CoastNet 2030, MARE's new project to monitor and protect marine ecosystems
With the aim of assessing and promoting the good environmental status of the marine environment, monitoring and protecting ecosystems, the CoastNet 2030 project began this month.
Funded by the MAR2030 Operational Program and under the call for proposals for ‘Support for the Protection and Restoration of Biodiversity and Marine Ecosystems’, the project involves MARE, the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon and the University of Évora.
It is coordinated by MARE researcher Ana Brito, and has a diverse team including researchers José Lino Costa, Bernardo Quintella, Paula Chainho, Susana França, Luís Costa, Carlos Alexandre, Joaquim Dias, Helena Adão, Vanda Brotas, Ricardo Melo, Luciane Favareto, Afonso Pereira, Giulia Sent, Ana Amorim and Clara Amorim, also from MARE, researchers Rui Taborda, Conceição Freitas and Carlos Antunes from IDL - Instituto Dom Luís, and researcher Helena Mouriño from the Department of Statistics and Operational Research at FCU.
This project will be supported by the COASTNET coastal monitoring infrastructure and the data it already collects through in-situ monitoring and satellite data. It aims to cover the aquatic continuum, from transition zones (such as estuaries and coastal lagoons) to the open ocean, making the information collected available on an open-access geoportal where it is possible to obtain and view the data collected.
The work plan includes 10 tasks, which will improve the existing in-situ monitoring network, including updating coastal buoys, replacing degraded or end-of-life equipment, maintaining equipment, installing new sensors, namely hydrophones for monitoring marine noise, expanding the monitoring network, developing new satellite products for monitoring coastal and offshore areas, and updating and modernizing the geoportal. Ocean literacy will also be promoted through a specific communication program focused on the preservation of marine ecosystems.
The project will last two years and has an overall budget of 1,094,923.92 euros.
Text by Vera Sequeira