Building a European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODNET): Biological Data Products Workshop

Building a European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODNET): Biological

Data Products Workshop

Location: InnovOcean Site, VLIZ, Ostend, Belgium

Date: 25/02/2010 ‐ 26/02/2010

General Outline: The Maritime Policy Blue Book, welcomed by the European Council in 2007, announced that the European Commission would take steps to set up a European Marine Observation and Data Network to improve access to high quality marine data for private bodies, public authorities and researchers. In April 2009 a roadmap was published (SEC(2009)499) outlining the measures that would be taken to meet this objective. A set of preparatory actions on biological data, hydrographic data, chemical data, geological data and broad scale habitats has been launched for a limited set of Sea Basins. It aims at gathering experience for a later permanent operational system.

Outline Data Products Workshop: The preparatory action for Biological data, coordinated by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), is organising a workshop to 1) discuss the marine biological (monitoring) data availability and gaps in Europe and 2) define a set of derived data products relevant for private bodies, public authorities and researchers. The workshop will focus on various species groups (phyto‐and zooplankton, benthos, macroalgae, higher plants, seabirds, marine mammals and sea turtles). The preparatory action covers the Greater North Sea (including the English Channel and Skagerrak‐Kattegat), the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Coast. Other European Marine Waters will be considered besides the geographical focus of the preparatory action. This workshop will result in a set of key‐recommendations that will be implemented in the further development of the preparatory action for biological data. Based on the identification of relevant data products, targeted data analysis workshops will be organised in the near future.

Day I (25 February 2010)

9.30- 10.15 Plenary I - Introduction

• Welcome (Dr. Jan Mees, VLIZ 5’)
• Introduction EMODNET, Biological Lot and goal of workshop (Mr. Francisco Hernandez, VLIZ 15’)
• State of marine metadata catalogue. Data availability and gap analysis (Ms. Leen Vandepitte, VLIZ 25’)
  • Identified monitoring and research data
  • Data availability

10.15 - 10.35: Plenary II - User needs (Chair Mr. Iain Shepherd, EU DG MARE)

• Towards better science: the needs of the scientific community for specific derived biological data products (Prof Dr. Peter Herman, NIOO-CEME & Prof Dr. Mark Costello, University of Auckland 20’)

10.35 - 11.00: Coffee Break

11.00 - 13.00: Continuation Plenary II - User needs (Chair Mr. Iain Shepherd, EU DG MARE)

• How to optimize the measurements and monitoring of the environmental system: the needs from public authorities for specific derived data products (Mr. Gert Verreet, LNE 20’)
• How to improve data driven assessments of short term impacts: needs for specific derived biological data products (Ms. Charlotte O’Kelly, Techworks Marine Ltd 20’)
• How to optimize awareness from the public at large: needs for specific derived biological data products for information and educational purposes (Dr. Jan Seys, VLIZ 20’)
• Demo EMODNET Bio ‘Data and Data Product’ Portal (Mr Simon Claus, VLIZ 20’)
• Discussions and introduction breakout sessions (40’) 13.00 - 14.00: Lunch Break

14.00 – 16.00: Breakout Session ‘Data Products for different user communities’ (120‘)

What data and metadata products should be created to serve:

the scientific community? (Chair Prof Dr. Peter Herman and Prof Dr. Mark Costello)

measurements and monitoring of the environmental system? (Chair: Mr. Gert Verreet)

impact assessments? (Chair: Ms. Charlotte O’Kelly)

16.00 - 16.30: Break

16.30 - 17.30: Plenary III: Feedback breakout sessions (Chair Prof Dr. Mark Costello)

Closing day I, small drink and dinner

Day II (26 February 2010)

09.00 - 9.20: Plenary IV

Marine Biology Research in Europe: the institutional context (Prof Dr. Herman Hummel, NIOO ‘on behalf of Lifewatch and the European Network of Marine Research Institutes and Stations (MARS)’ 20’)

09.20 - 11.20: Breakout Session ‘Priority observations of species groups’ (120)

Priority observations to address (target or pilot species, target parameters)

Existing data and monitoring: what are the main gaps in the existing data

Where should the observations be made, what frequency and duration

1. Data and observations phyto and zooplanktonic organisms (Chair: Dr. Stéphane Pésant, CNRS, and Dr. Martin Edwards, SAHFOS)
2. Data and observations benthic organisms, including macro-algae and higher plants (Chair: Paul Whomesley, CEFAS)
3. Data and observations marine mammals, birds and reptiles (Chair: Mr. Kees Camphuysen, NIOZ)

11.20 – 11.40: Coffee Break

11.40 – 13.00: Plenary Session V: Feedback breakout sessions, general discussion and recommendations

13.00 Closing workshop and lunch