Author: Kelle Moreau

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A Reservoir Model for the Continental Shelf, it’s been done in Belgium

Spatial planning is a discipline mostly associated with onshore built-up areas, but if there is one region in the North Sea that requires a rigorous mapping of activities it is the Belgian offshore area. Nature conservation, shipping, fishing, sand extraction, energy production, cables and pipelines, military exercises, … are all competing for space in this little patch of sea.

Different stakeholders active on the Belgian Continental Shelf. The maps are based on information from MarineAtlas.be (2014-2020) and the location of the sand banks has been sourced from the TILES Report. Please note that one stakeholder has not been mapped here; the fishing industry, because of its presence throughout the entire Belgian offshore. (animation by Henk Kombrink, Editor Expronews)

The Norwegian Expronews linked the Belgian marine spatial planning nicely with some of the RBINS work in relation to the assessment of reserves of certain abiotic resources and their potential for exploitation in a summarizing article.

Special attention is attributed to

  • the state-of-the-art 3D resource model that describes the distribution and availability of all non-hydrocarbon geological resources in the Belgian and adjacent Dutch marine waters, and can also serve as a resource decision support system and to underpin long-term adaptive management strategies (TILES, Van Lacker et al. 2019, Hademenos et al. 2019)
Output example of the TILES model.
Geological map of the Brabant Massif onshore, extrapolated to offshore.
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First Belgian Flat Oyster Day, 24 November 2020

On Tuesday 24 November 2020, the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), Ghent University and the Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO) jointly organise the first Belgian Flat Oyster Day.

The European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) is an iconic species that was once abundant throughout European seas. It formed extensive reefs harbouring diverse communities of marine organisms and was the target of a considerable fishery. Already by the end of the 19th century, flat oyster populations in Europe have been drastically reduced due to overfishing, and disease outbreaks in the 20th century gave the species a final blow. In Belgian waters, the species is now regarded as functionally extinct.

Recently, there has been an increasing interest to restore flat oyster populations in Europe, both from conservation and aquaculture points of view. In Belgium also, some initiatives on restoration and aquaculture of this important species are being started.

The Belgian Flat Oyster Day wants to address this increased attention and aims to bring together all relevant actors and interested parties in the Belgian flat oyster scene. By means of two keynote presentations, setting the scene of flat oyster restoration and aquaculture in Europe, and additional presentations on biosecurity and visions for flat oyster restoration and aquaculture in Belgium, the event starts with a broad perspective. Thereafter, a clear overview is presented of the ongoing initiatives concerning the flat oyster in Belgium, with regards to both restoration and aquaculture. The event will be concluded with an example of the Dutch Flat Oyster Consortium and a reflection on how the flat oyster scene can proceed in Belgium. You are kindly invited to have a closer look at the tentative programme, and register through the link below.

PROGRAMME

REGISTRATION

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the first Belgian Flat Oyster Day will be an online-only event (WebEx) on the morning of Tuesday 24 November 2020. The event will be conducted in English. Registration will be closed on Thursday 19 November at 17h.

We are looking forward to welcome you!

 

Belgian Flat Oyster Day organising committee

Annelies Declercq (Ghent University), Steven Degraer (RBINS), Daan Delbare (ILVO), Thomas Kerkhove (RBINS), Brigitte Lauwaert (RBINS) and Nancy Nevejan (Ghent University)

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Number of dead porpoises on North Sea coasts on the rise

A new study published in the leading scientific journal Biological Conservation reveals a striking increase in the number of stranded porpoises along the North Sea coast. Scientists from the various North Sea countries compiled their data for this purpose. This also provided insights into the distribution and mortality of the different age groups, but does not yet allow definitive statements to be made about the effects of different human activities.

Stranded harbour porpoise @Multimedia, Faculteit Diergeneeskunde, Universiteit Utrecht

An international study led by Utrecht University, in which RBINS participated, revealed that more than sixteen thousand dead porpoises have been registered on the North Sea coast since 1990. More than 1500 of these were washed ashore in Belgium. In the Netherlands, with its much longer coastline, the highest numbers washed ashore. The researchers discovered that since 2005 porpoise strandings have become remarkably more frequent in the southern North Sea, while the number of strandings in the more northerly parts of the North Sea hardly changed.

