Gironde estuary environmental parameters and SPM maps generated from 41 Landsat-8/OLI and Sentinel-2/MSI images acquired over the period 2013-2018. Except bathymetry and daily river discharge data, that are accessible on public platforms, the dataset includes all of the time seris used in the publication: Analysis of suspended sediment variability in a large highly-turbid estuary using a 5-year-long remotely-sensed data archive at high resolution, Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, DOI:10.1029/2019JC015417.

Global Fishing Watch is working across the globe to provide governments and authorities with actionable reports and capacity building to help strengthen fisheries monitoring and compliance. Our global team of experts produce analyses to inform monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries in five key areas: - Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing - Transshipment - Port controls - Marine protected areas - Operation support Collaboration and information sharing are integral to achieving well-managed fisheries. By working with stakeholders and making analyses available to national, regional and intergovernmental partners, Global Fishing Watch is enabling fisheries agencies to make more informed and cost-efficient decisions. Topics: - Commercial fishing, Global Fishing Watch is harnessing innovative technology to turn transparent data into actionable information and drive tangible change in the way that fisheries are governed. - Transshipment, Through publicly sharing map visualisations and creating data and analysis tools, we seek to inform management and policy efforts and provide a more complete picture of transshipment at sea. - Marine protected areas, Global Fishing Watch is harnessing the data and technology revolution to support the effective design, management and monitoring of marine protected areas.

Worldwide, shellfish aquaculture and fisheries in coastal ecosystems represent crucial activities for human feeding. But these biological productions are under the pressure of climate variability and global change. Anticipating the biological processes affected by climate hazards remains a vital objective for species conservation strategies and human activities that rely on. Within marine species, filter feeders like oysters are real key species in coastal ecosystems due to their economic and societal value (fishing and aquaculture) but also due to their ecological importance. Indeed oysters populations in good health play the role of ecosystem engineers that can give many ecosystem services at several scales: building reef habitats that contribute to biodiversity, benthic-pelagic coupling and phytoplankton bloom control through water filtration, living shorelines against coastal erosion… The Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793), which is currently widespread worldwide, was introduced into the Atlantic European coasts at the end of the 19th century for shellfish culture purposes and becomes the main marine species farmed in France (around 100 000 tons) despite severe mortalities crisis. But in the same time and because of warming, natural oysters beds has spread significantly along the French coast and are supposed to have reach approximately 500 000 tons. In that context, Pacific oyster populations (natural and cultivated) in France are the subjects of many scientific projects. Among them, a specific long-term biological monitoring focuses on the reproduction of these populations at a national scale: the VELYGER national program. With more than 8 years of weekly data at many stations in France, this field-monitoring program offers a valuable dataset for studying processes underpinning reproduction cycle of this key-species in relation to environmental parameters, water quality and climate change.   Database content: Larval concentration (number of individuals per 1.5 m3) monitored, since 2008, at several stations in six bays of the French coast (from south to north): Thau Lagoon and bays of Arcachon, Marennes Oléron, Bourgneuf, Vilaine and Brest (see map below).   Methods used to monitor larval concentration: An important volume of seawater (1.5 m3) is pumped twice a week throughout the spawning season (june-september), at one meter below the surface at high tide (+/- 2h) in several sites within each VELYGER ecosystem. Water is filtered trough plankton net fitted with 40 µm mesh. After a proper rinsing of the net, the retained material is transferred into a polyethylene bottle (1 liter) and fixed with alcohol. At laboratory, sample is then gently filtered and rinse again and transferred into eprouvette. Two sub-samples of 1 mL are then taken using a pipette and examined on a graticule slide for microscope. The microscopic examination is made with a conventional binocular optical microscope with micrometer stage at a magnification of 10 X (or above). During the counting, a special care is necessary as larvae of other bivalves are also collected and confusion is possible. Larvae of C. gigas are also classified into four stage of development: - Stage I = D-shaped straight hinge larvae (shell length <105 µm) - Stage II = Early umbo evolved larvae (shell length between 105 and 150 µm) - Stage III = Medium umbo larvae (shell length between 150 and 235 µm) - Stage IV*= Large umbo eyed pediveliger larvae (shell length > 235 µm) * Larvae that are very closed to settle are sometimes identified into a separated 5th stage, but generally this stage is included in stage IV.   Illustrations: Location of the different Velyger sites along the French coast. From south to north: Thau Lagoon and bays of Arcachon, Marennes Oléron, Bourgneuf, Vilaine and Brest.   Legend: Pacific Oyster Larvae (left side) and Natural oyster bed (right side). Photos : © S. Pouvreau/Ifremer

