The increasing demand for reliable marine data to support environmental policies such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) in Europe requires harmonized, high-quality datasets that are findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR). This paper presents a multi-level quality control (QC) protocol applied within the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) Chemistry initiative, focused on eutrophication parameters (nutrients, chlorophyll, and oxygen) across European marine regions. The approach combines automated and expert-based validation and includes three consecutive QC steps performed by the data originators (Level 1 QC), the data centers (Level 2 QC), and the regional coordinators (Level 3 QC). Particular attention is also given to collecting and maintaining comprehensive metadata associated with the datasets, as well as methodological quality assurance (QA) information. The framework ensures transparent and consistent QC practices across different data providers, improving data comparability and usability. Additional procedures—including cross-parameter checks, derived variable analysis, and region-specific broad range comparisons—are implemented to detect outliers and enhance dataset reliability. The protocol supports the implementation of European marine policies by enabling coherent environmental assessments, and is adaptable to other variables such as ocean acidification and pollution. This work demonstrates the value of expert based, interoperable QC procedures to advance marine data quality and reusability.

The Horizon Europe project, CONTRAST, will develop an integrated assessment and effect-based monitoring framework (IAF) to measure the impacts of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) on the marine environment, which will contribute to the assessment of Good Environmental/ Ecological Status for application in EU policy (MSFD/WFD). The IAF will involve chemical measurements together with biological effects endpoints optimised to detect the presence and effect of CECs in the marine environment. Chemical prioritisation schemes will identify the CECs that pose the greatest threat to marine life and select which CECs to target in the laboratory experiments, where the effects on organisms and biodiversity will be assessed. In silico, in vitro and in vivo bioassays will be used to determine the mechanisms of toxicity of selected CECs. Providing information on how CECs interact with organisms at environmentally relevant concentrations and which biological effects tools should be used in the IAF to cover the range of toxicity mechanisms that CECs produce. A series of European-wide case studies will be used to test the suitability of the IAF to measure the effects of chemicals including CECs on indicator species and biodiversity and to model fate of CECs in marine environment. The knowledge gained from field testing and laboratory studies will form the basis for guidance documents and policy briefs on best practices for performing an IAF on CECs in the marine environment and help to provide the necessary protection of marine ecosystems.

