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Coordinated by  
Framework Partnership Agreement on Copernicus User Uptake (FPCUP)Framework Partnership Agreement on Copernicus User Uptake (FPCUP)

Copernicus for Marine Spatial Planning and EU Directives

Point of contact
Bárbara  Ondiviela
Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria
C/ Isabel Torres, 15
39011 Santander
Phone: +34 942 20 16 16
URL: https://ihcantabria.com/en/

Implementing Partner: CNES, CUT, IHCantabria, PT Space, TO
Implementing Country: Cyprus, Estonia, France, Portugal, Spain Primary Topic: Land, Marine Primary Target Users: Private Sector, Public Sector, Research Sector Primary Target Region: Europe Europe: Cyprus, Estonia, France, Portugal, Spain Type of Action: Building an active user dialogue
Action No.: 2021-2-33
Duration: Last Update:



As Member States (MS) progress with the development of Marine Spatial Plans, it is becoming evident that the challenges linked to marine data and information availability will become even more important during the implementation of certain Marine Directives. Before that date, national marine authorities need to identify what and where the data gaps are.

Under this framework, the current Action pursues "to promote the use of Copernicus data in the implementation of the EU Marine Spatial Planning Directive (Directive 2014/89/EU; MSP) and EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (Directive 2008/56/EC; MSFD), while contributing to the standardization of methodologies in the implementation process".

This objective will be achieved through 3 specific objectives:

  1. To examine the implementation of EU Directives by Member States, and to identify data gaps.
  2. To analyse how Copernicus satellite data products can improve those data gaps.
  3. To use Copernicus data services in the implementation of EU marine Directives.

These objectives will be carried out by the institutions that have implemented the Action.

The Action is part of a group of actions (2021-2-33; 2021-2-42; 2021-2-47) coordinated to be complementary and to achieve a common goal, Copernicus uptake for ocean and coastal stakeholders. Synergies with Mercator Ocean will also be explored, as there is a general willingness to cooperate in the activities and interest in the user needs specifically in the frame of the Marine Spatial Planning.

Output and results:

  • A Technical report including:
    • Needs for long-term data integration, time series consistency and data transformations for the implementation process in Spain, Portugal, Estonia, Cyprus and France (MSFD).
    • Data needs for the implementation process in Spain, Portugal, Estonia, Cyprus and France and gap filling based on Copernicus data.
  • Generation of high spatial resolution maps for certain maritime activities and pilot sites (countries) required for the planning process.
  • Report/catalogue on lessons learned in the exchange of experiences and recommendations for understanding, addressing and improving future applications of Copernicus data in MSP in Cyprus, Spain, Portugal, France (MSFD) and Estonia, edited in the official languages of the pilot sites.