This visualization product displays the cigarette related items abundance of marine macro-litter (> 2.5cm) per beach per year from non-MSFD monitoring surveys, research & cleaning operations without UNEP-MARLIN data. EMODnet Chemistry included the collection of marine litter in its 3rd phase. Since the beginning of 2018, data of beach litter have been gathered and processed in the EMODnet Chemistry Marine Litter Database (MLDB). The harmonization of all the data has been the most challenging task considering the heterogeneity of the data sources, sampling protocols and reference lists used on a European scale. Preliminary processings were necessary to harmonize all the data: - Exclusion of OSPAR 1000 protocol: in order to follow the approach of OSPAR that it is not including these data anymore in the monitoring; - Selection of surveys from non-MSFD monitoring, cleaning and research operations; - Exclusion of beaches without coordinates; - Selection of plastic bags related items only. The list of selected items is attached to this metadata. This list was created using EU Marine Beach Litter Baselines, the European Threshold Value for Macro Litter on Coastlines and the Joint list of litter categories for marine macro-litter monitoring from JRC (these three documents are attached to this metadata); - Exclusion of surveys without associated length; - Normalization of survey lengths to 100m & 1 survey / year: in some case, the survey length was not 100m, so in order to be able to compare the abundance of litter from different beaches a normalization is applied using this formula: Number of plastic bags related items of the survey (normalized by 100 m) = Number of plastic bags related items of the survey x (100 / survey length) Then, this normalized number of plastic bags related items is summed to obtain the total normalized number of plastic bags related items for each survey. Finally, the median abundance of plastic bags related items for each beach and year is calculated from these normalized abundances of plastic bags related items per survey. Percentiles 50, 75, 95 & 99 have been calculated taking into account plastic bags related items from other sources data for all years. More information is available in the attached documents. Warning: the absence of data on the map does not necessarily mean that they do not exist, but that no information has been entered in the Marine Litter Database for this area.

Sardine physiological measurments from september to november 2020

This visualization product displays the spatial distribution of the sampling effort over the six-years' period 2017-2022. EMODnet Chemistry included the collection of marine litter in its 3rd phase. Since the beginning of 2018, data of seafloor litter collected by international fish-trawl surveys have been gathered and processed in the EMODnet Chemistry Marine Litter Database (MLDB). The harmonization of all the data has been the most challenging task considering the heterogeneity of the data sources, sampling protocols (OSPAR and MEDITS protocols) and reference lists used on a European scale. Moreover, within the same protocol, different gear types are deployed during bottom trawl surveys. The spatial distribution was determined by calculating the number of times each cell was sampled during the period 2017-2022. The corresponding total distance (kms) sampled in each cell is also provided in the attribute table. Information on data processing and calculation are detailed in the attached methodology document. Warning: the absence of data on the map does not necessarily mean that they do not exist, but that no information has been entered in the Marine Litter Database for this area. This work is based on the work presented in the following scientific article: O. Gerigny, M. Brun, M.C. Fabri, C. Tomasino, M. Le Moigne, A. Jadaud, F. Galgani, Seafloor litter from the continental shelf and canyons in French Mediterranean Water: Distribution, typologies and trends, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 146, 2019, Pages 653-666, ISSN 0025-326X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.07.030.

