Journal Article
The Italian effort toward a coordinated observation of Essential Variables (EOV, ECV, EBV) in European Marine Environments. Long-term observation in the central Mediterranean seas and Italian coasts
Simone Toller; Emilio Urbinati; Debora Bellafiore; Caterina Bergami; Francesca De Pascalis; Marcello G. Magaldi; Marco Bellacicco; Federico Bellati; Maristella Berta; Angelo Boccacci; Roberto Bozzano; Fabio Brunetti; Giuseppa Buscaino; Carolina Cantoni; Vanessa Rossana Cardin; Carmela Caroppo; Lorenzo P. Corgnati; Alessio Corsi; Silvio Davison; Giuseppe Denti; Andrea Di Macco; Davide Embriaco; Michele Giani; Santina Giandomenico; Giordano Giorgi; Zoi Kokkini; Giovanni La Forgia; Daniele Lagomarsino-Oneto; Carlo Mantovani; Simone Marini; Elena Mauri; Emanuele Organelli; Francesco Paladini De Mendoza; Elena Bianca Papale; Sara Pensieri; Antonella Petrocelli; Jaime Pitarch; Angela Pomaro; Giorgio Riccobene; Francesco Riminucci; Fernando Rubino; Gian Marco Scarpa; Katrin Schroeder; Roberta Sciascia; Riccardo Tagliavini; Rosalia Santoleri
Frontiers in Marine Science · Vol. 13 · 2026
Abstract
Monitoring Essential Ocean, Climate, and Biodiversity Variables (EOVs, ECVs and EBVs) collected through the marine Research Infrastructures (RIs) is critical for assessing environmental status, improving scientific knowledge and defining environmental policies. This study evaluates the capacity of the Italian marine monitoring system, including facilities such as fixed stations, buoys, autonomous platforms, and mobile systems across the Mediterranean Sea, to produce those variables. Conducted in 2023 within the framework of the ITINERIS project ( https://itineris.cnr.it/ ), which aims to strengthen coordination among national and ESFRI RIs (European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures), the analysis systematically examines the spatial, thematic, and technological coverage of EOVs, ECVs, EBVs observations and their alignment with international standards for environmental monitoring of 155 facilities from eight Italian and pan-European marine RIs. Of the 107 EVs recognized, 50% were actively produced by the RIs considered, with over 90% meeting the established requirements for EVs. These numbers will be updated to reflect the new equipment acquired during the project’s implementation up to early 2026, which is expected to boost EVs production by approximately 38-40%. The national monitoring network demonstrates a high degree of maturity for oceanic and climate variables, while biodiversity observations remain less represented, indicating the need for further technological innovation and automation. These findings emphasize the importance of enhancing coordination and harmonization among RIs to ensure balanced and interoperable monitoring. The study provides key recommendations to strengthen Italy’s capacity to contribute to the global characterization of EOVs, ECVs, and EBVs and to support evidence-based environmental assessments and the development of robust environmental management strategies at European level.