The ICES Working Group on Fisheries Benthic Impact and Trade-offs (WGFBIT) has developed an assessment framework based on the life history trait longevity, to evaluate the benthic impact of fisheries at the regional scale. In order to apply this framework to the Mediterranean sea, several Mediterranean longevity databases were merged together with existing North-East Atlantic ones to develop a common database. Longevity was fuzzy coded into four longevity classes: <1, 1-3, 3-10 and >10 years. Both benthic mega and macrofauna organisms are included in this dataset. Further details about both the purpose and the methodology may be found in ICES (2022) and Cuyvers et al. (2023). The result of the final dataset merging is one dataset containing the fuzzy coded average longevity (and standard deviation) for 2264 taxa and for each, the number of databases used. 

Long-term time series of coliform bacteria concentration (fecal coliform or Escherichia coli) in shellfish in four submarine areas (North Sea/Channel, Britany, Atlantic, Mediterranean).

Understanding the spatial and temporal preferences of toxic phytoplankton species is of paramount importance in managing and predicting harmful events in aquatic ecosystems. In this study we address the realised niche of the species Alexandrium minutum, Pseudo-nitzschia fraudulenta and P. australis. We used them to highlight distribution patterns at different scales and determine possible drivers. To achieve this, we have developed original procedures coupling niche theory and habitat suitability modelling using abundance data in four consecutive steps: 1) Estimate the realised niche applying kernel functions. 2) Assess differences between the species’ niche as a whole and at the local level. 3) Develop habitat and temporal suitability models using niche overlap procedures. 4) Explore species temporal and spatial distributions to highlight possible drivers. Data used are species abundance and environmental variables collected over 27 years (1988-2014) and include 139 coastal water sampling sites along the French Atlantic coast. Results show that A. minutum and P. australis niches are very different, although both species have preference for warmer months. They both respond to decadal summer NAO but in the opposite way. P. fraudulenta realised niche lies in between the two other species niches. It also prefers warmer months but does not respond to decadal summer NAO. The Brittany peninsula is now classified as an area of prevalence for the three species. The methodology used here will allow to anticipate species distribution in the event of future environmental challenges resulting from climate change scenarios.

Opportunistic macroalgae blooms (green tides) data are collected during monitoring surveys on the English Channel / Bay of Biscay French coasts since 2008 (Quadrige program code : BLOOMS). Protocols are implemented in the European Water Framework Directive.

An observation network was initiated in 2021 in the framework of the CocoriCO2 project to monitore carbonate parameters along the French coastal systems. Six sites were selected along the French Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines based on their importance in terms of shellfish production and the presence of high- and low-frequency monitoring activities. At each site, autonomous pH sensors were deployed both inside and outside shellfish production areas, next to high-frequency CTD (conductivity-temperature-depth) probes operated through two operating monitoring networks (SNO COAST-HF and Ifremer ECOSCOPA). pH sensors were set to an acquisition rate of 15 min and discrete seawater samples were collected biweekly in order to control the quality of pH data (laboratory spectrophotometric measurements) as well as to measure total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations for full characterization of the carbonate system. While this network has been up and running for more than two years, the acquired dataset has already revealed important differences in terms of pH variations between monitored sites related to the influence of diverse processes (freshwater inputs, tides, temperature, biological processes).    

As part of the marine water quality monitoring of the “Pertuis” and the “baie de l’Aiguillon” (France), commissioned by the OFB and carried out by setec énergie environnement, three monitoring stations were installed. Two of them were set up at the mouths of the Charente and Seudre rivers on February 6 and 27, 2019, respectively, while a third was deployed in the Bay of Aiguillon on March 24, 2021. The dataset presented here concerns the station installed in the Bay of Aiguillon. Measurements are organized into .csv files, with one file per year. Data is collected using a WiMO multiparameter probe, which records the following parameters: •    Temperature (-2 to 35 °C) •    Conductivity (0 to 100 mS/cm) •    Pressure (0 to 30 m) •    Turbidity (0 to 4000 NTU) •    Dissolved Oxygen (0 to 23 mg/L & 0 to 250 %) •    Fluorescence (0 to 500 ppb)  

Bivalves carbon and nitrogen elemental and isotopic ratios (δ13C, δ15N, C and N%, C:N) times series (1981-2021) from 33 sites in France. Bivalve species are the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, and the mussels Mytilus edulis and Mytilus galloprovincialis. This extensive dataset offers a comprehensive view spanning multiple decades and ecosystems, allowing to track how coastal ecosystems and marine species record changing climate, physical-chemical environments and organic matter cycles. This dataset may also be used to study bivalve physiology. Additionally, these data are crucial for establishing isotope baselines for studying food webs. Ultimately, this data set provide valuable information for more effective ecosystem conservation and management strategies in our rapidly changing world.

