In response to data management implications of ecosystem approach-based assessments, the ICES Data Centre has developed the EcoSystemData system, a tool to facilitate a holistic view and management of marine ecosystems. The use of integrated data structures improves the support of integrated data-requests covering diverse scientific topics. Data-requests are received from client commissions: Oslo Paris Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR), Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) and EEA (European Environmental Agency), ICES working groups, individual scientists and research students. The study of the physical conditions, of the chemical nature of the ocean waters, of the currents, etc., is of greatest importance for the investigation of the problems connected with life … and consequently a sharp line should never be drawn between these two main divisions.

6. Seawater Bottle CTD/underway Community Biota Sediment File Measurement Raw data EcoSystemData (Database) Sample Spot Date/Time Lat/Long ECOSYSTEMDATA CONCEPT User operations Extract Browse Manage Analyse Visualise EcoSystemData (Web Application) Manage Browse Web Services Query/visualise Model Table Chart Map Inventory

7. DATABASE PRINCIPLES Core table Mandatory records: E.g. Lat, Lon, Date Type relations E.g. Type: Water depth Value: 90 Common Code- Type table E.g. ITIS Common Code Table E.g. Gadus morhua RECO ERMS ITIS … Reference codes

12. QUERY - MAP Grid (1°x1°) with the num. of measurements

13. QUERY - CHART Chart with the num. of measurements and value per year

14. QUERY - TABLE Table with the query result