The Green Paper on "Marine Knowledge" adopted by the European Commission launches a consultation on how to know more about what is happening under the sea through to create a digital seabed map of European waters by 2020. Among other things, the consultation pretends gather views on the collecting all existing data into one coherent database accessible to everyone for creating the seabed map of European waters.

The European Commission launched a public consultation through the Green Paper on "Marine Knowledge" in order to know more about what is happening under the sea. The European Commission is proposing to create a digital seabed map of European waters by 2020 by collecting all existing data into one coherent database accessible to everyone. The consultation, that will be open until 15 December 2012, poses a number of questions such as "how can ongoing efforts in Member States be incorporated into a common EU effort?", "how can new cheaper observation technologies be developed?" and "how can the private sector contribute?". In August 2011, a European study published that offshore wind farm promotes biodiversity.

According to the Commission, the oceans and seas that surround Europe can provide challenging, rewarding jobs that meet the expectations of our young people. They can also provide the clean energy we need if we are to avoid a climate catastrophe and protein for healthy diets or pharmaceuticals. To realise this potential, Europe needs to make it easier for any possible investments, such as lower costs, reduce risks and stimulate innovation. The Commission also highlighted the need to ensure that this expansion of the blue economy will be sustainable.

The Commission aims to work together with Member States to bring together available resources and mechanisms to make that knowledge accessible for the benefit of industry, public authorities, researchers and society. For this reason, it proposes the to create a digital seabed map of European waters by 2020 by collecting all existing data into one coherent database accessible to everyone.