benefit  the 
economy  most  if  they  are  made  freely  available.  At  present,  many  of  these 
observations  are  not  disseminated  once  the  research  project  has  finished.  This  is 
partly  because  researchers  wish  to  publish  their  results  before  releasing  them,  but 
also because there are no incentives or requirements for them to make the effort. 

10. 

11. 

What  should  be  the  focus  of  EU  support  to  new  marine  observation  technologies? 
How  can  we  extend  ocean  monitoring  and  its  cost  effectiveness?  How  can  the  EU 
strengthen its scientific and industrial position in this area? 

Should  there  be  an  obligation  for  research  projects  to  include  a  provision  ensuring 
the archiving and access to observations collected during the research project? 

5.6. 

Environmental Reporting 

A  wide  range  of  data  is  collected  by  Member  States  to  implement  EU  Directives 
such as the Water Framework Directive, the Bathing Waters Directive, the Habitats 
Directive,  and,  most  recently,  the  Marine  Strategy  Framework  Directive.  Member 

43 

out of a total of €

 5.4 billion on average. 

EN 

14 

   EN 

 
                                                 
States  also  report  environmental  indicators  to  regional  sea  conventions  such  as 
OSPAR,  HELCOM,  the  Barcelona  Convention  and  the  Bucharest  Convention.  As 
part of the obligations of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Member States 
have  a  legal  obligation  to  report  data  underlying  initial  assessments  and  stemming 
from  monitoring  programmes  to  the  Commission  and  the  European  Environment 
Agency. The reporting requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive are 
the  basis  of  the  marine  component  of  the  Water  Information  System  for  Europe, 
WISE-Marine. Under Article 19 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, there 
is  a  requirement  for  Member  States  to  provide  access  to  data  resulting  from  the 
assessments and monitoring. EMODnet will be used to enable this access. 

The European Environment Agency has been fully involved with the development of 
EMODnet. The prototype portals already built in the first phase of the project and the 
more advanced ones being prepared in the second phase were specifically designed 
to  deliver  parameters  that  can  be  used  for  constructing  indicators  that  will  be 
necessary  to  assess  the  state  of  the  environment  under  the  Marine  Strategy 
Framework Directive. 

The reporting protocols used for different reporting mechanisms are not necessarily 
the  same,  but  in  the  context  of  the  Marine  Strategy  Framework  Directive,  greater 
convergence is expected. And while some of the data used to construct the indicators 
reported to the competent authority or the Commission are publicly available, many 
are not. 

12. 

Should  the  ‘push’  process  whereby  marine  environment  reports  are  delivered  be 
progressively replaced by a ‘pull’ process, whereby data are made available through 
the  internet  and  harvested  by  the  competent  authority  using  technology  developed 
through EMODnet? 

5.7. 

Climate Change Adaptation 

To support the development and dissemination of the knowledge base on adaptation, 
the  Commission  launched  the  European  Climate  Adaptation  Platform,  CLIMATE-
ADAPT44 in March 2012, a publicly accessible internet site to support policy-makers 
in  the  development  of  climate  change  adaptation  measures  and  policies  at  EU, 
national,  regional  and  local  levels.  CLIMATE-ADAPT  features  a  section  on  EU 
marine  and  fisheries  policies,  indicators  of  climate  change  and  a  database  of 
adaptation case studies, in particular those from OURCOAST45. The Commission is 
developing a proposal for an EU Adaptation Strategy, to be adopted in 2013. 

A  more  structured  approach  to  marine  observations  can  deliver  more  accurate 
indicators  of  local  changes  in  climatic  parameters  such  as  sea-level  rise  and  ocean 
acidification  to  the  CLIMATE-ADAPT  platform  and  therefore  help  the  adaptation 
process. 

13. 

What information on the behaviour of our seas and coasts can best help business and 
public authorities adapt to climate change? 

5.8. 

International Initiatives 

Piecing together a global picture of the marine world and how it is changing requires 
observations  and  data  from  organisations  outside  Europe  as  well  as  inside.  More 
structured and open access to European marine observations and data, as described in 

44 
45 

http://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu. 
http://ec.europa.eu/ourcoast/. 