The ocean helps in mitigating climate change by absorbing a large part of the excess heat and atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by human activities. A decrease in surface ocean pH, known as ocean acidification, is a consequence of an increase in ocean uptake of CO2 concentrations which presents a significant challenge to various marine organisms, particularly those that rely on calcium for their structures (Metzl et al., 2024; Petton et al., 2024). More than ever, consistent long-term observations of acidification and carbon cycling variables such as pH, temperature, salinity and CO2 are crucial to provide a quantitative assessment of the vulnerability of an area under climate and anthropogenic stressors. However, up to now, there are only a limited number of coastal observation sites where these parameters are measured simultaneously and at high frequency.In the framework of the ITINERIS project, financed by NextGenerationEU Programme (2022-2025), data on ocean acidification and carbon cycling parameters acquired by the meteo-oceanographic buoy MAMBO-1 (Monitoraggio AMBientale Operativo) were harmonized and standardized in order to obtain a consistent, up-to-date and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) continuous time series (1999-2024). The MAMBO-1 buoy was the first meteorological-maritime coastal station to be installed in the northern Adriatic sea capable of recording meteorological and oceanographic parameters in near-real time (Partescano et al., 2014). The buoy is anchored at about 17 m in the seabed within the border of the Miramare Marine Protected Area in the Gulf of Trieste (45.6976667 °N and 13.7083333 °E) and has been operative since January 1999 (M. Lipizer et al., 2017). Over the years, the configuration and instrumentation of the site have changed several times, so it is difficult to obtain a continuous long-term time series from a data management perspective.The importance of the availability of the long-term time series justifies the reconstruction effort for future studies aimed at obtaining a clearer picture of ocean acidification and carbon cycle processes in the northern Adriatic Sea.ReferencesLipizer, M., Iungwirth, R., Arena, F., Brunetti, F., Bubbi, A., Comici, C., Deponte, D., Kuchler, S., Laterza, R., Mansutti, P., Medeot, N., Nair, R. (2017). Sistema di Monitoraggio AMBientale Operativo Boa MAMBO-1: revisione protocolli di acquisizione dati e registro tarature. https://doi.org/10.13120/7d9c292f-bc91-467d-a380-0483e814c000Metzl, N., Lo Monaco, C., Leseurre, C., Ridame, C., Reverdin, G., Chau, T. T. T., Chevallier, F., & Gehlen, M. (2024). Anthropogenic CO 2 , air–sea CO 2 fluxes, and acidification in the Southern Ocean: Results from a time-series analysis at station OISO-KERFIX (51° S–68° E). Ocean Science, 20(3), 725–758. https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-725-2024Partescano, E., Giorgetti, A., Fanara, C., Crise, A., Oggioni, A., Brosich, A., & Carrara, P. (2014). A (Near) Real-time Validation and Standardization System Tested for MAMBO1 Meteo-marine Fixed Station. https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.2788.4800Petton, S., Pernet, F., Le Roy, V., Huber, M., Martin, S., Macé, É., Bozec, Y., Loisel, S., Rimmelin-Maury, P., Grossteffan, É., Repecaud, M., Quemener, L., Retho, M., Manach, S., Papin, M., Pineau, P., Lacoue-Labarthe, T., Deborde, J., Costes, L., … Gazeau, F. (2024). French coastal network for carbonate system monitoring: The CocoriCO2 dataset. Earth System Science Data, 16(4), 1667–1688. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1667-2024

Oceanic uptake of anthropogenic CO2 is altering the seawater chemistry of the oceans, leading to a decrease in pH and thus to ocean acidification (OA). This has multiple consequences not only for marine biogeochemistry, but also for marine biota and ecosystems. Therefore, the Sustainable Development Goal SDG Target 14.3 addresses OA and the SDG 14.3.1 calls for the average marine acidity (pH) and on guidance on monitoring and reporting OA data. Here we want to present the international collaboration between the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet Chemistry), NOAA and UNESCO on how to observe and report OA data, following the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) principles. The final aim is to enable global comparisons of the changes in ocean chemistry and to provide a unified, globally coordinated, sustained, long-term observation network and database. Detailed vocabularies and the according metadata will guarantee the correct description of the carbonate system and thus also the long term usability of the data, including reliable trend calculations. This global collaboration will provide more accurate and detailed OA data and will help policy and decision makers to communicate more clearly and precisely about the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems and resources, enabling holistic approaches.

The aim of this work is to define harmonized reference conditions and assessment thresholds for selected criteria elements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Descriptor 5 (Eutrophication) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and to test if a tool for integrated assessment of the status of marine systems can be used as a common methodological approach. In this frame, we tested two statistical approaches in order to set threshold values for four criteria of Descriptor 5: nutrients, chlorophyll a , transparency and dissolved oxygen in the bottom waters. It is noteworthy that this work revealed the need to apply common procedures in data treatment and assessment evaluation. This is the first attempt to set common methods for the assessment of eutrophication in the Eastern Mediterranean, which is essential in marine environments, especially those shared by several countries. To this end, we have applied common criteria and metrics and established thresholds "Good" and "Moderate" for nutrients, chlorophyll a , transparency and dissolved oxygen in the bottom waters for the different Water Types of the Adriatic and Aegean Seas (I, II, IIIW, IIIE), based on datasets provided by Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Greece. The selected criteria elements were common for all countries, providing a unified approach to GES assessment of two case study areas: the Adriatic Sea and the Saronikos Gulf. Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) threshold values of 15.6, 6.85, 1.61 and 2.11 mu mol L -1 were set for the Water Types I, II, IIIW and IIIE, respectively. We also tested if an aggregation tool for GES assessment, such as Nested Environmental status Assessment Tool (NEAT), could be used as a common methodological approach. The comparison of NEAT with TRIX showed good comparability. In this end, NEAT can be used as a useful and much needed assessment tool for assessing eutrophication status of the marine.

