Abstract
In this paper we outline the stakeholder-led approaches in the development of biological data products to support effective conservation, management and policy development. The requirements of a broad range of stakeholders and iterative, structured processes framed the development of tools, models and maps that support the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles. By structuring the resultant data products around the emerging biological Essential Ocean Variables, and through the engagement with a broad range of end-users, the EMODnet (European Marine Observation and Data Network) Biology project has delivered a suite of demonstration data products. These products are presented in the European Atlas of Marine Life, an online resource demonstrating the value of open marine biodiversity data and help to answer fundamental and policy-driven questions related to managing the natural and anthropogenic impacts in European waters.
Highlights
The need for effective management and custodianship of our seas has never been greater, as highlighted by specific targets for the marine environment within Goal 14 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals [1], multiple Aichi Targets [2], the UN declaration of a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) and increasing pub lic awareness on the anthropogenic impacts on the marine environments [3,4]
By structuring the resultant data products around the emerging biological Essential Ocean Variables, and through the engagement with a broad range of end-users, the EMODnet (European Marine Observation and Data Network) Biology project has delivered a suite of demonstration data products
These products are presented in the European Atlas of Marine Life, an online resource demonstrating the value of open marine biodiversity data and help to answer fundamental and policydriven questions related to managing the natural and anthropogenic impacts in European waters
Summary
The need for effective management and custodianship of our seas has never been greater, as highlighted by specific targets for the marine environment within Goal 14 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals [1], multiple Aichi Targets [2], the UN declaration of a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) and increasing pub lic awareness on the anthropogenic impacts on the marine environments [3,4]. The increased knowledge about the Earth’s system and climate change helps to prepare society for natural risks, such as storms, droughts, rainfall anomalies and wet sea sons [7,8] These drivers require marine baseline data, especially biological data combined with physical and chemical parameters, to create effective, evidence-based information that is critical to support conservation and management of the marine environment. When new management and policy issues surface, historical time series suitable for detecting changes and effects of management policies are often lacking or of insufficient quality This is especially true for biodiversity data, where data series are often too short to avoid the problem of ‘shifting baselines’, suitable control areas (e.g. areas without fishing pressure) are lacking and indicator develop ment and application are limited because the necessary data have not been collected in the past. There is a growing need to assemble, stan dardize and make available whatever historic data on the marine ecosystem are available, in order to fill this gap in reference data
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