Data Sharing Toolkit
BOX VII – Where to find the data I need
There is a wealth of open ocean data available via quality and trusted databases, portals and repositories. These range from international to national, and from multidisciplinary to thematic in focus.
| Catalogue/Portal/Information system | Region | Description | Thematics | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IOC ODIS catalogue | Global | Online catalogue of existing ocean related web-based sources/systems of data and information as well as products and services | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Geology Bathymetry Biogeochemistry Human activities Social-economy | https://book.odis.org/ |
| OceanInfoHub | Global | Existing and emerging data systems are linked, with the ultimate goal of coordinating action and capacity to improve access to ocean data and knowledge. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Biogeochemistry Human activities | |
| EMODnet | Europe | EMODnet is the European Commission (EC) in situ marine data service of the EC Directorate-General Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (EC DG MARE) and funded by the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund. It is a single access point to all EMODnet services, providing easy and free access to a wealth of marine data, metadata, and data products. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Geology Bathymetry Biogeochemistry Human activities | https://www.emodnet-ingestion.eu/data-submission |
| COPERNICUS marine environment and monitoring service | Europe | CMEMS does not operate in situ observing systems but collects observations from data providers, mainly from EuroGOOS and ROOS members and Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) networks (Observations Programme Area). CMEMS also collaborates with SeaDataNet and EMODnet physics to improve the service for historical/reprocessed data and to involve new partners | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Biogeochemistry | |
| SeaDataNet | Europe | SeaDataNet is a pan-European infrastructure set up and operated for managing marine and ocean data in cooperation with National Oceanographic Data Centres and data focal points in 34 countries bordering the European seas. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Geology Bathymetry Biogeochemistry | |
| OBIS | Global | OBIS is a global open-access data and information clearing-house on marine biodiversity for science, conservation and sustainable development | Biological/Biodiversity | https://manual.obis.org/contribute.html |
| OceanOPS | Global | The global ocean observing system delivers more than 250 000 daily observations to a rapidly growing number of users and stakeholders, including most major ocean, weather, and climate prediction centers around the world. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Biogeochemistry | |
| International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) | Global | ICES is an intergovernmental body that provides scientific advice for sustainable management of the fisheries and marine resources, mainly in the North Atlantic. ICES publications include advice on fishing opportunities, fisheries and ecosystem overviews. ICES Data Centre manages a number of large dataset collections related to the marine environment. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Biogeochemistry Human activities Social-economy | https://www.ices.dk/data/data-portals/Pages/ocean-submit.aspx |
| Pangaea | Global | georeferenced data from earth and life science research fields | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Geology Biogeochemistry Human activities | https://www.pangaea.de/submit/ |
| Global Biodiversity Information Facility GBIF | Global | open access to data about all types of life on Earth | Biological/Biodiversity | https://www.gbif.org/publishing-data |
| JERICO-RI | Europe | JERICO-RI establishes a framework upon which coastal marine systems are observed, analysed, understood, and forecasted. JERICO-RI enables open access to state-of-the-art and innovative facilities, resources, FAIR data, and fit-for-purpose services, fostering international science collaboration. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Geology Biogeochemistry Human activities | https://datadeposit.climate.copernicus.eu/ https://marineinsitu.eu/submit-data/#:~:text=GTS%20or%20Copernicus-,Submit%20data%20to%20the%20Copernicus%20Marine%20Service%20In%20Situ%20TAC,cmems%2Dservice%40ifremer.fr |
| European Atlas of the Seas | Europe | the thematic map layers are classified under eight main categories to represent the main themes relevant for IMP as follows: geography, nature, tourism, security and safety, people and employment, transport and energy, governance and European policies and fisheries and aquaculture. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Geology Bathymetry Biogeochemistry Human activities Social-economy | |
| British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) database | Europe | The British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) is a national facility for looking after and distributing data concerning the marine environment. BODC database is the 'self service' tool that allows suers to retrieve data directly from the BODC website | Physics Bathymetry Biogeochemistry Human activities | https://submit-data.bodc.ac.uk/ |