Valuable information through strandings

It is not easy to study porpoises at sea. Researcher and marine ecologist Mariel ten Doeschate, connected to the Scottish stranding network, says: “Research is being done into the numbers and distribution of live animals, but this can only be done in limited periods of time. Strandings, on the other hand, are recorded throughout the year, and have been for decades. We can also determine the sex and age of stranded animals”.

Although the increase in the number of strandings coincides with an increase in the number of sightings of live animals in this region, it cannot simply be concluded that the continuing sharp increase in the number of strandings is only due to the presence of a larger number of animals (where the mortality rate could have remained the same). Indeed, the number of animals at sea is much more difficult to determine accurately than the number of strandings, which means that the two sets of data are not directly comparable and that the strandings are therefore supposed to better reflect what is happening in the population.

Impact of human activity

There is uncertainty about the possible effects of human activities on the numbers and distribution of porpoises. A potentially important factor is a changing climate, with changes in the food situation. Research programmes are also being carried out into the impact of the construction of offshore wind farms. It is important that data collected in countries around the North Sea is pooled: this has never happened before. Researcher Lonneke IJsseldijk (Utrecht University): “Our study has provided new and valuable insights and is a first step in improving our knowledge about the distribution of different age groups, seasonal and age-specific mortality among porpoises in the North Sea. Among other things, the study showed that more newborn animals stranded on German and Danish coasts, while in the Netherlands, Belgium and southern England it was mostly young males.

Research following this study will analyse additional information, including on health and disease.

 

This research is a collaboration between the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Utrecht University, the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, the Department of Bioscience of Aarhus University, the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, the Cetacean Atlas of Denmark, the Globe Institute, the Natural History Museum of Denmark en the Fisheries and Maritime Museum Denmark.

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Public consultation ‘Telecommunication cable MERCATOR’

BT Global Services Belgium BV has submitted an application for the authorization for the laying and an environmental permit for the exploitation of the telecommunication cable MERCATOR between Broadstairs – Joss Bay in the south east of England and the beach of Ostend (west of the harbour). This application is subject to an environmental impact assessment procedure.

The application (in Dutch), the environmental impact statement (in Dutch, including a concept of the appropriate assessment) and the non-technical summary (in English) can be consulted from 23 August to 21 September 2020 at the offices of MUMM at Brussels (Vautierstraat 29, 1000 Brussels; mdevolder@naturalsciences.be; tel 02/627 43 52) or at Ostend (3de en 23ste Linieregimentsplein, 8400 Ostend; jhaelters@naturalsciences.be; tel. 059/24 20 55), by appointment only and during office hours between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, and depending on the prevailing measures imposed by the government with regard to Covid-19. The application can also be consulted at every coastal community, during office hours. The list of locations and corresponding contact details can be found here: Coastal_Communities_2020.

The application is also available electronically:

Any interested party may submit its views, comments and objections to Ms Brigitte Lauwaert by letter or email until 6 October 2020:

MUMM Attn. Ms. Brigitte Lauwaert

Vautierstraat 29, 1000 Brussels

blauwaert@naturalsciences.be

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Impressive Noctiluca (Sea Sparkle) bloom in the North Sea

On 15 August, striking orange spots and strings were observed in the Belgian part of the North Sea near the Buitenratel sandbank, that were reported to the Coast Guard as a possible pollution. After inspection by various services, it became clear that this was an unseen bloom of the single-celled plankton species ‘Sea Sparkle’. The warm and calm weather of the past few days is probably an important explanatory factor. The rotting mass could possibly lead to oxygen deficiency and fish mortality. It is also possible that the remains will be washed ashore on Belgian beaches during the next week.

