The impact of the PERSEUS (FP7) Research Project on the Black Sea region

The impact of the PERSEUS (FP7) Research Project on the Black Sea region C. Ioakeimidis, E. Papathanassiou Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Institute of Oceanography cioakeim@hcmr.gr BSH International Thematic Workshop on Resource Efficiency & Environment Black Sea Region Challenges Tbilisi, Georgia, 22 March 2016

PERSEUS Partnership Policy-oriented marine Environmental Research for the Southern EUropean Seas 21 countries 53 partners (>300 scientists) 65 Institutes & Universities 2 Subcontractors Jan 12 - Dec 15 EU Contribution: 13m www.perseus-net.eu

Field work on pressures and processes Changes in environmental parameters and impacts on plankton Pelagic fish AlborEX LionEX AegEX LevEX BSEX MarEX Food web interactions (including jellyfish) Mapping habitat types with emphasis on sea grass meadows Impact of coastal development and urbanization on shallow water habitats Demersal fish aggregations; analysing functional community changes Non-indigenous Species Pollution - Contaminants Pollution - Bioaccumulation Litter Noise Impacts of environmental parameters on food web Primary productivity - planktonic biomass Non-indigenous Species Pollution - Contaminants Some Results Plastic is the main issue in floating and sea bottom litter (Med>80%, BS>60%) Non-indigenous species, after 2000, are increasing at all coastal areas (Med) Nutrients and phytoplankton biomass show a decrease trend in most areas Developed a common eutrophication assessment methodology (coastal) Identification of ocean acidification trend is shown in the Med Sea

Field work in open sea and coastal waters: Identify Pressures and understand the Processes Coastal Example: Impact of coastal development and urbanization on shallow water habitats (NIMRD) Open Sea Example: Understand the Processes Comparison of soft bottom zoobenthic communities indices on Saronikos, Marseille, Constanta, Burgas, Sevastopol. Bentix is more strongly correlated with abiotic factors and renders a classification assessment linked with gradient of contaminants (TOC threshold) Hydrology Shelf-slope exchanges Pelagic ecosystem Fish dynamics (anchovy) NIS

Tools developed in PERSEUS Ecoregions (biogeochemical, species distribution and pressures & impacts) in the Mediterranean Sea. Noctiluca scintillans Calanus helgolandicus Pelagia nocticula Epinephelus marginatus Caretta caretta Monachus monachus

Tools developed in PERSEUS Ecoregions (biogeochemical, species distribution and pressures & impacts) in the Mediterranean Sea. TEAP Tool, assisting on-line to port managers in their daily environmental tasks (Applicable to all EU ports - and beyond).

Tools developed in PERSEUS Ecoregions (biogeochemical, species distribution and pressures & impacts) in the Mediterranean Sea. TEAP Tool, assisting on-line to port managers in their daily environmental tasks (Applicable to all EU ports - and beyond). VMS Improvement of methodologies for data analysis; construction of maps with spatial distribution of fishing effort.

Tools developed in PERSEUS Ecoregions (biogeochemical, species distribution and pressures & impacts) in the Mediterranean Sea. TEAP Tool, assisting on-line to port managers in their daily environmental tasks (Applicable to all EU ports - and beyond). VMS Improvement of methodologies for data analysis; construction of maps with spatial distribution of fishing effort. Early Warning System for Managing Oil Spills prototype, for national, regional and local authorities.

Tools developed in PERSEUS Ecoregions (biogeochemical, species Noctiluca distribution and pressures Calanus & impacts) in scintillans helgolandicus the Mediterranean Sea. TEAP Tool, assisting on-line to port Pelagia Epinephelus nocticulamanagers in their daily environmental marginatus tasks (Applicable to all EU ports - and Carettabeyond). caretta Monachus monachus VMS Improvement of methodologies for data analysis; construction of maps with spatial distribution of fishing effort. Early Warning System for Managing Oil Spills prototype, for national, regional and local authorities. Vessel: Concept of an innovative small research and survey vessel for the coastal areas estuaries, port areas shallow channels.

Εισαγωγή North-Western Black Sea Benthic contribution to shelf scale BGC budgets O 2 N C Benthic processes accounts for: 46% of oxygen consumption below mixed layer depth in summer 50 % removal of land nitrogen inputs. Omitting re-suspension of Sediments leads to: 30 % overestimation of benthic budgets 30 % reduction of Open Sea PP

Activities for demonstration of the MSFD principles - Harmonisation Overview of methods for assessment of environmental status for all MSFD Support harmonization of assessments by using compatible methodologies Basins

Assessment of Marine Litter in the Black Sea Region (Seafloor) Ioakeimidis et al., 2014 (Mar. Poll. Bull. 89) Sources:

Assessment of Marine Litter in the Black Sea Region (Coastline) PERSEUS Marine LitterWatch Campaign Five Romanian beaches: Ammos and Flora (Mamaia Resort), Vame Veche, Mangalia Beach and the Beach between Venus and Saturn (close to Cap Aurora). At the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast: Gradina- Zlatna Ribka and Alepu. Flora Mamaia Beach Mamaia Center Winter vs. Spring

Research Priorities for the Black Sea (1/2) I. Basic Research & Fundamental Understanding II. Applied Research: Science supporting Society & Maritime Economy III. Research Support & Cross cutting Issues for Fundamental and Applied Research I. Basic Research & Fundamental Understanding Geological structure and dynamics Physical climate, hydrological cycle, ventilation and inter basin coupling Climatic variability and climate change Biodiversity and habitats, introduction & impacts of invasive species Eutrophication: Biogeochemical and primary biological basic processes, mechanisms and consequences Good Water/Sediment/Bioresources/Beach Quality Deep sea research

Research Priorities for the Black Sea (2/2) II. Applied Research: Science supporting Society & Maritime Economy Renewable energy Exploitation of mineral resources, energy and communication projects Maritime transport Fishery and aquaculture (preservation and sustainable use of MLR) Marine biotechnology Cross cutting issues Natural hazards and risk assessments Socio economic research Marine spatial planning and marine protected areas (MPAs) ICZM, links with MSP & IRBM, coastal sciences & engineering III. Research Support & Cross cutting Issues for Fundamental and Applied Research Development of support tools for policy implementation Observation and forecasting systems for operational oceanography Marine research infrastructure Human capacity building

Thank you! www.perseus-net.eu www.hcmr.gr Contact: cioakeim@hcmr.gr