Strengthening marine biodiversity monitoring and data pathways in Europe: Challenges and recommendations

Marine biodiversity data are essential for effective ocean governance and underpin the implementation of key European and international environmental policy frameworks to deliver healthier marine ecosystems. Despite extensive monitoring efforts, inconsistencies in methodologies, data standards, and reporting practices continue to limit the comparability and policy relevance of biodiversity information. To address these challenges, the European Commission launched a Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Harmonisation initiative that: assessed the state of play of marine biodiversity monitoring in Europe; identified technical and institutional barriers to improvements in marine biodiversity knowledge; and proposed recommendations for addressing these barriers in a cost-effective and coordinated manner. The initiative combined desk research, surveys, interviews, and workshops for engaging Member States, EU agencies, Regional Sea Conventions, scientists and key ocean stakeholders. This helped identifying key challenges spanning data acquisition, management, and accessibility. While technical tools for carrying out marine biodiversity monitoring are largely available, institutional fragmentation remains the main barrier to strengthen marine biodiversity knowledge. The need for harmonised monitoring standards, enforced data-sharing obligations, long-term funding for biodiversity data infrastructures, better recognition and traceability of data providers, clarified governance roles and stronger communication between scientific and policy actors were all identified as priorities. Addressing these institutional and cultural barriers is critical to establish a coherent, sustainable, and policy-responsive marine biodiversity monitoring system that supports evidence-based decision-making, aligns with EU environmental objectives, and contributes to global biodiversity commitments.