Noctiluca bloom Buitenratel sandbank, 15 August 2020, documented from surveillance aircraft RBINS (© RBINS/MUMM)

In the morning of Saturday 15 August, the Belgian Coastguard Centre (MRCC – Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre) received a report of a striking orange patch at sea, containing some dead birds. A sailor had noticed this at the ‘Buitenratel’ sandbank, one of the sandbanks in the ‘Vlaamse Banken’ complex. This sandbank is situated about 16 to 20 km from the shore of the Belgian West Coast, near the border with the French waters. The striking report raised eyebrows at the Coast Guard, because the reported colour did not match the typical colours of mineral oil, and because the dead birds may have hinted to a chemical product. However, an extensive natural algal bloom was also a possibility.

Control on Land, at Sea and in the Air

Following the report, the Shipping Police sent a patrol vessel to the Buitenratel. They found the reported patch and took some samples. Dead birds were no longer spotted. A rescue helicopter from the Coxyde air base also flew over the area, and the surveillance aircraft of the RBINS (MUMM, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences) was called upon to scan the wider sea areas off the Belgian coast for any further pollution. Both aircraft made images of the orangeish, kilometre-long patches and streaks.

Noctiluca bloom Buitenratel sandbank, 15 August 2020, documented from NH90 helicopter (© Geronimo/Rodrigo Vissers)

All the sailing and flying units involved came to the same conclusion: the patch probably indicated a large natural bloom, albeit on a very large scale. The sample taken by the Shipping Police was taken to the RBINS biological laboratories in Ostend where it could soon be confirmed that it was indeed a Noctiluca bloom.

Video: 2020_08_15 Noctiluca Buitenratel (c) Geronimo_Rodrigo Vissers NL

Sea Sparkle

The dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans or Sea Sparkle is a relatively large single-celled micro-algae (0.5 – 1 mm, so visible to the naked eye) that occurs in most seas of the world and belongs to the plankton. It looks like a gelatinous pellet with a tail (flagel), which catches food. In high concentrations – called blooms – Noctiluca forms highly visible orange-red spots that can occur in spring and summer. In case of turbulence, Sea Sparkle produces a bluish light that creates fairytale effects in the dark (‘lighting up’ of the sea). This bioluminescence is caused by luciferin, a pigment, and luciferase, an enzyme, when they come into contact with oxygen.

Samples of Noctiluca scintillans bloom at the Buitenratel sandbank, 15 August 2020, sample taken by Shipping Police (© RBINS/Francis Kerckhof)
Microscopic image of Noctiluca scintillans bloom at the Buitenratel sandbank, 15 August 2020, sample taken by Shipping Police (© RBINS/Francis Kerckhof)

Current Conditions

The high concentrations of Sea Sparkle that have now been observed are probably due to the very warm and calm weather of the past few days. The sampled Noctiluca was also already partly rotting, a process that consumes oxygen. Although it is essentially a harmless organism, mass extinction and rotting can locally lead to oxygen deficiency. At higher temperatures, less oxygen dissolves in water anyway, and the absence of strong winds and waves means that there was also little mixing that brought extra oxygen into the water. The resulting low oxygen tension due to the various phenomena can lead to the death of fish and other aquatic organisms, although under normal circumstances this is very unlikely in open sea conditions.

Modelling simulations by the RBINS, taking into account currents, meteorological conditions and the physical properties of the floating Noctiluca spots, illustrate that the remains of these spots could potentially wash ashore on Belgian beaches in the course of the next week.

In recent decades there has been a relative increase in the dinoflagellate community in the Belgian part of the North Sea. This increase could be related to the warming of the sea water (+ 1.6 ° C over the last thirty years). Noctiluca scintillans may also show an upward trend. In addition, blooms from other single-celled plankton organisms can also be expected, including some potentially dangerous species.

Noctiluca bloom Buitenratel sandbank, 15 August 2020, documented from surveillance aircraft RBINS (© RBINS/MUMM)

 

Noctiluca bloom Buitenratel sandbank, 15 August 2020, documented from surveillance aircraft RBINS (© RBINS/MUMM)
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Think Tank North Sea presents two new working group reports and three promising new themes!