This visualization product displays the single use plastics (SUP) related items abundance of marine macro-litter (> 2.5cm) per beach per year from non-MSFD monitoring surveys, research & cleaning operations. EMODnet Chemistry included the collection of marine litter in its 3rd phase. Since the beginning of 2018, data of beach litter have been gathered and processed in the EMODnet Chemistry Marine Litter Database (MLDB). The harmonization of all the data has been the most challenging task considering the heterogeneity of the data sources, sampling protocols and reference lists used on a European scale. Preliminary processing were necessary to harmonize all the data: - Exclusion of OSPAR 1000 protocol: in order to follow the approach of OSPAR that it is not including these data anymore in the monitoring; - Selection of surveys from non-MSFD monitoring, cleaning and research operations; - Exclusion of beaches without coordinates; - Selection of SUP related items only. The list of selected items is attached to this metadata. This list was created using EU Marine Beach Litter Baselines, the European Threshold Value for Macro Litter on Coastlines and the Joint list of litter categories for marine macro-litter monitoring from JRC (these three documents are attached to this metadata). The selection was adapted to the Joint list of litter categories SUP identification and therefore contains some differences with the selection made for previously published versions of this product; - Exclusion of surveys without associated length; - Normalization of survey lengths to 100m & 1 survey / year: in some case, the survey length was not 100m, so in order to be able to compare the abundance of litter from different beaches a normalization is applied using this formula: Number of SUP related items of the survey (normalized by 100 m) = Number of SUP related items of the survey x (100 / survey length) Then, this normalized number of SUP related items is summed to obtain the total normalized number of SUP related items for each survey. Finally, the median abundance of SUP related items for each beach and year is calculated from these normalized abundances of SUP related items per survey. Percentiles 50, 75, 95 & 99 have been calculated taking into account SUP related items from other sources data for all years. More information is available in the attached documents. Warning: the absence of data on the map does not necessarily mean that they do not exist, but that no information has been entered in the Marine Litter Database for this area.

This dataset comprises stomach contents of small pelagic fish species on the french shelf of the Bay of Bisacy, in spring, autumn and winter, from 2004 to 2024. The spring data were acquired in May on the pelagic survey series PELGAS from 2004 to 2024, the autumn data in October/Novermber on the demersal survey series EVHOE from 2020 to 2024 and the winter data were acquired on chartered fishing vessels in February 2023 and 2024. The dataset concerns anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) and sardine (Sardina pilchardus) in the 3 seasons and also mackerel (Scomber scombrus), sprat (Sprattus, sprattus) and horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) in spring for some years. The dataset represents a unique long-term monitoring of stomach contents characterized with a low taxonomic resolution and semi-quantitative abundance quotation.  The pelagic ecosystem survey PELGAS (Doray et al., 2018) is run in each year in May since 2000, to monitor the Bay of Biscay pelagic ecosystem at springtime and assess the biomass of its small pelagic fish species. During the survey, pelagic trawl hauls are undertaken to identify echotraces to species and to measure individual fish traits. All hauls are performed during day time. In 2010, some hauls were undertaken at night to sample stomach contents over the day/night cycle. The fish stomachs are sampled from the haul catch. For a given species, twenty individuals are selected at random from the catch, their stomachs dissected and preserved. This is repeated at three hauls in each of the ten spatial strata defined to cover the entire Biscay shelf. In some years, fish length categories (lower and greater than 14 cm for anchovy and 18 cm for sardine) were also considered when sampling the stomachs. Stomach sampling by species depended on the trawl haul catch and all species were not systematically sampled jointly at the same trawl haul. Also, the number of stations with stomach sampling varied between species and years. The stomachs were preserved in formaline until 2018 and in ethanol since. Anchovy and sardine stomach sampling on the demersal survey EVHOE (Mahe and Poulard, 2005) followed the same protocole as for PELGAS but with fewer stations, depending on the catch of anchovy and sardine in the bottom trawl. In 2020 due to the Covid pandemic, the PELGAS survey was canceled and to compensate, a pair-trawler was chartered in autumn to perform some pelagic trawl hauls during the EVHOE 2020 survey. In winter 2023 and 2024 a pair-trawler was also chartered, for identifying echotraces observed previously on the survey DRIX (Doray et al., 2024) in the area delimited by the Gironde and Loire estuaries, the coast and the 100 m isobath. On the fishing vessels the fish were frozen onboard, the stomachs were dissected on land in the laboratory and preserved in ethanol.  The taxonomic analysis of the stomach contents was performed in the laboratory under a binocular magnifyer by the company LAPHY. A simplified taxonomic resolution was used, which considered five ichtyoplankton groups, two copepod groups, euphausids or mysids, amphipods, two decapod groups, other crustacea, other zooplankton, phytoplankton and pulp. Taxon abundance was defined by a quotation : 0 (absence), 1 (presence : <10 individuals), 2 (abundant : between 10 and 100), 3 (very abundant : > 100). The dataset comprises trawl haul information, information on the quality of the stomach contents and abundance quotes for the list of plankton taxons. A preliminary analysis of the data (Petitgas, 2024) showed a large overlap in stomach contents between species, the importance of small copepods in the diets, and how different drivers such as habitat and length influence the diets. 