EN 

15 

   EN 

 
                                                 
this  Green  Paper,  will  enable  Europe  to  provide  a  practical  contribution  to 
international efforts to provide global coverage such as the Global Ocean Observing 
System (GOOS), the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) and the 
United  Nation  process  for  global  reporting  and  assessment  of  the  marine 
environment. 

14. 

Are  any  additional  measures  required,  over  and  above  existing  initiatives  such  as 
EMODnet and GMES, to enable Europe to support international initiatives on ocean 
data such as GOOS and GEOSS? 

6. 

GOVERNANCE 

A  sustainable  marine  data  infrastructure  requires  a  process  to  decide  which 
observations  to  make,  to  choose  which  data  products  to  create  and  to  provide 
financial  support  for 
the  process  of  collection,  assembly,  processing  and 
dissemination. 

6.1. 

Balance between efforts of EU and Member States 

Member States have a legal responsibility to monitor their own waters and their own 
fishing  fleets.  Nevertheless,  in  some  cases,  there  are  clear  advantages  in  pooling 
efforts. The obvious example is observation from Earth-orbiting  satellites. It  would 
clearly be inefficient for each Member State to launch a constellation of satellites to 
measure ocean colour, sea-surface temperature, sea-level and ice extent. Indeed, the 
EU  has  supported  the  development  and  initial  operation  of  satellites  through  its 
GMES  programme36.  The  EU  also  supports  survey  and  sampling  programmes  in 
fisheries, where it requires the results for its own purposes. 

However,  there  are  other  examples  where  effort  at  an  EU  level  might  be  justified. 
For instance, reducing uncertainty in the magnitude and impact of climate change in 
Europe  is  impossible  without  monitoring  the  subsurface  currents  of  the  Atlantic  in 
areas  outside  territorial  or  jurisdictional  waters.  Doing  so  does  not  benefit  the 
Member  State  doing  the  monitoring  more  than  any  other  Member  State.  It  benefits 
all European countries, even landlocked ones.  

The  Arctic  Ocean  is  another  example  where  the  EU  could  contribute  to  ongoing 
monitoring and mapping programmes to provide support for those who live and work 
there. 

15. 

What  criteria  should  be  used  to  determine  EU  financial  support  of  observation 
programmes  other  than  those  that  it  already  supports?  Can  you  provide  examples? 
Could the Joint Programming Initiative for European Seas and Oceans play a role? 

6.2. 

EU support to assembly and processing of marine data 

Up  to  now,  services  from  each  thematic  assembly  group  in  EMODnet  have  been 
delivered by consortia through procurement contracts, with the six consortia selected 
through  separate  calls  for  tender  for  each  group.  In  all,  53  different  organisations 
have  been  involved  as  partners  in  the  consortia,  with  many  others  contributing. 
Grants  to  the  GMES  marine  service  have  been  awarded  following  open  calls  for 
proposals. Again, about 60 organisations are involved. The EU budget pays for the 
delivery of defined outputs in procurements and contributes towards agreed eligible 
costs  in  grants.  The  partnerships  in  both  EMODnet  and  GMES  are  heterogeneous. 
They  include  research  institutes,  agencies  for  meteorology  or  hydrography  and 
universities. Some private companies provide software expertise. 

EN 

16 

   EN 

 
The  Commission has  no  influence over  the composition of  these partnerships;  they 
are  self-selected.  The  large  partnerships  are  an  indication  that  the  agencies  or 
institutes  involved  prefer  to  be  joint  owners  of  a  common  enterprise  rather  than 
suppliers to a single lead contractor. 

The open calls in both cases ensure transparency and the results in both cases have 
been very satisfactory. However, as the initiatives mature, there is a need to ensure 
the long-term continuity of operations and infrastructure. Since much of the work in 
EMODnet involves the remodelling of national data archives, no partnership without 
the  participation  of  the  major  national  marine  data  centres  can  be  complete.  This 
might indicate the desirability of moving to a grant or a negotiated procedure which 
could  be  easier  if  the  EMODnet  partnerships  had  a  legal  status.  Governance  issues 
for  the  GMES  marine  service  include  a  legal  entity  for  the  coordination  and  an 
appropriate financial mechanism. 

16. 

17. 