Behind the scenes, the Think Tank North Sea train has continued to proceed in recent months. The working group reports ‘Working with nature’ and ‘Living with climate change’ were finalised and three new theme proposals (Marine food impact, Environmentally sustainable blue growth, Decommissioning) were selected for the next vision development process. You can determine which theme will be selected for a new vision development trajectory by voting on the theme of your preference up to and including 15 September 2020. Curious about what this can lead to? Then be sure to take a look at our brand new working group reports!

 

In March of this year, the Think Tank North Sea launched a new call for themes that the Think Tank can address in a new vision development process (see also news release of 4 March). This call did not fall on deaf ears and you registered dozens of proposals from a wide range of backgrounds and interests. For which we sincerely thank you! It shows once again that the Think Tank North Sea initiative and its stimulating bottom-up effect perpetuates and justifies its place in the landscape and that the ideas are far from dried up.

After a thorough evaluation in recent weeks of the submitted proposals, the TTNS Steering Group now puts forward three themes of which it believes in the strong added value of starting a vision development process. The three themes are (consult the theme descriptions in the documents at the bottom of this message)

It is up to you to decide around which theme a future vision (2050) will ultimately be built. Here you can vote for the theme for which you want to commit yourself to help shape this vision. After this vote, a working group will be set up around the winning proposal.

Are you interested in the functioning of a working group or are you curious about what this cooperation can lead to? Then discover the new working group reports from the previous thematic cycle:

Working with nature: a vision on the promising opportunities for the future development and deployment of marine ecosystem services for the benefit of society and the blue economy.

Living with climate change: a vision on how coastal zone society can cope with future climate change and higher sea levels, based on the main concerns and concrete action points.

If you want to stay informed about the Think Tank North Sea, subscribe now to our mailing list.

Would you like more information: info@thinktanknorthsea.be

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Rare beaked whale first stranded alive in Nieuwpoort, next day dead in Wenduine.

On Thursday 6 August a Sowerby’s beaked whale ran into trouble near the eastern harbour dam of Nieuwpoort. With some difficulty the unfortunate animal could be escorted back to the open sea, but the chances of survival were estimated to be low. In the evening of Friday 7 August it turned out that the marine mammal had indeed died, and was washed ashore dead on the beach of Wenduine. This is only the seventh known case of a Sowerby’s beaked whale in Belgium, but already the second in 2020. By means of an autopsy an attempt will be made to gain insight into the cause of death of the animal.

Sowerby’s beaked whale on the beach of Wenduine, 7 August 2020 (© Stijn The Chickenman).

Nieuwpoort, 6 August 2020

© Luc David

On Thursday 6 August, shortly after noon, a stranding marine mammal was sighted near the eastern harbour dam of Nieuwpoort. As usual, the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) and the local emergency services were informed and the procedures for stranding marine mammals were initiated. The animal was initially reported as a harbour porpoise, but in the meantime it was clear that it was a larger species and was suspected to be a bottlenose dolphin. Due to the urgency – a living marine mammal in trouble in shallow waters – lifeguards, police and bystanders decided to make an immediate rescue attempt and try to escort the animal to deeper waters. This turned out not to be an obvious task, and the disorientated animal got itself stuck between the stones along the palisade. Sharp stone edges and barnacles caused superficial wounds there, which, however, gave rise to bloody scenes. The next attempt to make the animal choose open water was successful, around 13:30 it disappeared from the radar and was not seen again all afternoon.

© Luc David

It was only after the whole event that specialists were confronted with the images, and it became clear that we were dealing with some sort of beaked whale (probably a Sowerby’s beaked whale, see video © Luc David). A type of small whale considered unlikely to survive in the shallow North Sea … Nevertheless, escorting it out to sea and hoping for the best was the only scenario involving a small chance of survival.

 

 

Wenduine, 7 August 2020

Unfortunately, what was feared soon became reality: the next day the beaked whale washed ashore dead around 20:30 on the beach of Wenduine. The identification as a Sowerby’s beaked whale could be confirmed, and it turned out to be a young female with a length of 3.59 m and a weight of 510 kg. The carcass was removed from the beach the same evening and moved to the technical room of the local fire brigade. In the early morning of Saturday 8 August, it was transferred to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Ghent, where an autopsy will take place the same day.

