Towards the Sustainable Development of the Atlantic Ocean: Mapping and Assessing the present and future status of Atlantic marine ecosystems under the influence of climate change and exploitation (Mission Atlantic)

Description:

MISSION ATLANTIC is an EU-funded project that maps and assesses the present and future status of Atlantic marine ecosystems under the influence of climate change and exploitation. By studying the complexity of Atlantic Ocean ecosystems, maritime culture, traditions and sustainable management, MISSION ATLANTIC contributes to a better and more sustainable future for life on Earth.

MISSION ATLANTIC supports managers and policy makers to balance the need for environmental protection with sustainable development, and provides the necessary science to develop a novel narrative to secure a positive future for the Atlantic Ocean.

Project objectives are:

• Assess ecosystems status and resilience, in the whole Atlantic Ocean, to the cumulative impact of food provision, climate regulation and cultural services.
• Map the present and establish the future 3D distributions of Atlantic biomes and their pressures to support the sustainable use of marine resources.
• Develop new indicators, tools and technologies to identify risks and vulnerabilities of the Atlantic Ocean under different climate conditions and management scenarios.
• Formulate and transfer assessment guidelines, data and modelling tools into ecosystem-based management procedures to support sustainable governance of marine resources and the development of the Blue Economy.
• Educate ocean resource managers and researchers in application of a systemic approach to ecosystem management (e.g. Integrated Ecosystem Assessment) with/in countries bordering the North, South and Tropical Atlantic Ocean.

Mission Atlantic develops Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEAs) for seven regional Case Studies, in sub-Arctic and Tropical regions of the Atlantic Ocean, ranging from shelf seas to the mid-Atlantic Ridge. The project aims to advance the Operational Readiness Level (ORL) of IEAs in each region, working towards an operational IEA for the entire Atlantic basin. Case studies are: the Norwegian Sea, Celtic Sea, Canary current, North-Mid Atlantic Ridge, South-Mid Atlantic Ridge, Benguela Current, South Brazilian Shelf.

Project information

Lead

DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET, Denmark

Partners

MISSION ATLANTIC brings together ocean experts from 33 partner organisations in ocean science, policy, and industry from 14 countries across four continents (Europe, Africa, North and South America).

HAVFORSKNINGSINSTITUTTET, Norway; PLYMOUTH MARINE LABORATORY LIMITED,  United Kingdom; MARINE INSTITUTE,  Ireland; NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE, United Kingdom; UNIVERSIDADE DE SAO PAULO, Brazil; UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO,  Portugal; UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SANTA CATARINA, Brazil; UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE, United Kingdom; FUNDACION AZTI - AZTI FUNDAZIOA, Spain; MARITIME ROBOTICS AS, Norway; VLAAMS INSTITUUT VOOR DE ZEE, Belgium; AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS, Spain; UNIVERSITAET BREMEN, Germany; COLLECTE LOCALISATION SATELLITES, France; UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN, South Africa; MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, Brazil; IMAR - INSTITUTO DO MAR, Portugal; STOCKHOLMS UNIVERSITET, Sweden; THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS, United Kingdom; UNIVERSITAET HAMBURG, Germany; INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE EXPLORATION OF THE SEA, Denmark; MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, United Kingdom; INSTITUT FRANCAIS DE RECHERCHE POUR L'EXPLOITATION DE LA MER, France; UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH, United Kingdom; SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY INSTITUTE, South Africa; WORLD MARITIME UNIVERSITY, Sweden; ERINN INNOVATION LIMITED, Ireland; CONSORCIO PARA EL DISENO, CONSTRUCCION, EQUIPAMIENTO Y EXPLOTACION DE LA PLATAFORMA OCEANICA DE CANARIAS, Spain; HAFRANNSOKNASTOFNUN, RANNSOKNA- OG RADGJAFARSTOFNUN HAFS OG VATNA, Iceland; SEASCAPE BELGIUM,  Belgium; ASSOCIACAO PARA O DESENVOLVIMENTO DO ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CENTRE, Portugal; MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND, Canada;

Source of funding

Horizon 2020