The aim of the Freshwater Biodiversity Data Portal is to integrate and provide open and free access to freshwater biodiversity data from all possible sources. To this end, we offer tools and support for scientists interested in documenting/advertising their dataset in the metadatabase, in submitting or publishing their primary biodiversity data (i.e. species occurrence records) or having their dataset linked to the Freshwater Biodiversity Data Portal. This information portal serves as a data discovery tool, and allows scientists and managers to complement, integrate, and analyse distribution data to elucidate patterns in freshwater biodiversity. The Freshwater Biodiversity Data Portal was initiated under the EU FP7 BioFresh project and continued through the Freshwater Information Platform (http://www.freshwaterplatform.eu). To ensure the broad availability of biodiversity data and integration in the global GBIF index, we strongly encourages scientists to submit any primary biodiversity data published in a scientific paper to national nodes of GBIF or to thematic initiatives such as the Freshwater Biodiversity Data Portal.