© RBINS/Kelle Moreau

Cause of Death Being Investigated

Since beaked whales are animals that seek their food (mainly cuttlefish and squids) in the deep sea (Atlantic waters), and thus in principle have no business in the shallow southern North Sea, it is likely that the cause of death must be sought there: a lost and disoriented animal that ended up in the wrong place, where it has neither nutritional nor survival chances. This was the case for the beaked whales that were previously identified in Belgium. The additional injuries sustained in Nieuwpoort are not expected to be the direct cause of death, but they may have contributed to the further weakening of the animal. For the time being, however, all this is speculative, and the results of the autopsy have to be awaited. Also the role of a rope that turned out to be wrapped around the tail base when washed ashore in Wenduine will be investigated.

Belgian Beaked Whales

As far as we know, this is only the 7th documented case of a Sowerby’s beaked whale in Belgium. Remarkably, it is already the second case in 2020, after a young female washed ashore in Ostend on 15 January of this year. For the older cases we have to go back to 1972, 1969, 1954, 1933 and 1835. More information about the Belgian cases, about the stranding of January 2020, and about beaked whales in general, can be consulted in the article about the stranding of January 2020.

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Save the date: Joining forces at the first “EU4Ocean workshop – Designing Ocean Literacy action in Europe”

On 24 – 25 September 2020, the first EU4Ocean workshop– Designing Ocean Literacy action in Europe will be organised by the EU4Ocean Coalition – a new initiative on ocean literacy of the European Commission.

Following the official announcement by the Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius during the first international Virtual Ocean Literacy Summit (World Ocean Day, June 8 2020), founding members of the EU4Ocean Platform have recently kicked-off their work: 76 organisations (including the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences) and initiatives eager to connect, collaborate and mobilise efforts on ocean literacy. Members gathered online to get to know each other, and shared ideas of collective actions on three priority themes: Climate and Ocean, Food from the Ocean, and Healthy and Clean Ocean.

At the same time, the Youth4Ocean Forum is gathering its founding members, a group of young people aged between 16 and 30 who are passionate about the ocean.  Founding members have just met online to join forces to support changes in mindsets and practices across Europe that will contribute to a healthy and sustainable ocean.

This summer, the Network of European Blue Schools is being established to bring the ocean into classrooms – and students to the ocean! Teachers, school managers, marine educators and students will be provided a handbook to help them engage in the “Find the Blue” challenge. Students will create and implement practical action-oriented problem-solving educational projects addressing ocean issues and challenges. Successful projects will earn their school the European Blue School certification.

A diverse community engaged in Ocean Literacy is growing in Europe.

On 24 September, a series of interactive and participatory online workshops will serve as platform for founding members and key stakeholders to present the ambition, organisation, process and tools put in place for supporting collective action for each of the three communities of the EU4Ocean Coalition.

Online workshops planned on 24 September include:

  • The EU4Ocean coalition: what, what for, how? (morning)

This webinar will reflect the focus of, and interconnection between, the three communities of the EU4Ocean coalition: the EU4Ocean Platform, the Youth4Ocean Forum and the Network of European Blue Schools. Winners of the #YoungOceanWaves contest will be announced during this online workshop.

  • Engaging in the EU4Ocean platform (morning)

This webinar will focus on the need for collective change of understanding, values and actions, as well as on the growing importance of communication and capacity building for effective joint efforts. It will present the first operational work of the EU4Ocean Platform.

  • Mobilising the Youth: the Youth4Ocean forum (afternoon)

Youth is a drive for change. The webinar will pave the way for the Forum to operate and promote collaborations between young enthusiastic people.

  • The Network of European Blue Schools: embarking on a journey for ocean literacy (afternoon)

Ocean literate children will be responsible adults. In this webinar, schools and teachers will share experiences in Ocean Literacy and identify drivers and pre-conditions for success and key areas for future work. The EU Blue School handbook and certification process will be presented.