IntroductionAccording to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC), member states of the European Union (EU) had to develop a common approach in environmental monitoring and assessment. Regarding marine pollution assessments, large heterogeneities remain regarding sampling protocols, analytical methods, and quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) procedures. Further, data availability for Descriptor 8 (contaminants) was very fragmented in the first cycle of the MSFD. As one of the major EU spatial data infrastructures for providing access to marine data, EMODnet Chemistry has endeavoured to overcome data fragmentation and increase data ‘FAIRness’ (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable).MethodsAiming to improve the reliability of marine contaminant data for assessment purposes under the MSFD, detailed QA/QC information was collected using a questionnaire based on the requirements of the European Environment Agency, International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, United Nations Environment Program–Mediterranean Action Plan, and NORMAN Network. The questionnaire was distributed to institutions in 26 countries participating in EMODnet Chemistry.ResultsInformation was received from 18 countries on ~90% of the substances included in EU legislation on priority substances. The results indicate an overall good level of laboratory proficiency; however, heterogeneities were observed in sampling protocols (especially for biota) and analytical methods (e.g. for metals), suggesting the potential for increased harmonisation. While laboratory proficiency and equipment depend on institutional resources that may differ among countries, it is fundamental to share detailed QA/QC information associated with data to improve data reliability and re-usability, and to support marine pollution assessment.DiscussionEnriching data with required metadata and detailed QA/QC is part of the data curation process, which is still an overlooked aspect of the overall scientific research process and is crucial to support a reliable assessment of marine pollution, and ultimately better management of the marine environment.

EMODnet Biology (hosted and coordinated by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ)) is one of the seven themes within the European Marine Observation and Data network (EMODnet). The EMODnet Biology consortium aims to facilitate the accessibility and usage of marine biodiversity data. With the principle of "collect once, use many times" at its core, EMODnet Biology fosters collaboration across various sectors, including research, policy-making, industry, and individual citizens, to enhance knowledge sharing and inform decision-making. EMODnet Biology focuses on providing free and open access to comprehensive historical and recent data on the occurrence of marine species and their traits in all European regional seas. It achieves this through partnerships and collaboration with diverse international initiatives, such as the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), Marine Regions and the European node of the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (EurOBIS) among others. By promoting the usage of the Darwin Core Standard (Wieczorek et al. 2012), EMODnet Biology fosters data interoperability and ensures seamless integration with wider networks such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS), serving as a significant data provider of the latter, as it is responsible for most of its data generated in Europe. Since its inception, EMODnet Biology has undertaken actions covering various areas, including providing access to marine biological data with spatio-temporal, taxonomic, environmental- and sampling-related information among others; developing an exhaustive data quality control tool based on the Darwin Core standard, the British Oceanographic Data Centre and Natural Environment Research Council Vocabulary Server (BODC NVS2) parameters and other controlled vocabularies used; creating and providing training courses to guide data providers; performing gap analyses to identify data quality and coverage shortcomings; creating and publishing marine biological distribution maps for various species or species groups; and interacting with international and European initiatives, projects and organizations. providing access to marine biological data with spatio-temporal, taxonomic, environmental- and sampling-related information among others; developing an exhaustive data quality control tool based on the Darwin Core standard, the British Oceanographic Data Centre and Natural Environment Research Council Vocabulary Server (BODC NVS2) parameters and other controlled vocabularies used; creating and providing training courses to guide data providers; performing gap analyses to identify data quality and coverage shortcomings; creating and publishing marine biological distribution maps for various species or species groups; and interacting with international and European initiatives, projects and organizations. Furthermore, EMODnet Biology contributes to the overall EMODnet initiative, which covers multidisciplinary data and products. Thanks to the use of standard protocols and tools across disciplines, EMODnet Biology products can contribute to multidisciplinary analysis of pressures and impacts on key marine species and habitats, and, lastly, support a better management and planning of the maritime space. In conclusion, EMODnet Biology plays a pivotal role in biodiversity informatics by providing users with a wealth of accessible and reusable marine biodiversity data and products. Its collaborative approach, extensive partnerships, and adherence to the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles (Wilkinson et al. 2016) as well as to the Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe (INSPIRE) metadata technical guidelines (European Commission Joint Research Centre 2013) and the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards make it a valuable resource for advancing knowledge, informing policies, and supporting sustainable management of marine ecosystems.

