The MOSES economic database describes marine activities in the Atlantic Area. Its three dimensions include a set of selected marine activities, a set of yearly economic indicators characterizing each activity, and a common time frame for the indicators, 2013- 2015.

Marine economic activities are identified based on the NACE. The NACE hierarchical classification of economic activities, used by Eurostat, is exhaustive without overlaps. Each activity is classified by NACE class with one code per class. Using data resources from Eurostat and member states’ statistical institutes, the MOSES database provides access to economic documentation by activity.

The spatial boundaries for measurement of marine economic activities are based on the European territorial classification referred to as the "Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics" (NUTS). The NUTS includes countries (levels 0 and possibly 1 of the NUTS) and regions (levels 2 and 3). The coverage of the database is limited to countries and coastal regions of the Atlantic Area.

Economic indicators are selected among those currently used by these sources for developing the Structural Business Statistics and National Accounts. Such indicators are available at NUTS0. Generally, at NUTS2 and NUTS3 levels (regions and sub-regions), only the number of establishments and employment data can be documented. A small number of NUTS2 units of the Atlantic Area have developed more detailed economic databases providing additional economic indicators.

The MOSES database includes specific "proxies" supplementing economic indicators at a country and/or region level. Proxies are non-monetary indicators characterizing important features of marine activities.

The time frame of the MOSES database is 2013-2015.