September 25 will be dedicated to building momentum for collective actions, mobilising representatives of the three communities at the EU and at the regional sea basin scales in the Baltic, North Sea, Atlantic, Mediterranean & Black Sea basins, which express the EU diversity, cultural richness, and knowledge sharing.

Online workshops planned on 25 September include:

  • Building collective Ocean Literacy initiatives at the sea basin scale (morning)

Five parallel online workshops will be co-organised to investigate specific marine and Ocean Literacy challenges in European sea basins. Participants will be encouraged to share their know-how and identify opportunities for collective actions.

  • Paving the way to collective initiatives addressing key marine challenges (afternoon)

Combining plenary and parallel group sessions, this workshop aims at setting the basis for collective ocean literacy initiatives on Climate and Ocean, Food from the Ocean, and Healthy and Clean Ocean.

Save the date: 24 – 25 September and join the first EU4Ocean workshop– Designing Ocean Literacy action in Europe!

Bring your ideas, get inspired, and take action for the ocean.

Registration to the event will open soon. Stay tuned!

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Kick-off of the new Copernicus Marine High-resolution Ocean Color Service

A new consortium has been selected to provide high-resolution ocean color products derived from Sentinel-2 in the Copernicus Marine portfolio. Such products will be distributed operationally by early 2021. These new products will support the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), and Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP), as well as many downstream applications.

Left: Currently available Copernicus Marine Service Total Suspended Matter (TSM) product covering the Elbe estuary (22.04.2020; 1km resolution). Right: New Sentinel-2 TSM product covering the same area (22.04.2020; 100 m resolution) (will be available early 2021 in Copernicus Marine Catalogue)

The addition of high-resolution ocean color products is important to support coastal communities because such data is considered a key element for the effective management of coastal resources. Such high-resolution (<300m) ocean color products are not yet part of the Copernicus Marine portfolio. In order to complement the existing low-resolution (>300m) ocean color products with high-resolution ones,  Mercator Ocean has published last April 2020 a call for tender to implement and operate a service delivering Level 3 and Level 4 products for the European regional seas based on the use of Sentinel-2 data (see more here).

Several propositions were received, analyzed, and evaluated; the consortium gathering Brockmann Consult GmbH from Germany, the REMSEM-team of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) from Belgium and VITO from Belgium has successfully won the call. Kick-off of these new activities took place on July 9.

The selected consortium builds on the experience gained over several years in developing high-resolution services for Research & Development projects (such as HIGHROC, DCS4COP, Multisync, or CyanoAlert), Copernicus Services (Copernicus Land and Climate) and as downstream service providers.

The new High-Resolution Ocean Colour (HR-OC) production unit, complementing the existing Low-Resolution Ocean Colour Thematic Centre, will ensure the production of Sentinel-2 Total Suspended Matter Turbidity and Chlorophyll-a datasets for all 6 regional seas in Europe (Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Baltic Sea, European North West Shelves, Iberian-Biscay-Irish seas, and the Arctic Ocean) over the coastal strip up to 20 km from the shore. The figure shows an example of the new Sentinel-2 product compared to an already available Copernicus Marine Service product.

These new products will support European Directives such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Water Framework Directive, and Maritime Spatial Planning in addition to a variety of downstream applications including offshore operations, coastal engineering, habitat monitoring, aquaculture, Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) monitoring, adaptation and mitigation to climate change. Such high-resolution products will address the need from our Environmental, Societal, and Economical user communities, for market sectors such as “Ocean Health”, “Policies & Ocean Governance & Mitigation” and “Coastal Services”.

Source: https://marine.copernicus.eu/successful-kick-off-new-copernicus-marine-high-resolution-ocean-color-service/

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Policy Needs for Oceans and Human Health

On the 28th of May 2020, the European Marine Board (EMB) launched Policy Brief No. 8 on “Policy Needs for Oceans and Human Health”, produced together with the EU-funded SOPHIE (Seas, Oceans and Public Health in Europe) project.

The health of humans and of the ocean are inextricably linked. Humans can gain benefits from the oceans and its ecosystem services including food and energy, but their health can also be at risk from aspects such as storms and pollution. In turn, the health of the ocean can be significantly impacted by human activity, and therefore a balance needs to be sought to safeguard the health of both. However, at present, there is no policy at national or European level that explicitly addresses Oceans and Human Health.