An observation network was initiated in 2021 in the framework of the CocoriCO2 project to monitore carbonate parameters along the French coastal systems. Six sites were selected along the French Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines based on their importance in terms of shellfish production and the presence of high- and low-frequency monitoring activities. At each site, autonomous pH sensors were deployed both inside and outside shellfish production areas, next to high-frequency CTD (conductivity-temperature-depth) probes operated through two operating monitoring networks (SNO COAST-HF and Ifremer ECOSCOPA). pH sensors were set to an acquisition rate of 15 min and discrete seawater samples were collected biweekly in order to control the quality of pH data (laboratory spectrophotometric measurements) as well as to measure total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations for full characterization of the carbonate system. While this network has been up and running for more than two years, the acquired dataset has already revealed important differences in terms of pH variations between monitored sites related to the influence of diverse processes (freshwater inputs, tides, temperature, biological processes).    

REPHYTOX dataset includes long-term time series on phycotoxins in marine bivalve molluscs, since 1987, along the whole French coast. The dataset covers results on lipophilic toxins, PSP toxins, ASP toxins, and palytoxins. REPHYTOX was a full part of the REPHY network until 2015. The whole dataset is available.

SOMLIT (Service d'Observation en Milieur Littoral) : a French Coastal Monitoring Network Coastal zones are where land, ocean and atmosphere interact. They are important for the exchange of matter and energy, and play a key role in (biogeo)chemical cycles at global scale. These environments are characterised by significant spatial and temporal variability of their physico-chemical and biological parameters due to local and seasonal meteorological drivers which are exacerbated by large-scale climate drivers (e.g. global warming, modification of the wind regime) and local-scale anthropogenic drivers (e.g. nutrient cycle changes linked to the use of fertilisers or the construction of large installations such as dams). These driving mechanisms are often interconnected. In the context of global warming (due to­­ climate and human-induced changes), the identification and understanding of their impact on coastal marine and littoral ecosystems is essential. The scientific objective of SOMLIT is to 1) characterise the multi-decadal evolution of coastal marine and littoral ecosystems, and 2) determine the climatic and anthropogenic drivers. In order to meet this objective, a nationally coordinated multi-site monitoring system was set up in the mid-1990s. The observation strategy is the same for each of the 12 monitored ecosystems with fortnightly sampling and/or measurements, at high tide (for sites subject to tides): 1) in surface-water for a range of 15 parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, phosphate, silicate, suspended particulate matter, chlorophyll a, particulate organic carbon and nitrogen and stable isotopes of particulate organic carbon and nitrogen), 2) in surface-water for a range of 26 parameters of numbering and optical characteristics of pico- and nanoplankton), and 3) along the water column for temperature, salinity, fluorescence and PAR (vertical profiles of multi-parameter probes). SOMLIT’s activities are carried out under a quality assurance / quality control process based on the ISO 17025 standard. SOMLIT’s service provision objectives are to provide data and logistical support for research and other observation activities. SOMLIT has been officially accredited since 1996 as one of the CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research) National Observation Services (SNO). SOMLIT’s coordination is hosted by the Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (University of Bordeaux / CNRS) and the service relies on strong partnerships with nine other institutions (University of Lille, University of the Littoral Opal Coast, University of Caen Normandy, Sorbonne University, University of Western Brittany, La Rochelle University, University of Montpellier, Aix Marseille University, National Museum of Natural History). SOMLIT is one of the nine networks that compose France’s Coastal Research Infrastructure (ILICO).  SOMLIT has strong ties with ILICO’s other networks such as the SNOs MOOSE (Mediterranean Ocean Observing System on Environment), PHYTOBS (microphytoplankton monitoring) and COAST-HF (Coastal Ocean Observing System - High Frequency).