How could the governance of EMODnet and GMES evolve to better accommodate 
the need for long term sustainability? 

What could be the role of the Joint Research Centre and the European Environment 
Agency? 

6.3. 

Involvement of Neighbours 

Europe’s seas do not only wash the shores of EU Member States. Understanding the 
ecological health of the Black Sea or planning a cross-Mediterranean cable requires 
cooperation  with  the  neighbouring  countries  that  share  these  sea-basins.  For  this 
reason,  institutes  from  these  countries  have  taken  part  in  the  first  phase  of  the 
EMODnet  construction.  They 
levels  of 
unemployment  and  they  too  can  benefit  from  knowledge  that  will  help  them 
understand how to take advantage of offshore opportunities. 

too  are  faced  with  unacceptable 

6.4 

Selecting priorities 

Mapping  and  monitoring  the  sea  is,  for  reasons  set  out  above,  essential  for 
sustainable  economic  growth,  environmental  protection  and  understanding  climate 
change. However, public budgets are limited and priorities need to be decided. As we 
shift from a paradigm of collecting data for specific purposes to collecting them once 
and  using  them  for  different  purposes,  two  specific  questions  need  answering:  (1) 
what observation infrastructure and sampling strategy are needed for a particular sea-
basin?  and  (2)  how  can  the  EU’s  financial  contribution  provide  the  most  added-
value? 

The Data Collection Framework is satisfactory on both counts. A process is in place 
to define what data need to be collected. Since an objective of the Common Fisheries 
Policy  is  to  limit  the  environmental  damage  of  fishing46,  the  sampling  strategy 
already goes beyond the interest in maximising the fish yield. 

The  process  to  select  Earth  observation  satellites  needed  to  monitor  the  oceans  is 
similarly satisfactory. It has been defined through the GMES process by determining 
which  parameters  Earth-orbiting  satellites  can  actually  observe  from  a  height  of 
about  800  kilometres  above  the  ocean.  Technological  progress  and  better  scientific 
understanding  enable  progressive  improvements  in  accuracy  and  the  addition  of 
more  parameters.  For  instance,  the  operational  monitoring  of  sea-ice  thickness  will 

46 

Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  2371/2002  of  20  December  2002  on  the  conservation  and  sustainable 
exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy . 

EN 

17 

   EN 

 
                                                 
become feasible with the launch of Sentinel-3. The European Environment Agency is 
in the  process  of identifying what  other (non-satellite) measurements are needed to 
calibrate and validate GMES forecasting models47. 

For  other  observations,  more  needs  to  be  done.  Since  shifting  currents,  migrating 
species and many economic activities do not respect national borders, the question on 
optimum observation and sampling infrastructure needs to be answered at sea-basin 
level. Within the integrated maritime policy regulation48, a prototype mechanism has 
been  set  up  to  help  Member  States  hone  their  observation  and  monitoring 
infrastructure. The ‘sea-basin checkpoints’ for the North Sea and the Mediterranean 
will evaluate by 2014 how well the present monitoring and assembly network meets 
the  needs  of  private,  public  and  academic  users.  They  will  determine  the  relative 
merits  of  different  monitoring  systems  —  ferryboxes,  fixed  buoys,  floats  — 
measuring  the  same  parameter.  All  information  sources  will  be  considered;  public 
and  private.  This  information  will  help  guide  Member  States  in  their  investments. 
For  instance,  should  multibeam  surveying  of  the  seabed  be  accelerated,  or  is  more 
accurate information needed on changes in sea-level? 

Similar choices need to be made at an EU level. In the proposed marine knowledge 
component of the Europe Maritime and Fisheries Fund, is it more urgent to focus on 
assembling  data  on  mineral  resources  or  on  marine  mammals?  Should  the  EU 
support  surveying  or  sampling  in  international  waters?  Ultimately,  Member  States 
must make these decisions in the framework of the Council, but they need to have a 
proper evaluation of the options to guide them. The answers to these questions will 
depend on estimated costs and benefits. 

18. 

19. 

Is  a  regular  process  needed  to  evaluate  the  effectiveness  of  the  observation  and 
sampling strategy for each sea-basin? 

What  mechanism  could  be  envisaged  to  manage  the  evaluation  and  assessments 
needed  to  inform  the  Commission,  Member  States  and  Parliament  on  priorities  for 
EU support? 