| The United Kingdom Directory of Marine Observing Systems (UKDMOS) | Europe | UKDMOS is a unique internet-based searchable database of marine monitoring conducted by UK organisations. UKDMOS is a tool for searching monitoring programmes and series based on information such as the parameters measured or the frequency of measurements taken. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Geology Bathymetry Biogeochemistry Human activities | http://ukdmos.org/update-or-add-content |
| MEDIN | Europe | The Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) promotes sharing of, and improved access to, these data. It is an open partnership and its partners represent government departments, research institutions and private companies. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Geology Bathymetry Biogeochemistry Human activities Social-economy | https://medin.org.uk/submit-data |
| NCEI-NOAA | North America | access to an extensive archive of environmental data through several platforms; archieve of comprehensive oceanic, atmospheric, and geophysical data | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Geology Bathymetry Biogeochemistry | https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive#:~:text=Submission%20Methods-,Contact%20Us,of%20the%20data%20submission%20process. |
| World Ocean Database | Global | The WOD is an NCEI product and an IODE (International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange) project. WOD is world’s largest collection of uniformly formatted, quality controlled, publicly available ocean profile data. It is a powerful tool for oceanographic, climatic, and environmental research, and the end result of coordinated efforts to incorporate data from institutions, agencies, individual researchers, and data recovery initiatives into a single database. | Physics | |
| OSPAR (ODIMS) | Europe | The OSPAR Data and Information System (ODIMS) is an online tool providing a single point of access to all the data and information gathered through OSPAR’s Joint Assessment and Monitoring Programme across the different thematic work areas of the Convention. It will help ensure that data is readily accessible for OSPAR assessments, but also help a broad range of users to find data held by OSPAR, to facilitate access to it and make use of it. | Biological/Biodiversity Human activities | https://www.ospar.org/work-areas/bdc/other/reporting-formats |
| AusSeabed Marine Data portal | Oceania | The AusSeaBed Portal provides access to publically available acoustic datasets such as bathymetry, backscatter, side scan sonar data and other marine-related products, as well as a suite of analytical assessment tools to maximise the value of the data. | Physics Biogeochemistry | https://www.datasubmission.ausseabed.gov.au/ |
| Australian Ocean Data Network | Oceania | AODN staff provide a framework for data and information management that allows discovery and access of the data by scientists, managers and the public. The Portal incorporates a catalogue of metadata, a search interface driven by facets utilising controlled vocabulary terms, and a map interface that can be used to interact with AODN datasets and offers data download in a number of formats. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Geology Biogeochemistry | |
| West Coast Ocean Data Portal | North America | The West Coast Ocean Data Portal (WCODP) is a project of the West Coast regional ocean partnership, the West Coast Ocean Alliance (WCOA). The West Coast Ocean Data Portal is a tool that facilitates geospatial data discovery and data sharing for people and organizations who work on regional ocean and coastal management, policy, and planning on the West Coast of the United States. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Human activities | https://wcodp.readthedocs.io/contribute/contribute.html |
| Integrated Science Data Management | North America | ISDM's mandate is to manage and archive ocean data collected by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), or acquired through national and international programmes conducted in ocean areas adjacent to Canada, and to disseminate data, data products, and services to the marine community in accordance with the policies of the Department. | Physics Biogeochemistry | |
| St. Lawrence Global Observatory | North America | The St. Lawrence Global Observatory (SLGO) is an open-access web platform, providing integrated access to scientific data in support of environmental conservation and economic development in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Biogeochemistry | |
| Marine Data Portal | Europe | The Marine Data Portal is the central access point to research data from the German marine research community and international collaborations, a product of the “Underway”- Data initiative of the German Marine Research Alliance (Deutsche Allianz Meeresforschung - DAM) and is supported by the marine science centers AWI, GEOMAR and Hereon of the Helmholtz Association. This initiative aims to improve and standardize the systematic data collection and data evaluation for expeditions with German research vessels and marine observation. It supports scientists in their data management duties and fosters (data) science through FAIR and open access to marine research data. | Biological/Biodiversity Geology | |
| Nautilus live | North America | Ocean Exploration Trust and the Nautilus Exploration Program aim to explore the ocean, seeking out new discoveries in the fields of geology, biology, maritime history, archaeology, and chemistry while pushing the boundaries of education, outreach, and technological innovation.The video, data, and samples that result from Nautilus' expeditions are available to any interested researcher immediately through an OET Data & Video Request Form. | Biological/Biodiversity Geology Bathymetry Biogeochemistry | |