The flat oyster Ostrea edulis is a European native species that once covered vast areas in the North Sea, on the Atlantic coast and in other European coastal waters including the Mediterranean region. All these populations have been heavily fished by dredging over the last three centuries. More recently, the emergence of parasites combined with the proliferation of various predators and many human-induced additional stressors have caused a dramatic decrease in the last remaining flat oyster populations. Today, this species has disappeared from many locations in Europe and is registered on the OSPAR (Oslo-Paris Convention for the Protection of the Marine environment of the North-East Atlantic) list of threatened and/or declining species (see https://www.ospar.org/work-areas/bdc/species-habitats/list-of-threatened-declining-species-habitats). In that context, since 2018, the Flat Oyster REcoVERy project (FOREVER) has been promoting the reestablishment of native oysters in Brittany (France). This multi-partner project, involving the CRC (Comité Régional de la Conchyliculture), IFREMER (Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer), ESITC (École Supérieure d’Ingénieurs des Travaux de la Construction) Caen and Cochet Environnement, has consisted of (1) inventorying and evaluating the status of the main wild flat oyster populations across Brittany, (2) making detailed analysis of the two largest oyster beds in the bays of Brest and Quiberon to improve understanding of flat oyster ecology and recruitment variability and to suggest possible ways of improving recruitment, and (3) proposing practical measures for the management of wild beds in partnership with members of the shellfish industry and marine managers. the final report of this project is available on Archimer : https://doi.org/10.13155/79506. This survey is part of the task 1 of the FOREVER, which took place between 2017-2021. Some previous data, acquired with the same methodology and within the same geographic area have been also added to this dataset. These data were collected during 30 intertidal and diving surveys in various bays and inlets of the coast of Bretagne. The localization of these surveys has been guided by the help of historical maps. In the field, the methodology was simple enough to be easily implemented regardless of the configuration of the sampled site. The intertidal survey was conducted at very low tide (tidal range > 100) to sample the 0-1m level. Sampling was carried out randomly or systematically following the low water line. Where possible (in terms of visibility and accessibility), dive surveys were also carried out (0-10m depth), along 100m transects, using the same methodology of counting in a 1m2 quadrat. As often as possible, geo-referenced photographs were taken to show the appearance, density and habitat where Ostrea edulis was present. All these pictures are available in the image bank file. Overall, this dataset contains a total of 300 georeferenced records, where flat oysters have been observed. The dataset file contains also information concerning the surrounding habitat description and is organized according the OSPAR recommendations. This publication gives also a map, under a kml format showing each occurrence and its characteristics. This work was done in the framework of the following research project: " Inventaire, diagnostic écologique et restauration des principaux bancs d’huitres plates en Bretagne : le projet FOREVER. Contrat FEAMP 17/2215675".

The Western Mediterranean Sea is a natural laboratory to address questions about the formation and evolution of continental margins and the relationship between surface and deep processes. The evaporites deposited during the late Miocene’s Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) strongly impact its sedimentological and geomorphological evolution. Hereafter, we present a compilation of some of the main regional seismic stratigraphic markers throughout the Western Mediterranean Sea. We provide in xyz format (z in second twt) the original, not interpolated, points interpretation of the following horizons: i) Acoustic basement, ii) Base and Top of the MSC salt, also known as Mobile Unit (MU), iii) base Pliocene and iv) Seafloor. The available reflection seismic dataset, coming from a collaboration between French, Spanish, Algerian and Italian research institutes, covers most of the Western Mediterranean sub-basins with the exception of the Ligurian Basin. This compilation is currently the most comprehensive and updated available in literature and provides a useful contribution to the scientific community working in sedimentary, tectonics and geodynamics studies in the Western Mediterranean Sea.

