Beneath the surface: Discover Europe's seas through open data
Interactive maps bring marine environments and coastal activities into view
What lies beneath the sea’s surface, and what happens along its shores? Europe’s seas connect people through travel, work and leisure, but much of their geography remains unfamiliar. The European Atlas of the Seas offers an accessible way to investigate these waters through maps, helping everyone from students to curious travellers discover more about marine and coastal environments.
The European Commission’s atlas brings together maps on topics including the seabed, fishing, aquaculture, energy, transport and marine litter. Users can start with a ready-made map or combine layers to follow their own interests. Maps can also be printed, shared or embedded in presentations and articles. A teachers’ corner provides exercises and educational resources for different age groups, helping bring marine information into the classroom.
Open data helps connect these different views of the marine environment. The atlas is powered by the European Marine Observation and Data Network, which brings together marine observations and data products. Presenting information geographically helps users see where activities take place and examine their surroundings. The European Data Portal provides another starting point for discovering marine datasets and exploring the resources behind related research and applications.
Where will your curiosity take you? Open the European Atlas of the Seas, choose a topic and create a map of your own. You can also browse marine-related datasets on the European Data Portal to continue your search.
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