Tyler-Walters

The United Kingdom has a long history of marine research and natural history. As a result, the UK has an excellent coverage of marine environmental data within UK waters. However, until recently, much of this information was difficult to access, held in a variety of formats, often un-standardised and generally inaccessible. The Marine Data Information Partnership (MDIP) is an open partnership of UK institutions (government, private and research) to develop harmonised stewardship and access to marine environmental data and information, and so facilitate improved management of the UK seas. MDIP is developing a network of marine Data Archive Centres (mDACs) for marine environmental data in the UK, and promoting common standards and exchange of metadata and data. The Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats (DASSH) is the MDIP mDAC for biological survey data of marine species and habitats. DASSH provides a digital archive for marine biological survey data, and a digital repository for images and video of species and habitats. DASSH is operated by the Marine Biological Association (MBA). The MBA is a charitable research institute founded in 1884 and is a membership organization. DASSH works with MDIP and the Natural Environment Research Council Data Grid to develop metadata interoperability via the MDIP Metadata Discovery Portal. DASSH disseminates biodiversity data via its website and the UK’s National Biodiversity Network, which in turns distributes records to OBIS and GBIF. The poster outlines MDIP, partnership working via a network of mDACs, and the technologies and standards employed by MDIP to share metadata and data over a distributed network of partners.