Historical biodiversity documents comprise an important link to the long-term data life cycle and provide useful insights on several aspects of biodiversity research and management. However, because of their historical context, they present specific challenges, primarily time- and effort-consuming in data curation. The data rescue process requires a multidisciplinary effort involving four tasks: (a) Document digitisation (b) Transcription, which involves text recognition and correction, and (c) Information Extraction, which is performed using text mining tools and involves the entity identification, their normalisation and their co-mentions in text. Finally, the extracted data go through (d) Publication to a data repository in a standardised format. Each of these tasks requires a dedicated multistep methodology with standards and procedures. During the past 8 years, Information Extraction (IE) tools have undergone remarkable advances, which created a landscape of various tools with distinct capabilities specific to biodiversity data. These tools recognise entities in text such as taxon names, localities, phenotypic traits and thus automate, accelerate and facilitate the curation process. Furthermore, they assist the normalisation and mapping of entities to specific identifiers. This work focuses on the IE step (c) from the marine historical biodiversity data perspective. It orchestrates IE tools and provides the curators with a unified view of the methodology; as a result the documentation of the strengths, limitations and dependencies of several tools was drafted. Additionally, the classification of tools into Graphical User Interface (web and standalone) applications and Command Line Interface ones enables the data curators to select the most suitable tool for their needs, according to their specific features. In addition, the high volume of already digitised marine documents that await curation is amassed and a demonstration of the methodology, with a new scalable, extendable and containerised tool, “DECO” (bioDivErsity data Curation programming wOrkflow) is presented. DECO’s usage will provide a solid basis for future curation initiatives and an augmented degree of reliability towards high value data products that allow for the connection between the past and the present, in marine biodiversity research.

Local and global anthropogenic pressures due to climate change and to local uses and activities are exerting significant cumulative impacts to greater extents of the oceans and seas. Coastal ecosystems are particularly threatened by the intensity and coexistence of several marine uses and pressures, including sewage and urban constructions, tourism, ship traffic, fisheries and aquaculture. Assessment of pressures and the identification of mitigation measures are key urgent actions, as already highlighted by the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14. The aim of this work, developed within the Interreg-Med project SHAREMED, is to systematize existing knowledge on threats and pollution, including those of transboundary origin, for long term strategies and common action marine spatial planning, jointly developed with stakeholders. The quest is to assess coexisting environmental threats, and their propagation in space and time, at proper spatial and temporal scales, according to the type and action of each stressor (i.e. global vs. local). Cumulative pressures are tackled within a dedicated Atlas comprising three sub-basinsins of the Mediterranean Sea: the North Adriatic Sea, the Sicilian Channel and the North-Western region. The Atlas integrates information generated at the best available resolutions by 1) in-situ sampling, 2) remote observations, 3) numerical models, and 4) focusing on target ecosystems and habitat forming species. These sub-basins are subjected to multiple local and larger scale (e.g. climate) pressures that propagate in space and time, and across political boundaries, that need to be addressed through coordinated actions, based on evidence-rooted common understanding. Interactions with relevant Stakeholders, solicited through an online survey, and meetings, were used to select target ecosystems and to identify the key relevant pressures. The Atlas is based on open-access databases and portals, literature reviews and from ad-hoc model simulations concerning marine heatwaves, ship traffic, oil pollution, marine litter and fishing efforts. We will present the main preliminary results and needs and gaps in observations related to marine ecosystems threats.

