The three digital maps provided in this product aim to assess the degree of Offshore windfarm siting suitability existing over a geographical area with a focal point where waters of France and Spain meet in Biscay Bay on 500 m depth. The maps display respectively the spatial distribution of the average and lowest windfarm siting suitability scores along with the average wind speed distribution over a time period of 10 years. They are part of a process set up to assess the fit for use quality of the currently available datasets to support a preliminary selection of potential offshore sites for wind energy development. To build these maps, GIS tools were applied to several key spatial datasets from the 5 data type domains considered in the project: Air, Marine Water, Riverbed/Seabed, Biota/Biology and Human Activities, collated during the initial stages of the project. Initially, each selected dataset was formatted and clipped to the study area extent and spatially classified according to suitability scores, to define raster layers with the variables depicting levels of current anthropogenic and environmental spatial occupation of activities, seabed depth and slope, distances to shoreline, shipping intensity, mean significant wave height, and substrate type. These pre-processed layers were employed as inputs for applying a spatial multi-criteria model using a wind farming suitability classification based on a discrete 5 grades index, ranging from Very Low up to Very High suitability. In adition to suitability maps, an average wind speed spatial distribution map for a 10 years period, at 10 m height, was obtained over the study area from the raster processing of a wind speed time series of monthly means available from daily wind analysis data. The characteristics of the datasets used in this exercise underwent an appropriateness evaluation procedure based on a comparison between their measured quality and those specified for the product. All the spatial information made available in these maps and from the subsequent appropriateness analysis of the datasets, contributes to a clearer overview of the amount of public-access baseline knowledge currently existing for the North Atlantic basin area.

The Oil Platform Leaks challenge attempts to determine the likely trajectory of the slick and to release rapid information on the oil movement and environmental and coastal impacts in the form of a bulletin brodcast 72 hours after the event. This bulletin indicates what information can be provided, evidencing the fitness for use of the current available marine datasets, as well as pointing out gaps in the current Emodnet data collection framework. The exercise relies on two tools operated by CLS: The OSCAR model (Oil Spill Contingency and Response, operated at CLS under license) made available by SINTEF and used to simulate the oil spill fate and weathering at water surface, in the water column and along shorelines. A QGIS system to display and cross the oil spill forecast with coastal data (information on environment and human activities). This product relises on the use of information on human activities and environmental sensitivity to establish the impact of the oïl Spill on the coastal areas.

Assess whether the MPA network constitutes a representative and coherent network as described in article 13 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive 3 products were specified to achieve the second objectif of the challenge: ATLANTIC_CH02_Product_2 / Quantitative analyse of MPA coherency The product comprises 4 components: Distribution of vulnerable marine habitats : Shape represent the distribution of different vulnérable habitats Distribution biologically or ecologically significant areas (EBSAs) Critical areas of vulnerable species Distribution of indicator species The method used computes the percentage coverage between : Vulnerable habitats like carbon sinks, reef, kelp... Ecologically or biologically significant area Life critical area (feeding , breeding, migratory routes, spawning, dispersal larvea, nursery…) for indicator species Distribution of indicator species in the study area and MPA network location.

It's a study of MPA connectivity with assessment of : -size -shape -spacing between each MPA

Annual time series of salmon recruitement biomass (2005-2014): • Time series of atlantic salmon recruitment • Location and Long Term Average (LTA) of atlantic salmon recruitment per Management Unit, that could be a river, basin district, a region or a whole country.

Phyto plankton Abundance: Identify the 3 most abundant phytoplankton species in the North Atlantic and calculate a timeseries of their abundance within the basin.

The challenge attempts to collect data on landings for the North Atlantic sea basin (i.e. north of the equator, excluding Caribe, Baltic, North Sea and Artic) and to compute: mass and number of discards by species and year, including fish, mammals, reptiles and seabirds. Data are presented in an Excel spreadsheet.

Annual time series of eel recruitement, (2005-2014) • Time series of glass and yellow eel for those rivers used in the annual ICES advice to the EU • Location, data availability and long term annual (LTA) eel recruiment per river mouth

Pentadal (5-year average) resolution time-series of bottom temperature for North Atlantic ocean area deeper than 1000m. Calculate the 5 year average bottom temperature at each point on the grid and then calculate the area weighted average.

One product and 3 components were developed in order to fulfill the third objectif ATLANTIC_CH02_Product_5 / Distribution of ocean monitoring systems to assess climate change existing into the MPA network • Physical parameter monitoring • Chemical parameter monitoring • Biological parameter monitoring The aim of the product is the identification of ocean monitoring systems to assess climate change in MPAs.