This visualization product displays the fishing & aquaculture related plastic items abundance of marine macro-litter (> 2.5cm) per beach per year from Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) monitoring surveys. EMODnet Chemistry included the collection of marine litter in its 3rd phase. Since the beginning of 2018, data of beach litter have been gathered and processed in the EMODnet Chemistry Marine Litter Database (MLDB). The harmonization of all the data has been the most challenging task considering the heterogeneity of the data sources, sampling protocols and reference lists used on a European scale. Preliminary processings were necessary to harmonize all the data: - Exclusion of OSPAR 1000 protocol: in order to follow the approach of OSPAR that it is not including these data anymore in the monitoring; - Selection of MSFD surveys only (exclusion of other monitoring, cleaning and research operations); - Exclusion of beaches without coordinates; - Selection of fishing and aquaculture related plastic items only. The list of selected items is attached to this metadata. This list was created using EU Marine Beach Litter Baselines, the European Threshold Value for Macro Litter on Coastlines and the Joint list of litter categories for marine macro-litter monitoring from JRC (these three documents are attached to this metadata). The selection was adapted to the Joint list of litter categories fishing gears identification and therefore contains some differences with the selection made for previously published versions of this product; - Normalization of survey lengths to 100m & 1 survey / year: in some case, the survey length was not exactly 100m, so in order to be able to compare the abundance of litter from different beaches a normalization is applied using this formula: Number of fishing & aquaculture related plastic items of the survey (normalized by 100 m) = Number of fishing & aquaculture related items of the survey x (100 / survey length) Then, this normalized number of fishing & aquaculture related plastic items is summed to obtain the total normalized number of fishing & aquaculture related plastic items for each survey. Finally, the median abundance of fishing & aquaculture related plastic items for each beach and year is calculated from these normalized abundances of fishing & aquaculture related items per survey. Sometimes the survey length was null or equal to 0. Assuming that the MSFD protocol has been applied, the length has been set at 100m in these cases. Percentiles 50, 75, 95 & 99 have been calculated taking into account fishing & aquaculture related plastic items from MSFD data for all years. More information is available in the attached documents. Warning: the absence of data on the map does not necessarily mean that they do not exist, but that no information has been entered in the Marine Litter Database for this area.

The SWOT L3_LR_SSH product provides ocean topography measurements obtained from the SWOT KaRIn and nadir altimeter instruments, merged into a single variable. The dataset includes measurements from KaRIn swaths on both sides of the image, while the measurements from the nadir altimeter are located in the central columns. In the areas between the nadir track and the two KaRIn swaths, as well as on the outer edges of each swath (restricted to cross-track distances ranging from 10 to 60 km), default values are expected. SWOT L3_LR_SSH is a cross-calibrated product from multiple missions that contains only the ocean topography content necessary for thematic research (e.g., oceanography, geodesy) and related applications. This product is designed to be simple and ready-to-use, and can be combined with other altimetry missions. The SWOT L3_LR_SSH product is a research-orientated extension of the L2_LR_SSH product, distributed by the SWOT project (NASA/JPL and CNES) and managed by the SWOT Science Team project DESMOS. The "Technical" version of SWOT L3_LR_SSH (the "Basic", "Expert" and "Unsmoothed" versions are the subject of separate metadata sheets) includes additional parameters and geophysical fields that may be of interest for certain applications or that provide an alternative solution to those used in the core (Basic/Expert) products.

ROCCH, the French Chemical Contaminant Monitoring Network,  regularly provides a new official dataset for assessing the chemical quality status of French coastal waters. Concentrations of trace metal elements and organic compounds were measured in samples of marine surface sediments collected in the English Channel and Bay of Biscay, during 3 campaigns over a period of 6 years. Samples of fine sediment material, from 200 to 250 monitoring stations, were freeze-dried and sieved prior to analysis. The Results were submitted to the international database of ICES (for the OSPAR Convention).