Acronym ASIMUTH
Category
Fisheries
Title Applied simulations and Integrated modelling for the understanding of toxic and harmful algal blooms Programme FP7
Instrument (FP6)
Contact Type (FP7)
Strand (Interreg)
FP7 - Collaborative Project (generic)
Theme (FP7)
Activity Area (FP6)
Regional Area (Interreg)
Action (COST)
SPACE – Space
Specific Programme (FP7)
Cooperation
Funding source European
Coordinator institution
DOMMRC - Daithi O'Murchu Marine Research Station (Ireland)
Institutions involved
IFREMER - French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (France) ,
NA - HOCER SAS (France) ,
IST - Instituto Superior Tecnico (Portugal) ,
MI - Marine Institute (Ireland) ,
INRB - National Institute of Biological Resources, IP (Portugal) ,
NA - Nowcasting International Ltd (Ireland) ,
NA - Numerics Warehouse Ltd (Ireland) ,
SAMS - Scottish Association for Marine Science (United Kingdom) ,
IEO - Spanish Institute of Oceanography (Spain) ,
NA - Starlab Barcelona SL (Spain) ,
Start year 2010 End year 2013 Funding (€) € 3,237,138 Website https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/261860 Summary Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are known to periodically produce toxicity in shellfish and to kill farmed fish throughout Europe. The Atlantic coast of Europe is often affected by such blooms causing devastation to aquaculture industries due to closures of farms and large scale fish kills. The management of shellfish toxicity is well developed along the Atlantic margin in response to EU Directives, and the caged fish culture has also developed protocols to react to harmful blooms. Identification of the origins of HAB events are essential to policy makers and industry since the only mitigation action possible lies in their prediction as these are naturally occurring. Having the ability to forecast when such events might occur to give advanced warning of the impending problem to the aquaculture industry could be a very valuable tool. Many studies have elucidated the ocean circulation patterns along Europe. Many studies have elucidated the ocean circulation patterns along Europe’s Atlantic coast and today, mathematical models produce acceptable hindcasts of previously observed circulation patterns and short term prognostic forecasts. Satellite remotely sensed images of chlorophyll and temperature are also extremely valuable in detecting high biomass surface blooms of plankton and the oceanic features that often delimit their extent. Using a combination of both modeling and satellite image analysis the ASIMUTH project will produce short-term forecasts of harmful algal events along the European Atlantic coasts and deliver these data using mobile phone and internet technology. Aquaculturalists will be able to use these forecasts to plan harvesting operations or to alter husbandry practices at finfish sites temporarily while a harmful algal bloom passes through a particular area.
The novel scientific aspects of ASIMUTH are summarised as: (1) The identification of key past events which will be re-analysed and used for training the modelling system; (2) Incorporation of the GMES Marine Core Services (MCS) with the above selected events will be used to develop model based hindcast products. These will be used to tune the system and move towards an operational model for forecasting events; (3) Design of regional model systems and delivery of nowcast for specific HABs and location information, transport pathways, remote sensed data; (4) Population of HAB-Distributed Decision Support system (HAB-DDSS) (effectively a HAB specific Thematic Assembly Centre) from relevant data streams (phytoplankton, biotoxin, satellite, in-situ, etc.); (5) Provision of expert interpretation of the available data by way of the web-portal which will be carried out on a periodic basis depending on risk. This assessment will be then issued via a warning system to end users. (Achieved by Month 36). Technical objectives: (1) The development of model runs for Hindcasting and tuning the system with regard to various HAB species/risks and validation; (2) Development of HAB-DDSS to assemble data from MCS and Monitoring Data; (3) Provide feedback loop for users to connect with the project experts to comment and progress the objectives in a manner that gives most benefit to the end user; (4) An economic assessment will provide metrics on the ability of the ASIMUTH system to mitigate risk and improve productivity; (5) Dissemination activities and exploitation of the project outputs.
Keywords
Monitoring;
Algal toxins;
Algae;
Technology;
Impacts;
Marine Region
12
Bay of Biscay North (27.VIIIa)
29
West of Ireland (27.VIIb)
38
Portuguese Waters (27.IXa,27.IXb)
26
Northwest Coast of Scotland and North Ireland (27.VIa)
4
Marine Region Map
