Turning biodiversity data into dynamic digital ecosystems

DTO-BioFlow connects marine biodiversity data across Europe to support science, policy, and digital twins.

Explore DTO-BioFlow Resources

Resources

DTO-BioFlow resources support organisations in making biodiversity data FAIR, accessible via EMODnet, and usable within the EU Digital Twin Ocean, while offering opportunities for uptake and training to improve data readiness and use.

Onboarding kit

Overview of the onboarding process data providers

Biodiversity Data

Marine systems requires accessible biodiversity data

Playbook

Provide guidance on overcoming key data access challenges

Publications

Key insights and guidance from current research

The DTO-Bioflow Use Cases

DTO-BioFlow integrates harmonised marine biodiversity data into the Digital Twin Ocean through policy-driven use cases, supporting AI-powered analysis and evidence-based ocean management aligned with EU biodiversity goals.

DUC 1 on invasive species management

Invasive marine species (Non-Indigenous Species - NIS) are a major threat to marine ecosystems and biodiversity across Europe. Early…

DUC 2 on the Impact from offshore infrastructures

The expansion of offshore infrastructures, such as wind farms, oil platforms, and subsea pipelines, poses challenges to marine ecosystems,…

DUC 3 Assessing pelagic biodiversity and human impact

Plankton, which includes various aquatic plants and animals that drift with currents, are crucial indicators of marine ecosystem health.…

DUC 4 Spatial planning of sustainable mariculture

Sustainable mariculture, including low-impact aquaculture practices, offers a way to meet growing seafood demand while reducing…

DUC 5 Ecosystem-based spatial planning and MPA management

Marine ecosystems provide essential services, such as erosion prevention and carbon sequestration, that support human well-being. However,…

DUC 6 Lower-trophic level biomass monitoring to inform ocean governance

Zooplankton, especially species like Calanus spp., play a critical role in marine food webs and can serve as indicators of ocean health.…

DUC 7 Ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration

The ocean plays a vital role in the global carbon cycle, capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) through biological processes such as the biological…

DUC 8 Machine Learning for ocean colour seasonal forecasting (chlorophyll-a and primary production)

This case is focused on improving the accuracy of ocean colour forecasts, with a focus on chlorophyll-a and primary production, as well as…

Digital Twins

From Data to Knowledge: Managing Ocean Ecosystems

The biological component of the ocean is arguably the least known and most poorly understood. Understanding th e interaction of species with each other, with their environment and how these change in response to en viron m en t al and anthropogenic pressures through time will provide us with true knowledge and enables ecosystem-based management. This is the value of digital twins: By providing virtual representations of the ocean -integrating ocean observations, modelling, and digital infrastructures, digital twins allow us to simulate and study “what if” scenarios enabling effective conservation, management and policy development.

To unlock “sleeping” biodiversity data

Data on biodiversity comes from a variety of sources, including omics, optical identification, imaging, acoustics, and others. Although new technology (imaging, acoustics, DNA-based, satellite) enables biodiversity observations at previously unattainable scales and frequencies, many of these types of data require one or more processing steps to become digital, and thus remain unavailable and inaccessible, the so-called "sleeping data".

DTO-BioFlow will awaken "sleeping" biodiversity data, enabling the ongoing flow of these and new data into the EU Digital Twin Ocean via primary integrators and EMODnet, generating a digital replica of marine biological processes and transforming new and current data flows into evidence-based knowledge.

Overcoming Barriers to Biodiversity Data

To remove these barriers and make these data available for the DTO, scientific experts need to invest time, consult the communities of practice and interact with data managers to propose best practices on processing these data in a standardised and scientifically correct way to ensure that modern streams of data become available for biology at large scale.

DTO-BioFlow will provide a comprehensive guide to understanding and overcoming the challenges of marine biodiversity data access, integration, and use. The Barriers Playbook is scheduled for release in Autumn 2026.

As of now, four key barriers that prevent data from flowing efficiently and effectively into the EU Digital Twin of the Ocean (EU DTO) ha been identified.

Events

External event

From Blue-Cloud to the EOSC Node | European Digital Twin Ocean - Blue-Cloud 2026 Conference

Thu 28 May 2026 - Thu 28 May 2026

External event

European Maritime Days 2026

Thu 21 May 2026 - Fri 22 May 2026

External event

11th EuroGOOS International Conference

Mon 18 May 2026 - Wed 20 May 2026

External event

BioMonWeek 2026

Mon 04 May 2026 - Fri 08 May 2026

External event

The 7th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity

The 7th edition of the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity will be held from 17-20 November 2026 (WCMB 2026) in Bruges, Belgium, hosted by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ).