Human activities that impact the ocean in turn impact human health. These impacts can be beneficial, such as those from food, renewable energy, recreation, and biomedical research, but can also be negative, such as those associated with floods, storms, and pollution. (Jacob Bentley, bentleyillustration@gmail.com)

The Policy Brief on Policy Needs for Oceans and Human Health summarizes the policy challenges when attempting to address both ocean and human health together, and the cooperation and research needed to enable those challenges to be addressed. It proposes ways in which the existing regulatory framework could be adapted to incorporate Oceans and Human Health. It also provides recommendations relating to data and indicators, monitoring, funding and training.

 

Recommendations

The Policy Brief is built on the recommendations highlighted throughout the course of the SOPHIE project, especially those presented in two project outputs: the Strategic Research Agenda for Oceans and Human Health in Europe, and the policy report, which examines how regulatory strategies and tools linked to the EU Integrated Maritime Policy relate to Oceans and Human Health.

The overarching recommendations for Oceans and Human Health are:

  • To promote the development of a ‘Health (and Environment) in All Policies’ approach, the research community must champion such an approach and identify current shortcomings, taking into account equity and equality, using national and European science advice mechanisms and policy reviews;
  • To link human health to ocean health policies, European policy makers should explore opportunities to reframe, adapt or reinterpret existing marine policies to incorporate Oceans and Human Health;
  • To embed “marine” in the study and practice of Environment and Health, the Oceans and Human Health community must raise awareness, build the community, train and collaborate with interested parties;
  • To design and implement dedicated Oceans and Human Health indicators, Oceans and Human Health researchers and relevant stakeholders need to cocreate appropriate indicators, monitoring approaches and management tools through collaborative projects and initiatives at all relevant scales;
  • To support evidence-based management in an Oceans and Human Health context, the research community should develop dedicated data streams by identifying data sharing, management and harmonization needs within existing data frameworks;
  • To build an integrated architecture for health and environmental data in Europe, the marine and terrestrial data management and health data sectors should collaborate to share best practices and lessons learnt, building on relevant ongoing activities at European level such as the European Open Science Cloud;
  • To better understand the benefits of monitoring for policies covering both ocean and human health, the community in collaboration with economists and social scientists need to conduct cost-benefit analyses to justify the trade-offs;
  • To safeguard both ocean and human health, the community needs to support policy makers to conduct systematic assessments to ensure feedback on data and indicators. To ensure consistency across Europe this might need to be coordinated at a European level; and
  • To increase the support for Oceans and Human Health in research, sectoral and regional cooperation programmes, research funders should acknowledge the importance of Oceans and Human Health, and fund collaborative, transdisciplinary research that is co-designed by all stakeholders.
Oceans and Human Health Recommendations (Jacob Bentley, bentleyillustration@gmail.com)

The Policy Brief can be downloaded here. A set of cartoons was also created especially for this publication by Jacob Bentley. You can download the full set of images here. A video, created by Seascape Belgium in the framework of the Seas, Oceans and Public Health in Europe (SOPHIE) project, stresses the need for more research in the area of Oceans and Human Health so that we can better understand the interactions that we have with our coasts, seas and oceans, and how these interactions impact our health and the health of the marine environment. It also calls on a growing community of diverse stakeholders to come together to advance Oceans and Human Health in Europe.

For more information please contact Paula Kellett, Science Officer, European Marine Board Email: pkellett@marineboard.eu.

The European Marine Board (EMB) is a leading European think tank in marine science policy. EMB is a network with a membership comprising over 10,000 marine scientists and technical staff from the major national marine/oceanographic institutes, research funding agencies and national networks of universities from countries across Europe. The Board provides a platform for its member organizations to develop common priorities, to advance marine research, and to bridge the gap between science and policy to meet future marine science challenges and opportunities. The Belgian Federal State is represented in the EMB by the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) and in the EMB Communications Panel by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS).