Serita VanDer Wisel, Project Researcher, and Andrzej Miller, GIS Application Developer at HELCOM, are leading the project “Baltic Biodiversity Data Pipeline (BaBiDaPi) – Connecting the HELCOM Biodiversity Database to the EU-DTO”, together with Joni Kaitaranta. HELCOM is an intergovernmental organisation that coordinates environmental monitoring across the Baltic Sea. The BaBiDaPi project establishes a data pipeline from the HELCOM Biodiversity Database to EMODnet Biology, providing broader access to species observation data beyond the regular ICES datasets.
This work is one of the ten winning projects from the second DTO-BioFlow Open Call. The interview was recorded during the exclusive data training workshop in Paris, held from 3–5 June 2025. The immersive event brought together experts and project teams for hands-on sessions in data transformation, quality control, metadata management, and collaborative discussions, refining methodologies and strengthening connections across the growing marine biodiversity data network.
Read the full written interview
Who are you, and what is the name of your institute?
Serita: My name is Serita Fanuel, and I’m a Project Researcher at HELCOM—the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission. HELCOM is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to protecting the Baltic Sea’s marine environment. It also serves as a focal point for marine environmental data, supporting the coordination of monitoring, assessment, and data sharing across the region.
Andrzej: My name is Andrzej Milos. I’ve worked at the HELCOM Secretariat for nine years as a GIS application developer. I build data validation tools, publishing tools, and front-end components for HELCOM’s data portals. I also maintain the metadata catalogues and handle all aspects related to geographic data.
What kinds of data does HELCOM work with?
Serita & Andrzej: HELCOM works with a very wide range of Baltic Sea–related marine data. This includes geographic data, hazardous substances data, biodiversity information, biological community data, pollution load data—essentially everything related to the state of the Baltic Sea.
The data is primarily provided by HELCOM’s contracting parties. They report through agreed monitoring programmes or targeted projects. Some data is submitted annually; others come through specific project workflows. HELCOM itself doesn’t produce raw data—we collect it from Baltic Sea countries, harmonise it, and publish it through our data portals to ensure consistency and accessibility.
What is the Baltic Biodiversity Data Pipeline (BaBiDaPi), and what will it achieve?
Serita: The Baltic Biodiversity Data Pipeline will strengthen existing HELCOM data flows by producing harmonised biodiversity data. It will also establish a sustainable data pipeline to EMODnet Biology, which feeds directly into the EU Digital Twin Ocean (DTO). Beyond that, it supports ongoing data-collection efforts and future database development within HELCOM.
Andrzej: The project aims to improve access to harmonised biodiversity data for research and to strengthen support for policy processes such as the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Ultimately, it will help provide better decision-making material for the management and protection of the Baltic Sea.
Could you tell us more about the HELCOM Biodiversity Database?
Andrzej: The HELCOM Biodiversity Database stores around 7 million observations covering more than 4,000 species. It was developed six or seven years ago, and now is the right time to update its data model, data validation tools, and upload processes.
One of the project’s major goals is to make the database more consistent and interoperable with other European biodiversity databases. This also includes reviewing the metadata associated with our biodiversity datasets. Essentially, we want to significantly enhance the quality, coherence, and usability of the HELCOM Biodiversity Database.
How do you see HELCOM contributing to the Digital Twin Ocean?
Serita: The Digital Twin Ocean is a powerful initiative that drives evidence-based ocean governance. HELCOM’s role is to provide high-quality, harmonised biodiversity data from the Baltic Sea so that this regionally important information flows directly into the DTO. Ensuring this connection means Baltic Sea biodiversity data will support modelling, policy, and management efforts at European and global scales.