EBI is taking the lead in a European action on developing a network of marinas in Europe that can contribute to environmental data and ocean science. This is led by EBI together with JPI Oceans, which is a pan-European platform aiming to increase efficiency and impact of research and innovation for the seas and oceans. Its members are the national ministries of Maritime Affairs and Research & Innovation, both within the EU and beyond.

The aim is to make use of the approximately 10,000 inland and coastal marinas and elevate their importance and support their digital and sustainable transition. The current step is to scope the action of a “European Marinas Network” to explore different avenues to capitalise on the value and potential of marinas as infrastructures for ocean observation, ocean research and citizen science.

This can add to the body of ocean science and policy-making data via an integrated European network of marina-based data hubs. This will empower marinas, boaters, and visitors to assume more collaborative and proactive role. In addition, it can provide ocean stewardship roles, and advance the digitisation transition by contributing to the generation of a digital twin of the boating sector.

With water-based facilities and structures such as floating pontoons that can support sensors, and often managing a strong multi-channel communication platform, marinas offer a perfect set of conditions for generating and transmitting environmental data. Given the much smaller nature of marinas compared to commercial ports and being widespread across Europe, they provide plenty of potential locations for data gathering. Marinas could therefore be used to improve observation data quality, coherency and coverage.

More information can be found here. Members that would like to get involved can contact the EBI Office.