| The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 | Global | A global initiative relentless in our pursuit of achieving a complete map of the ocean floor by 2030. | https://seabed2030.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Data-Submission-Guidelines-Draft.pdf | |
| SOOS map & metadata portal | Southern Ocean | The Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) is a coordinating body that enhances and ensures the delivery of Southern Ocean data across nations, organisations, programmes and stakeholders, and to provide the infrastructure for organisation of community networks to develop sustained observing systems and syntheses of existing Southern Ocean datasets. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Biogeochemistry | https://www.soos.aq/data/how-to-share-data |
| Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC) | Global | Data provided by NASA’s Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC) enable users to identify critical relationships between humans and the environment. | Human activities Social-economy | |
| ODATIS | Europe | The main task of the ODATIS Ocean Cluster is to make available data, products, software, tools and/or services intended primarily for the French scientific community working in the area of ocean research. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Geology Biogeochemistry | |
| SDG 14.3.1 data portal | Global | The SDG 14.3.1 Data Portal is a tool for the submission, collection, validation, storage and sharing of ocean acidification data and metadata submitted towards the Sustainable Development Goal 14.3.1 Indicator: Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations.(Users have to register an account at OceanExpert) | Biogeochemistry | https://oa.iode.org/ |
| FAO FishStat | Global | FAO FishStat is the leading source of global fishery and aquaculture statistics and provides unique information for sector analysis and monitoring. FAO also develops and promotes standards, methods and tools for collecting data in fishery and aquaculture and supports member countries enhance their capacities on statistics related to the sector. | Human activities Social-economy | |
| World Register of Marine Species WoRMS | Global | WoRMS provides an authoritative and comprehensive list of names of marine organisms, including information on synonymy. While the highest priority goes to valid names, other names in use are included so that this register can serve as a guide to interpret taxonomic literature. | Biological/Biodiversity | |
| MBON Data Portal | North America | The Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) Portal is a tool where you can: - Search and download real-time, delayed-mode, and historical data for in situ and remotely-sensed physical, chemical, and biological observations - Compare datasets across regions and disciplines - Generate and share custom data views - Link to information about protocols, methods and best practices for biological observing - \Access a full suite of tools developed with a broad range of IOOS and MBON partners | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Biogeochemistry | Please contact the IOOS Program Office for more information |
| ESABII Database (Asia-Pacific BON network) | Asia-Pacific | The ESABII Database is a biodiversity information database especially designed to support conservation-related decision-making in East and Southeast Asia. It is designed to provide a science-based policy interface to bridge information gaps between scientists and decision-makers. | Biological/Biodiversity | |
| AlgaeBase | Global | Database of information on algae that includes terrestrial, marine and freshwater organisms, and seagrasses. | Biological/Biodiversity | |
| FishBase | Global | FishBase is a global biodiversity information system on finfishes. Its initial goal to provide key facts on population dynamics for 200 major commercial species has now grown to having a wide range of information on all species currently known in the world: taxonomy, biology, trophic ecology, life history, and uses, as well as historical data reaching back to 250 years. | Biological/Biodiversity | Pictures: https://www.fishbase.se/contribu.htm |
| The Digital Coast (by NOAA) | North America | NOAA's Digital Coast provides the data, tools, and training that communities use to manage their coastal resources. | Human activities Social-economy Coastal land use | |
| Atlas of Ocean Microplastics | Global | AOMI is a database of monitoring and observation data on ocean microplastics provided by researchers, research institutes, and governments from around the world. Based on the data, this database provides 2D maps of survey points (or location) and particle density distribution around the globe. | Biogeochemistry | https://aomi.env.go.jp/DataUpload |
| Deep-sea Debris Database | Asia-Pacific | The Deep-sea Debris Database provides marine debris data collected from deep-sea videos and photos. They have been taken during research surveys by submersible, "SHINKAI6500", "HYPER-DOLPHIN", etc., owned by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). | Biogeochemistry | |
| Institute for Marine and Antarctic studies IMAS | Southern Ocean | The Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) pursues multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary work to advance understanding of temperate marine, Southern Ocean, and Antarctic environments. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Biogeochemistry | https://data.imas.utas.edu.au/submit |
| Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO) | Global | BCO-DMO, located at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, is a combination of the formerly independent Data Management Offices formed in support of the US JGOFS and US GLOBEC programs. The BCO-DMO database consists of research-ready data that spans the full range of marine ecosystem-related measurements including in-situ and remotely sensed observations, experimental results, models output, and synthesis products. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Geology Bathymetry Biogeochemistry Human activities | https://auth.bco-dmo.org/login?redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fsubmit.bco-dmo.org%2F&title=the+Submission+Tool |
| Sea Around Us | Global | Database focused on fisheries, marine ecosystems, biodiversity and exclusive economic zones. | Biological/Biodiversity Human activities Social-economy | |
| SIMAR | Latin America & Caribbean | Through a Data Center integrated to SIMAR, environmental and biological information is managed through open data on essential ocean, biodiversity and climate variables. These include: satellite data, field data, data from numerical and climate models; and cartographic databases. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Human activities | |
| Geotraces | Global | GEOTRACES is an international program overseen by the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR). It provides open access marine hydrographic and biogeochemical data (trace elements and isotopes). | Physics Biogeochemistry | https://www.geotraces.org/submit-data/ (with guidelines already on DCO-ODS website) |
| Minderoo Oceanomics Data map | Oceania | Minderoo Foundation’s OceanOmics program is advancing marine genomics and environmental DNA (eDNA) technologies to bolster conversation efforts and enhance our understanding of ocean biodiversity through large-scale, sustained biomonitoring initiatives. | Biological/Biodiversity | |
| Zenodo | Global | An open-access repository developed by CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) and is part of the OpenAIRE project, which promotes open science.CERN has developed tools for Big Data management and extended Digital Library capabilities for Open Data. Through Zenodo these Big Science tools could be effectively shared with the long-tail of research. | ||
| Marine Geoscience Data System MGDS | Global | The Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS) is a trusted data repository that provides free public access to a curated collection of marine geophysical data products and complementary data related to understanding the formation and evolution of the seafloor and sub-seafloor. | Geology Bathymetry | https://www.marine-geo.org/submit/ |
| Marine Data Centre at Marine Institute, Ireland | Europe | The Marine Institute collects, maintains and disseminates information relating to marine matters via numerous online data services including maps and graphs to view data, descriptive metadata to find data and services to download data. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Bathymetry Biogeochemistry Human activities | |
| The Caribbean Geoportal | Latin America & Caribbean | The Caribbean GeoPortal is home to hundreds of ready to use datasets. Some provided by Esri, others by users and Caribbean focused organizations. Mix this data with your own to build a bigger picture. Find answers and make better decisions. | ||
| INVEMAR database | Latin America & Caribbean | Database with marine and coastal environmental spatial information from different projects. INVEMAR has made this information available on different topics so that the user can consult it and download it if required. The information available on this site is in different formats (Shapefile, WFS, geodatabase, JPG, PNG and PDF). | ||
| Mauritius Oceanographic Institute databases | Africa | The Institute advises Government on the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes in respect to oceanography. The MOI falls under the aegis of the Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping and is expected to play a key role in providing data and information to assist the Government in the sustainable development of the ocean economy. The institute hosts 5 databases that cover a range of data such as biological, genetic, aquaculture, data mapping and chemistry. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Bathymetry | |
| Marine Information Management System | Africa | The Marine Information Management System (MIMS) is an open repository that archives and publishes collections and subsets of marine related datasets for the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: Oceans and Coastal Research (DFFE:OCR), South Africa. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Biogeochemistry | |
| National Institute for Fisheries Research | Africa | Through its scientific monitoring missions of the Moroccan fisheries ecosystem ranging from upstream (environment) to downstream (development) of the fisheries sector, the INHR accumulates knowledge and scientific databases used primarily to support the sustainable management of the sector as well as to support the needs of private operators in the context of their investment in the fisheries sector. The INRH has several categories of scientific data. | Biological/Biodiversity Physics Bathymetry Biogeochemistry |