PROJECTS
The overarching goal of this project is to provide a thorough assessment of plastic pollution in the deep sea. Specifically, the project is sub-divided into two main topics: (1) quantifying the abundance of plastic debris in the deep sea and (2) determining the interactions of plastic debris with deep-sea fauna and the potential impacts.
DESIGNAÇÃO DO PROJETO: Plastdeep - Assessing plastic pollution in the deep sea; the ultimate sink of plastics in the oceans
CÓDIGO DO PROJETO: ACORES-01-0145-FEDER-000125
OBJETIVO PRINCIPAL: Reforço das infraestruturas de investigação e inovação (I&I) e das capacidades destinadas a desenvolver a excelência em matéria de I&I, bem como a promoção de centros de competência, em particular os de interesse europeu.
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UNIDADE DE I&D: OKEANOS
ENTIDADE BENEFICIÁRIA: IMAR - Instituto do Mar
CUSTO TOTAL ELEGÍVEL: 174 890,46€
APOIO FINANCEIRO DA UE: 148 656,89€
DESCRIÇÃO
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A abundancia de plásticos no meio marinho é uma realidade que ameaça os ecossistemas oceanicos e os serviços que dele dependem. Esta proposta tem como objectivo recolher novos dados para testar a hipótese de que o mar profundo é o principal reservatório oceânico de plásticos e microplásticos. As caracteristicas geográficas e batimétricas da RAA são ideais para a avaliação dos impactos dos plásticos no mar profundo a nivel nacional e internacional. Esta proposta tem como objectivo avaliar e quantificar os impactos da deposição dos plásticos nos ecossistemas do mar profundo dos Açores. A localização da RAA na rota das correntes rotativas subtropicais do Atlantico Norte e a sua batimetria, colocam a Região no centro estratégico para o estudo do destino oceânico do plástico marinho. Nos últimos anos o GRA tem investido em projectos que visam a caracterização e monitorização do lixo marinho na Região. No entanto, é crucial alargar o conhecimento sobre o destino do plásticos e dos microplásticos assim como as suas implicações nos ecossistemas do mar profundo.
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RESULTADOS
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Os resultados gerados neste projecto, contribuirão para a implementação de medidas e regulamentos Regionais e fornecerão informações cruciais para as políticas europeias da DQEM, em particular para o Descritor 10 - Lixo marinho.
SPECTROMETER FOR MARINE LITTER (2020)
INESCTEC, PORTUGAL
The project is focused on efficient detection of marine litter through advanced spectroscopic techniques and signal processing. We propose to extend the previous study of ESA on analysis techniques able to detect or improve the detection and tracking the dispersal of marine plastic pollutants in the ocean, in particular macro and microplastics, Moreover it is expected to establish the minimum detectable levels of plastic concentration in sea, in real life sensing conditions.
Impact assessment of microplastics and emergent pollutants in the Macaronesia coastline - IMPLAMAC (2020-2022)
AchemGroup from University of La Laguna, ULL
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Gestión de espacios naturales protegidos costeros afectados por basuras marinas en archipiélagos oceánicos - OCEANLIT
(2020-2022)
INDICIT II
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Indicator Impact Taxa – Implementation of the indicator “Impacts of marine litter on sea turtles and biota” in RSC and MSFD áreas (2019-2021)
GA/No/110661/2018/794561/SUB/ENV.C2
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The project aim to capitalize the INDICIT results concerning the networking, the elaboration of standard guidelines, the collection of large standard data set and the evaluation of GES scenario for the indicator “Litter ingested by sea turtles”, as well as the identification of the key elements for the implementation of two other indicators for the monitoring of litter impacts “Biota entanglement in debris” and “Microdebris ingestion by biota”.
The general objectives are (1) to capitalize the practical outcomes related to networking, development of standardized tools, gathering of standard data and GES assessments for the Indicator “Litter ingested by sea turtles”, (2) to support the implementation of the indicators “Entanglement of sea turtles, birds, cetaceans in floating debris” and “Micro-plastic ingestion by fish and sea turtles”, (3) to support of next 6-year cycle of MSFD implementation by testing the indicators (especially the more advanced “Litter ingested by sea turtles”) in response to National PoM’s in several pilot areas. By developing standardized knowledge for several fauna taxa at an extended spatial level, the new project will contribute to providing integrative tools to assess anthropogenic risks and distance to GES especially in the framework of the Descriptor 10. Finally, the project also aims to foster synergies with other UE programs and the transfer to competent authorities in 3 of the regional priorities targeted by this call, i.e. the North-East Atlantic Ocean, the Macaronesia, and the Mediterranean.
Impacts of Marine Litter in the Azores -
LIXAZ (2017-2019)
The threat caused by the accumulation of anthropogenic litter in the marine environment has reached a critical point where concrete policies are needed to reduce the probability of irreversible impacts. The rationale behind this research project is to provide a weight of scientific evidence to enable accurate risk assessment, to support policy developments (such as the MSFD) and provide the necessary tools for evaluating their efficiency.
Implementation Of The Indicator Of Marine Litter On Sea Turtles And Biota -INDICIT (2017-2019)
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INDICIT (Implementation Of The Indicator Of Marine Litter On Sea Turtles And Biota In Regional Sea Conventions And Marine Strategy Framework Directive Areas), is a two year project (february 2017 – february 2019 funded by the European Union. The consortium, composed of researchers from 7 different countries, is committed to support the implementation of EU’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and other international environmental policies aiming at protecting the marine environment (especially the Barcelona convention, the OSPAR convention, the HELCOM etc).
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INDICIT focuses on the Descriptor 10 of the MSFD (“Marine Litter”), which aims to maintain or achieve the Good Environmental Status (GES) of the marine environment by 2020 with respect to marine litter. The overarching aim is to develop a set of standardized tools for monitoring the impacts of litter on marine fauna as bio-indicators: Indicator 1 “macro-litter ingested by sea turtle (debris items >5 mm)”, Indicator 2 “Marine wildlife entanglement in debris (all taxa)” and Indicator 3 “micro-litter ingested by fish/ sea turtle (debris items <1mm)”. A particular focus will be devoted on Indicator 1.
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Establishing a Baseline on Marine Litter
in the Azores (2015-2016)
The threat caused by the accumulation of anthropogenic litter in the marine environment has reached a critical point where concrete policies are needed to reduce the probability of irreversible impacts. The rationale behind this research project is to provide a weight of scientific evidence to enable accurate risk assessment, to support policy developments (such as the MSFD) and provide the necessary tools for evaluating their efficiency.