Tue, 11/17/2026 - 09:00 - Fri, 11/20/2026 - 18:00

Bruges, Belgium

View all events

News

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:41

Unlocking Europe’s “Dormant” Ocean Data to Protect Marine Biodiversity

As the world marks International Day for Biological Diversity, European scientists and policymakers are acting to turn one of the greatest hidden challenges in ocean conservation…

Thu, 01/08/2026 - 16:37

How DTO-BioFlow matchmaking events connect innovation with real-world use

As DTO-BioFlow moves into a more advanced phase, the focus of engagement is naturally evolving. After a period dedicated to building, testing, and refining technical components,…

Mon, 12/29/2025 - 08:58

From Marine DNA to Early Warning: Unlocking Biodiversity Data for Invasive Species Management

DTO-BioFlow works to unlock marine biodiversity data and enable them to flow into the Digital Twin of the Ocean, supporting new ways of understanding and managing marine ec

Wed, 12/03/2025 - 14:34

DTO-BioFlow Receives Strong Engagement at the Digital Ocean Forum 2025

Back at the Digital Ocean Forum for the second year, DTO-BioFlow arrived with new achievements, deeper insights, and a growing role within the EDITO community. The project’s…

Thu, 10/30/2025 - 12:37

Using Deep Learning to Unlock Decades of Marine Biodiversity Data and plan marine recovering

A new study published in Ecology and Evolution shows how deep learning can turn decades of archived observations into knowledge about how protection measures and a warming ocean…

Banner second Data Grants Holders workshop

Thu, 06/12/2025 - 11:41

Second DTO-BioFlow Data Grants Holders Workshop Concludes in Paris, setting the stage for Enhanced Marine Data Sharing

The second DTO-BioFlow Data Grants Holders Workshop successfully concluded at Sorbonne University's Zamansky Tower in Paris, a fitting venue that offered a productive atmosphere…

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 10:56

DTO-BioFlow Announces Winners of the Second Open Call for Marine Biodiversity Data Contributions

We are excited to announce the 10 selected winners of the DTO-BioFlow project's Second Open Call.

Mon, 03/10/2025 - 10:43

DTO-BioFlow’s Second Open Call Closed Successfully – What’s Next?

DTO-BioFlow has successfully closed its second open call, receiving a high level of interest and reinforcing its commitment to advancing marine biodiv

DTO-BioFlow is actively contributing to the Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Harmonisation, launched by the European Commission at the initiative of the Joint Research Centre. On November 6-7, 2024

Mon, 12/23/2024 - 10:12

Building the Digital Replica of Our Seas: DTO-BioFlow Project Launches Second Open Call to Address Critical Marine Biodiversity Data Gaps

DTO-BioFlow project has launched its Second Open Call, inviting international networks, citizen science groups, research institutes, universities, and NGOs to help establish long-…

Wed, 11/20/2024 - 16:15

Turning biodiversity data into dynamic digital ecosystems

Resources

The DTO-Bioflow Use Cases

DUC 1 on invasive species management

DUC 2 on the Impact from offshore infrastructures

DUC 3 Assessing pelagic biodiversity and human impact

DUC 4 Spatial planning of sustainable mariculture

DUC 5 Ecosystem-based spatial planning and MPA management

DUC 6 Lower-trophic level biomass monitoring to inform ocean governance

DUC 7 Ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration

DUC 8 Machine Learning for ocean colour seasonal forecasting (chlorophyll-a and primary production)

Digital Twins

From Data to Knowledge: Managing Ocean Ecosystems

From Data to Knowledge: Managing Ocean Ecosystems

To unlock “sleeping” biodiversity data

To unlock “sleeping” biodiversity data

Overcoming Barriers to Biodiversity Data

Overcoming Barriers to Biodiversity Data

Events

From Blue-Cloud to the EOSC Node | European Digital Twin Ocean - Blue-Cloud 2026 Conference

European Maritime Days 2026

11th EuroGOOS International Conference

BioMonWeek 2026

The 7th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity

News

Unlocking Europe’s “Dormant” Ocean Data to Protect Marine Biodiversity

How DTO-BioFlow matchmaking events connect innovation with real-world use

From Marine DNA to Early Warning: Unlocking Biodiversity Data for Invasive Species Management

DTO-BioFlow Receives Strong Engagement at the Digital Ocean Forum 2025

Using Deep Learning to Unlock Decades of Marine Biodiversity Data and plan marine recovering

Second DTO-BioFlow Data Grants Holders Workshop Concludes in Paris, setting the stage for Enhanced Marine Data Sharing

DTO-BioFlow Announces Winners of the Second Open Call for Marine Biodiversity Data Contributions

DTO-BioFlow’s Second Open Call Closed Successfully – What’s Next?

Building the Digital Replica of Our Seas: DTO-BioFlow Project Launches Second Open Call to Address Critical Marine Biodiversity Data Gaps

Advancing marine biodiversity monitoring: new datasets powered by DTO-BioFlow empower the Digital Twin of the Ocean

DTO-BioFlow participates in JRC's EU Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Workshop

Interviews with Data Holders - Roseanna Wright marine data manager at National Oceanography Centre

In partnership with

Turning biodiversity data into dynamic digital ecosystems

Resources

The DTO-Bioflow Use Cases

Digital Twins

From Data to Knowledge: Managing Ocean Ecosystems

From Data to Knowledge: Managing Ocean Ecosystems

To unlock “sleeping” biodiversity data

To unlock “sleeping” biodiversity data

Overcoming Barriers to Biodiversity Data

Overcoming Barriers to Biodiversity Data

Events

News

In partnership with

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