From 2018 to 2022, an enthusiastic team of specialists from 11 organisations around the North Sea – including the MARECO-team of the Institute of Natural Sciences (represented by underwater noise specialist and scientific diver Alain Norro), worked on the JOMOPANS project (Joint Monitoring of Ambient Noise in the North Sea). The project was nominated for the European REGIOSTARS 2024 Awards.
The aim of JOMOPANS was to develop a framework for a fully operational joint monitoring programme for ambient noise in the North Sea, and the project effectively developed tools to incorporate the effects of ambient noise in assessments of the environmental status of the North Sea and to evaluate measures to improve the environment.
This accomplishment has received a wide recognition and finally resulted in JOMOPANS becoming a finalist in the European REGIOSTARS 2024 Awards. A great achievement in itself, as only 25 finalists were chosen from a total of 262 entries ! These were divided into five categories, for JOMOPANS this was the category ‘A Green Europe’.
On October 9, 2024, the winners were announced. JOMOPANS ultimately did not win an award, but the true prize is that the project has put the topic of underwater noise on the map and helps to generate more attention for the marine environment and the problem of underwater noise. As such, JOMOPANS has a lasting impact on European policies on the marine environment.