To deliver the best Argo data to users in the simplest way, No QC flags; No data mode; No manuals - Just straight forward good data The Argo program provides an unprecedented volume of oceanographic data, yet its operational complexity — involving multiple data modes, quality control flags, and metadata conventions — often hinders its direct usage. The EasyOneArgo initiative addresses this challenge by delivering simplified, high-quality subsets of Argo data, specifically designed to streamline user access and integration. We introduce two core products: EasyOneArgoTS, a curated selection of temperature-salinity profiles filtered by strict quality criteria and optimized across real-time, adjusted, and delayed modes; and EasyOneArgoTSLite, its vertically interpolated counterpart standardized over 102 pressure levels. Each profile is packaged as a standalone CSV file with structured metadata, and indexed for seamless retrieval. Visual comparisons reveal clear advantages in usability and consistency, notably between raw and interpolated datasets. The approach is being extended to biogeochemical variables via EasyOneArgoBGC and EasyOneArgoBGCLite, currently under development. EasyOneArgo products are publicly available through monthly FAIR-compliant releases and invite community feedback for continued refinement. This work represents a user-centric shift in Argo data delivery: no flags, no manuals — just clean, structured ocean data ready for immediate scientific application.  

Tracking data of 7 grey seals were obtained from the deployment of Fastloc GPS/GSM tags developed by the Sea Mammal Research Unit (UK). Full tag description is available at: http://www.smru.st-andrews.ac.uk/Instrumentation/GPSPhoneTag/. The tags include a wet-dry sensor from which haulout events are recorded, a pressure sensor providing detailed dive data, as well as a Fastloc GPS recording irregular locations when the seal is not underwater. Data is stored onboard and transmitted via the GSM network when the seal is in the reception range. The data provided here are the individual GPS locations of the seals fitted with these tags for an average duration of 135 days.

Three saltmarshes, Aiguillon, Brouage, Fier d'Ars, located in the Pertuis-Charentais Sea along the south-west coast of France, were studied to evaluate their sediment and mass accumulation rates (SAR; MAR) based on 210Pb and 137Cs profiles in sediments. Coastal saltmarshes play indeed an essential role in providing services such as coastal protection and supporting biodiversity. Saltmarshes are also critical environments for the accumulation of sedimentary organic carbon (blue carbon). However, the number of studies on saltmarshes remains underrepresented compared to studies on mangroves and seagrass. This work is a contribution to the effort to document sediment and mass accumulation rates of saltmarshes.A total of 16 1m sediment cores were collected in the three saltmarshes (Aiguillon, Brouage, Fier d'Ars) in 2021 and 2022 using an Eijkelkamp stainless steel peat sampler. Each sediment core was sampled every 1 cm from the top to the bottom of the core. The sediment layers were used to determine dry bulk density and selected radioisotope activities (210Pb, 226Ra, 137Cs, 228Th, 137Cs). Combining excess 210Pb and 137Cs has allowed to establish a reliable chronology of sediment deposition on a multidecadal timescale.

The aim of this work was to document the seasonal and inter-annual dynamic of dissolved oxygen and ancillary data (T, S, Chl-a, turbidity, pH) along a cross-shelf transect off the Gironde estuary. This work has been motivated by recent simulations that suggest the occurrence of seasonal bottom deoxygenations in this River-dominated Ocean Margin (Riomar); but unfortunately there were no data sets to test this hypothesis until now. Profiles of temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen were performed in the water column of the West Gironde Mud Patch off the Gironde estuary (from 45°46.383’N – 1°28.925’W to 45°35.524’N - 1°50.689’W) during seven cruises on the R/V Côte de la Manche (doi: 10.18142/284 ; 10.17600/18000861) between 2016 and 2021 (October 2016, August 2017, January 2018, April 2018, July 2019, April 2021, October 2021). Turbidity was measured in January and April 2018, July 2019 and October 2021, Chl-a in October 2016, August 2017, January 2018, April 2018 and July 2019 and pH in October 2021. This dataset had permitted to validate the occurrence of bottom deoxygenations when the water column is stratified.