7. 

PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT 

Marine industries will certainly benefit from the measures outlined in this paper, but 
there is potential for increasing these benefits by encouraging the engagement of the 
private sector. 
According to a 2009 study49, more marine data is collected by European companies 
than  by  the  public  sector.  If  a  private  company  collects  data  for  its  own  purposes 
then, in principle, there is no reason for public authorities to intervene or interfere. 
European legislation on access and re-use of these data does not apply. 

However, private companies are already obliged to collect data as part of the impact 
assessment  they  have  to  carry  out  to  obtain  a  licence  for  certain  offshore  activity. 
They  may  also  be  obliged  to  continue  monitoring  once  operations  start.  In  many 
cases,  they  are  obliged  to  hand  the  data  collected  over  to  the  licensing  authority. 
However,  once  the  licence  has  been  granted,  there  is  no  apparent  competitive 
disadvantage  in  releasing  these  data  into  the  public  domain.  The  Commission  is 

47 
48 
49 

through the Seventh Framework Programme project GISC (GMES in-situ coordination). 
See footnote 8 
Marine  Data  Infrastructure, Final  Report  submitted  to  DG  Maritime  Affairs  and Fisheries,  November 
2009. 

EN 

18 

   EN 

 
                                                 
aware  that  imposing  reporting  obligations  on  private  companies  under  normal 
circumstances  creates  an  administrative  burden  that  is  to  be  avoided.  However, 
replacing  a  hotchpotch  of  different  obligations  with  a  single  reporting  mechanism 
with  common  INSPIRE-based  standards  could  reduce  the  existing  burden.  A  study 
has been launched to help assess costs and benefits. 

There  may  also  be  a  case  for  extending  reporting  obligations  once  the  licence  has 
been  granted.  The  cost  of  instrumenting  offshore  platforms  to  provide  continuous 
information  on  the  state  of  the  sea  would  be  an  almost  negligible  increase  in  the 
overall  costs  of  the  installation.  The  idea  would  be  to  collect  data  from  all  EU 
platforms  as  well  as  other  observing  platforms  and  make  them  publicly  available. 
This could well cost less than the potential benefit to the whole offshore industry of 
obtaining  better  knowledge  of  potential  threats  such  as  rogue  waves50,  poisonous 
algae  or  radioactive  leaks  Improving  the  competitiveness  of  offshore  business  has 
been a prime motivation for ‘Marine Knowledge 2020’. A public-private partnership 
whereby  private  companies  share  the  expenses  of  running  the  European  Marine 
Observation  and  Data  Network  in  return  for  a  say  in  the  setting  of  priorities  could 
accelerate this process. 

20. 

21. 

22. 

Under what circumstances should data provided by private companies for licencing 
purposes be made publicly available? 

Should  licenced  offshore  private  sector  actors  be  obliged  to  contribute  to  wider 
monitoring of the sea where this is feasible? 

What  public-private  partnership  models  can  maximise  incentives  for  industry  to 
share data and investments in data as well as benefits to all stakeholders? 

8. 

RESPONDING TO GREEN PAPER 

This  Green  Paper  opens  a  debate  on  the  best  strategy  for  moving  forward  to 
accessible,  sustainable  digital  mapping  of  European  seabeds,  as  well  as  timely 
information  on  the  present  and  past  physical,  chemical  and  biological  state  of  the 
overlying  water  column  and  forecasts  for  the  future,  together  with  a  process  that 
helps  Member  States  maximise  the  potential  of  their  marine  observation,  sampling 
and surveying programmes. 

The Commission has set up a website for responses. 

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/maritimeaffairs_fisheries/consultations/marine-knowledge-
2020/index_en.htm 

This website will be open till 15 December 2012. Responses can be sent either in an 
official capacity or individually. The outcome of the consultation will be published 
on  the  website  of  the  Commission’s  Directorate  General  for  Maritime  Affairs  and 
Fisheries. The affiliation and name of individual contributors replying in a personal 
capacity will not be published unless specifically authorised. 

50 

also known as freak waves, monster waves, killer waves, extreme waves or abnormal waves. 

EN 

19 

   EN