Background
Biomolecular methods are important tools to study the genetic material (i.e. DNA and RNA), proteins and metabolic products of marine organisms. These include genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and epigenomic (collectively known as -omics) technologies. These approaches can be used to analyse samples from a single organism or from environmental DNA (eDNA), and can also be combined into multi-omic approaches. Driven by the huge reduction in costs over the last decade and the increased power of computational approaches for analysing extremely large data sets, the use of these tools to study marine life holds increasing potential to advance our understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem function. Their use has the capacity to assess and monitor changes in biodiversity and ecosystems at higher resolution, and to better understand and manage human uses of the Ocean. The use of molecular methods on eDNA samples furthermore offers a non-destructive and cost-effective way to collect samples for environmental assessment and conservation. -Omics technologies also make an important contribution to biological Ocean observation infrastructure, contributing to the European Ocean Observing System (EOOS), and the Global Ocean Observation System (GOOS). Molecular tools can be used for numerous applications, including for planning and evaluating marine protected areas (MPAs), fisheries management, assessing mitigation and adaption solutions to the impacts of climate change, assessing marine ecosystem health, pollution control and bioprospecting for new medical compounds. At a European level, -omics technologies are used in the implementation of policies including the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), the 2030 Biodiversity Strategy and potentially also for the new Nature Restoration Law. At an international level, the use of molecular techniques is recognised and encouraged as important for conservation efforts in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Molecular tools are also relevant for efforts towards Sustainable Development Goal 14 ‘Life Below Water’ and the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement. These examples highlight the huge potential of biomolecular methods in contributing to achieving policy objectives, and thus of understanding and using these methods more widely.
Working group objectives
The EMB Working Group on “Biomolecular approaches for the observation and management of marine life” will build on EMB’s Future Science Brief No. 3 on “Strengthening Europe’s Capability in Biological Ocean Observations” (published in 2018) as well as the recommendations from the Ocean and Biodiversity
Chapter of EMB Position Paper No. 28 “Navigating the Future VI”. The Working Group aims to assess and present the current status of molecular approaches for the observation and management of marine life, including key European and international initiatives. It will focus on highlighting the science and policy
gaps and needs to advance the uptake of molecular tools in marine science and environmental management.
Specific objectives may include, but are not limited to:
- Highlighting state-of-the-art biomolecular methods and their applications to marine conservation, management, and policy;
- Highlighting emerging, next-generation biomolecular methods and future requirements e.g. real-time molecular monitoring technologies to support rapid decision-making;
- Exploring how to standardise, optimise and operationalise methodology used across Europe and internationally; and
Identifying knowledge gaps and technological advances needed, and providing recommendations to support wider uptake of molecular methods in Europe.
The Terms of Reference of the EMB Working Group is available here.
Output
The final output of the Working Group will be an EMB Future Science Brief to be published in late 2026.
Meetings
16 September 2025, kick-off meeting, Galway, Ireland
Working Group Members
Chair: Louise Allock, University of Galway, Ireland
Co-Chair: Paloma Morán, University of Vigo, Spain
- Ana Baričević, RBI, Centre for Marine Research, Croatia
- Damien Eveillard, University of Nantes, France
- Pascal Hablützel, Flanders Institute for Marine Science (VLIZ), Belgium
- Agnes Weiner, Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE), Norway
- Bruno Louro, Centro de Ciencias de Mar do Algarve (CCMAR), Portugal
- Antonella Penna, Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare (CoNISMa), Italy
- Benjamin Pontiller, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany
- Julie Robidart, National Oceanography Centre (NOC), United Kingdom
- Jorge Juan Santos, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), Spain
- Elena Stoica, National Institute for Marine Research and Development (NIMRD), Romania
Contact at European Marine Board Secretariat: Britt Alexander