With this work we want to highlight that all data collected in EMODnet is essential information in order to have a database with reference information about the marine environment to achieve the objectives of MSFD. In the case of EMODnet bathymetry, on the one hand, the researchers of IEO are participating as partners on the development of the EMODnet bathymetry data (continous DTMs for all european seas), and in the other hand, the IEO researchers are involved in the development of research in the framework of MSFD in Spain and they are using this bathymetry as important element of reference. For the MSFD works is essential to have a continuos DTM bathymetry in order to the stablishment of indicators for each descriptor, for instance in the biodiversity descriptor It is essential to know the seadbed relief in order to know the habitat distribution, it is very important to define bathymetrical thresholds to identify the bentonic habitats domain as infralitoral, circalitoral, etc. Moreover the bathymetry it is very important in the indicators as spatial extent of loss of seabed, spatial extent of physical disturbance to seabed, distribution of habitat adversely altered by physical disturbance. Other utilities of bathymetry are to know the marine current and therefore in order to know species distribution.

EMODNET BATHYMETRY