It's not every day that a workshop brings together experts from across the Caribbean and Europe to discuss seabed habitats, marine data, and regional cooperation but that is exactly what happened in Anguilla this April.
The 6th Phase of the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) Seabed Habitat project started last year and for the third time SAERI is leading the work in the Caribbean Region. EMODnet is a network formed by the European Commission Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in 2009, which has grown to more than 120 organizations and functions as a data initiative that collates, standardizes, and publishes marine datasets as freely available and downloadable products. The initiative is based on a “collect once, use many times” mindset that allows marine data to be used in policy decisions, climate change adaptations, understanding changes in the environment over time, and stimulating blue growth. This time the project focuses on strengthening the cooperation in the region and expanding collaboration and engagement with local and regional stakeholders.
Marine scientists, policymakers and environmental specialists gathered in Anguilla between 22 and 24 April 2026 for a three-day workshop, aimed at advancing seabed habitat mapping and strengthening regional cooperation across the Caribbean. The event brought together experts from EMODnet, government agencies, international organizations, NGOs, and regional institutions. Participants included SAERI’s CEO Paul Brickle and Head of Business Development and Finance Elaine Boyd, who travelled from the Falklands to join SAERI’s project manager Marcin Gorny, and colleagues from across the Caribbean and Europe.
The workshop opened with welcome remarks from Rhon Connor (Director of the Department of Natural Resources Environmental Unit in Anguilla) and Antonio Guarnieri (Policy Officer for the European Commission Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), who joined online from Europe. Both highlighted the importance of international collaboration and data sharing in supporting sustainable ocean management. The following sessions focused on introducing EMODnet project, its thematic lots, products and services, and their relevance to the Caribbean region. Presentations were delivered by experts from leading European scientific institutions, including the Finnish Environment Institute, the Marine Institute Ireland, the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland and CCMAR (the Centre of Marine Sciences, Portugal). In the afternoon the participants had an opportunity to hear about other initiatives and projects aimed at habitat mapping and cross-country collaboration in the region. The representatives of Nature Conservancy, UNEP Caribbean, Cartagena Convention Secretariat and Sint Marteen Nature Foundation provided overview of their work in the Caribbean and enabled interesting discussions and knowledge exchange. These topics were continued the following day, when participants had an opportunity to hear about the mapping activities in the French Caribbean and UKOTs. The final panel of the workshop provided a space for representatives of the Caribbean countries and territories who presented their work in the area of marine environment and emphasized the importance of marine data but also related needs and challenges. This panel hosted presentations from Anguilla, Montserrat, British and US Virgin Islands and Barbados. The workshop concluded with an official dinner in Blanchards, one of the famous Anguillan restaurants and a field excursion the following day, hosted by the Anguilla National Trust during which participants visited Anguilla Scrub Island and surrounding islands to observe Anguillan coastal and shallow-water habitats first-hand.
Beyond the presentations, the meeting created valuable opportunities for open discussion, allowing participants to share challenges, successes and lessons learned. Identifying and collating data for the EMODnet composite products has been challenging due to limited data availability and few opportunities for regional engagement. This event has helped to strengthen connections, identify critical datasets, and enhance regional cooperation. The workshop in Anguilla successfully met its objectives, reinforcing international cooperation between experts from the Caribbean and Europe, while helping improve data availability and supporting the continued development of marine habitat mapping across the region.
While the workshop has come to an end, the EMODnet Seabed Habitats project continues, and efforts to strengthen regional collaboration and improve marine data availability and management across the Caribbean will carry on throughout the year.