Assessing the status of marine pollution at regional and sub-regional scales requires the use of comparable and harmonized data provided by multiple institutions, located in several countries. Standardized data management and quality control are crucial for supporting a coherent evaluation of marine pollution. Taking the Eastern Mediterranean Sea as a case study, we propose an approach to improve the quality control procedures used for sediment pollution data, thus supporting a harmonized environmental assessment. The regional ranges of contaminant concentrations in sediments were identified based on an in-depth literature review, and the lowest measured concentrations were evaluated to determine the "background concentrations" of chemical substances not yet targeted in the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, to verify the suitability of the approach for validating large data collections provided by multiple sources, the determined ranges were used to validate a regional dataset available through EMODnet data infrastructure.

The needs of society and the emerging blue economy require access and integration of data and information for the construction of dedicated products. A "transparent and accessible ocean" is one of the key objectives of the Ocean Decade 2021–30. In this context, marine infrastructures become significant components of a global knowledge environment, enabling environmental assessment and providing the necessary data for scientifically valid actions to protect and restore ocean health, to use marine resources in a sustainable way. The data is collected, analyzed, organized, and used by people and their good use/reuse can be obtained with social practices, technological and physical agreements aimed at facilitating collaborative knowledge, decision-making, inference. The vision is a digital ocean data ecosystem made up of multiple, interoperable, and scalable components. The huge amount of data and the resulting products can drive the development of new knowledge as well as new applications and services. Predictive capabilities that derive from the digital ecosystem enable the implementation of services for real-time decision-making, multihazard warning systems, and advance marine space planning. The chapter develops following the progressive complexity and information content of products deriving from oceanic data: data cycle and data collections, data products, oceanic reanalysis. The chapter discusses the new challenges of data products and the complexity of deriving them.

The overall increase in maritime activities along the Montenegrin coast, and in the Adriatic–Ionian (ADRION) Region in general, may pose serious risks of pollution from hazardous substances for several coastal areas. In order to promote the sustainable use of the seas and, at the same time, preserve Good Environmental Status (GES), Montenegro, as well as most countries of the Mediterranean region, ratified the Mediterranean Action Plan of United Nations Environment Program (UNEP-MAP), aiming to reach and maintain GES in the framework of the Ecosystem Approach (EcAp), by implementing an Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) coherent and consistent with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), the overarching European Union legal instrument for the marine environment.Countries that share a marine region or sub-region should cooperate to assure a coherent approach to environmental monitoring and the definition and assessment of Good Environmental Status. However, in the ADRION Region, bordered by EU and non-EU countries, the level of coherence is still low and efforts are needed to improve a harmonized and coordinated approach to face environmental problems, with particular regard to marine pollution.Thanks to the cooperation among research institutions and environmental agencies of most countries bordering the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, supported by European Union Interreg ADRION Programme, a comparison of monitoring, analytical protocols, data management, and visualization approaches was carried out to evaluate the level of coherence of information of marine chemical contaminants in the ADRION Region. The results of the comparison allowed to identify and prioritize methodological aspects to improve a harmonized approach to monitoring chemical contaminants and managing marine data in the Adriatic–Ionian Region.

DATA REPORT article Front. Mar. Sci., 11 December 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.583657

A harmonized and integrated approach for monitoring and assessment of contamination, including hydrocarbon exploitation one, is required both by Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) at EU level and by the Ecosystem Approach (EcAp) program of the Barcelona Convention at Mediterranean level. A broad review of protocols of environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedures, monitoring and decommissioning of offshore platforms adopted by EU and non-EU countries along the Adriatic-Ionian seas was carried out in the framework of the Interreg offshore platforms in Adriatic-Ionian (ADRION) project HarmoNIA (Harmonization and networking for contaminant assessment in the Ionian and Adriatic Seas). The comparison of information provided by six ADRION countries and the application of a harmonized and integrated approach has highlighted specific challenges for managing offshore platform impacts emerged at ADRION level: (i) need of the same legislative level (the Offshore Protocol of Barcelona Convention is not ratified by all countries); (ii) set up of a task force of ADRION experts for discussing critical issues related to impacts of offshore platforms; (iii) harmonization, at the regional level, of EIA procedures, monitoring and decommissioning; (iv) need of an agreed and common list of recommended parameters to monitor in water, sediment and biota for the assessment of impacts due to platform installations and PFW discharges.

The Adriatic-Ionian region (ADRION Region) shows strong development in terms of urban expansion in coastal and inland areas as well as increasing maritime traffic and offshore hydrocarbon extraction activities. A serious risk of pollution arises from hazardous substances requiring reliable and coherent monitoring and assessment programs. EU Directives (WFD – Water Framework Directive, MSFD – Marine Strategy Framework Directive) and Barcelona Convention protocols, aim to assess the level of pollution with the objective to implement measures to prevent and/or mitigate impacts on the marine environment. This high level integration process has to be based on common and agreed protocols for monitoring of contaminants. Aiming to share best practices to encourage a harmonized implementation of monitoring and assessment of contaminants, an extensive review of monitoring and analytical protocols adopted by six EU and non-EU countries along the Adriatic and Ionian seas was carried out in the framework of the Interreg Adrion project HarmoNIA (Interreg V-B Adriatic-Ionian (ADRION), 2018–2020). This paper presents a methodological proposal to define a common protocol for the evaluation of the metal contamination of seawater, sediment and biota. Contaminants have been chosen following preliminary consultations among countries of the ADRION area, considering objectives of WFD and MSFD, as well as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures for offshore platforms. Information was gathered relative to matrix characteristics and quality assurance/quality control of the analytical performance (sample preservation, analytical methodology, reference materials, limit of detection, and limit of quantification, accuracy, reproducibility, etc.). The comparison of information provided by laboratories of nine institutions highlighted the request for harmonization in terms of sampling procedures, matrix characterization, preservation procedures, analytical methods and LOQ values. Although appropriate environmental quality standards for biota and sediment matrices should be established at national level and also through regional and sub-regional cooperation, as required by the WFD and MSFD, the proposed LOQ values, even if challenging, represent a benchmark and a stimulus to optimize analytical performance, to ensure the best level of protection to the coastal and offshore environment in the ADRION Region.

Harmonization of monitoring protocols and analytical methods is a crucial issue for transnational marine environmental status assessment, yet not the only one. Coherent data management and quality control become very relevant when environmental status is assessed at regional or subregional scale (e.g., for the Mediterranean or the Adriatic Sea), thus requiring data from different sources. Heavy metals are among the main targets of monitoring activities. Significant efforts have been dedicated to share best practices for monitoring and assessment of ecosystem status and to strengthen the network of national, regional and European large data infrastructures in order to facilitate the access to data among countries. Data comparability and interoperability depend not only on sampling and analytical protocols but also on how data and metadata are managed, quality controlled and made accessible. Interoperability is guaranteed by using common metadata and data formats, and standard vocabularies to assure homogeneous syntax and semantics. Data management of contaminants is complex and challenging due to the high number of information required on sampling and analytical procedures, high heterogeneity in matrix characteristics, but also to the large and increasing number of pollutants. Procedures for quality control on heterogeneous datasets provided by multiple sources are not yet uniform and consolidated. Additional knowledge and reliable long time-series of data are needed to evaluate typical ranges of contaminant concentration. The analysis of a coherent and harmonized regional dataset can provide the basis for a multi-step quality control procedure, which can be further improved as knowledge increases during data validation process.

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.