13 / 11 / 2013
Where and when a certain species is distributed in the sea or ocean? In what quantities? And under what environmental conditions? This kind of distribution data is gathered for all marine species in the world by the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS). This initiative is hosted by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, within the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) program.
EurOBIS, the European section of this international initiative, is managed and maintained by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). EurOBIS collects the distribution data of marine species observed in European waters, as well as data collected by European scientists outside the European marine areas. The data system is currently deployed within large European projects such as EMODnet and LifeWatch, adding a wealth of new data and information to EurOBIS.
The need for a dedicated website for this initiative was great. Since EurOBIS was originally implemented within the frame of the European Network of Excellence MarBEF (2004 – 2009) online access was only possible so far through the MarBEF website. To give the system more visibility and its own identity, a new EurOBIS website was launched recently: www.eurobis.org.
On the home page of the new EurOBIS website an overview is given of the latest additions and updates, as well as a list of the species that are documented for the first time in EurOBIS. You will also find all the background information about the EurOBIS system, in particular on the scope, the standards used and the data formats. You are also guided on how to supply your own data to EurOBIS.
The data that is collected within EuOBIS is shared with a lot of other international initiatives. Through the site you can link you to the dataports where EurOBIS data is used.
EurOBIS, the European section of this international initiative, is managed and maintained by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). EurOBIS collects the distribution data of marine species observed in European waters, as well as data collected by European scientists outside the European marine areas. The data system is currently deployed within large European projects such as EMODnet and LifeWatch, adding a wealth of new data and information to EurOBIS.
The need for a dedicated website for this initiative was great. Since EurOBIS was originally implemented within the frame of the European Network of Excellence MarBEF (2004 – 2009) online access was only possible so far through the MarBEF website. To give the system more visibility and its own identity, a new EurOBIS website was launched recently: www.eurobis.org.
On the home page of the new EurOBIS website an overview is given of the latest additions and updates, as well as a list of the species that are documented for the first time in EurOBIS. You will also find all the background information about the EurOBIS system, in particular on the scope, the standards used and the data formats. You are also guided on how to supply your own data to EurOBIS.
The data that is collected within EuOBIS is shared with a lot of other international initiatives. Through the site you can link you to the dataports where EurOBIS data is used.