Three saltmarshes, Aiguillon, Brouage, Fier d'Ars, located in the Pertuis-Charentais Sea along the south-west coast of France, were studied to evaluate their sediment and mass accumulation rates (SAR; MAR) based on 210Pb and 137Cs profiles in sediments. Coastal saltmarshes play indeed an essential role in providing services such as coastal protection and supporting biodiversity. Saltmarshes are also critical environments for the accumulation of sedimentary organic carbon (blue carbon). However, the number of studies on saltmarshes remains underrepresented compared to studies on mangroves and seagrass. This work is a contribution to the effort to document sediment and mass accumulation rates of saltmarshes.A total of 16 1m sediment cores were collected in the three saltmarshes (Aiguillon, Brouage, Fier d'Ars) in 2021 and 2022 using an Eijkelkamp stainless steel peat sampler. Each sediment core was sampled every 1 cm from the top to the bottom of the core. The sediment layers were used to determine dry bulk density and selected radioisotope activities (210Pb, 226Ra, 137Cs, 228Th, 137Cs). Combining excess 210Pb and 137Cs has allowed to establish a reliable chronology of sediment deposition on a multidecadal timescale.

The Arcachon bay is a meso- / macro-tidal (0.8 to 4.6 m), semi-enclosed lagoon of 180 km² located on the South-western coast of France. Three main water masses are described in this bay: (i) the external neritic waters (ENW) directly influenced by the adjacent oceanic waters, (ii) the intermediate neritic waters (ItNW) and (iii) the inner neritic waters (InNW) more influenced by the continental inputs. The watershed of the Arcachon bay, mainly covered by forests, has an area of 3500 km² and the bay is considered as poorly anthropised. It hosts the largest Zostera noltei seagrass meadow in western Europe and is an important site for oyster farming and Manilla clam production. Since 1997, Arcachon Bay waters are monitored for hydrological and bio-geochemical parameters by the “Environnements et Paléoenvironnements Océaniques et Continentaux” (EPOC) Research Unit of the University of Bordeaux-CNRS, first in one single station (Eyrac), then on 2 complementary sites since 2005 (Bouee13 and Comprian). The monitoring is carried out within the national framework of the “SOMLIT” (“Service d’Observation en Milieu Littoral”) which is a French multi-site monitoring network initiated in the mid-1990s. SOMLIT is based on a joint strategy for 19 sites belonging to 12 ecosystems that are distributed over the three maritime facades of mainland France, i.e. the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Sampling of surface water samples is performed fortnightly at high tide for a group of 15 parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, phosphate, silicate, suspended matter, chlorophyll a, concentrations and isotopic ratios of particulate organic carbon and nitrogen) and 8 flow cytometry biological variables of pico- and nanoplankton. Vertical profiles of multiparametric probes concerning 4 parameters (temperature, salinity, fluorescence, PAR) are also performed. Given the significant diversity of coastal ecosystems where SOMLIT’s stations are located, strict and joint guidelines with regards to sampling strategy, measurement methods and data qualification and storage are paramount in order to make FAIR data available to users. The whole data acquisition strategy is carried out within the framework of the SOMLIT quality system formalized in 2006-2007 by referring to the ISO 17025: 2017 standard “General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories”. Unified sampling and analysis protocols are based on recognized disciplinary standards and on the expertise of the research teams. The scientific objectives of SOMLIT are 1) to characterize the multi-decadal evolution of coastal ecosystems; 2) to determine the climatic and anthropogenic forcings and 3) to make data and logistical support available for research activities and other observation activities. SOMLIT is therefore a research tool providing large datasets that also serve as logistical support for related research actions (from seasonal to long-term studies). Two additional national networks operate at the same SOMLIT sites: “COAST-HF” network performs high-frequency measurements (automated in situ measurements every 10 to 20 minutes) and “PHYTOBS-network” provides microphytoplankton biodiversity data. SOMLIT, COAST-HF and PHYTOBS are elementary networks of the Research Infrastructure “Infrastructure Littorale et Côtière” (ILICO) and are National Observation Services (SNO) of the Institut National des Sciences de l'Univers (INSU).

Data collected by the Spindrift 2 Sails of Change vessel during its attempt at the round-the-world sailing record, the Jules Verne Trophy. More information at https://spindrift-racing.com/fr/.