Advancing understanding of Cumulative Impacts on European marine biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services for human wellbeing

Project Information

ACTNOW

Grant agreement ID: 101060072

DOI

10.3030/101060072

EC signature date 2 December 2022

Start date 1 March 2023

End date 28 February 2027

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 10 632 000,00

EU contribution

€ 10 632 000,00

Coordinated by

STICHTING NEDERLANDSE WETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK INSTITUTEN
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ACTNOW (Advancing understanding of Cumulative Impacts on European marine biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services for human wellbeing)

Reporting period: 2023-03-01 to 2024-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

ACTNOW - Advancing understanding of Cumulative Impacts on European marine biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services for human wellbeing is an EU-funded research project that provides regulators and decision-makers the knowledge and fit-for-purpose tools they need to combat biodiversity loss in coastal and marine habitats threatened by climate change (CC) interacting with other local and regional drivers.
To achieve this, the objectives of ACTNOW defined following goals:
1.Co-create regionalized ‘what if’ scenarios of interacting drivers and management actions to forecast impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in European coastal and marine regions;
2.Develop a systemic approach for the integrated impact assessment of coastal and marine ecosystem processes and services, and assessment of the state of coastal and marine ecosystems health, and resilience to cumulative pressures;
3.Understand the combined impacts of different types of pressures or perturbations on coastal and marine biodiversity and ecosystems condition;
4.Increase understanding of the biological mechanisms determining the response of organisms and ecosystems to environmental changes and limiting their adaptation capacity, and the implications for the management of marine areas, habitats and species;
5.Employ state-of-the-art biologging technology and molecular methods, in combination with knowledge on oceanographic processes to understand the effects of agents of change on the ecology and population dynamics through marine food webs;
6.Rationalise and advance strategies for monitoring European populations of marine species at the top of food chains, and have life histories that make them especially susceptible to change;
7.Integrate existing and new biodiversity data and knowledge from multiple origins, including other EU (Horizon 2020 and previous framework Programmes), international and national research projects;
8.Develop technologies, methods and models to quantify and forecast how cumulative anthropogenic perturbations can affect the sustainability, productivity and resilience of marine ecosystems against environmental drivers;
9.Enhance awareness and understanding of links between marine biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and human health through capacity building, public outreach and by creating decision-support tools for regulators for the best context-dependent assessment and actions to achieve or restore good environmental status.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project focuses on making results accessible to various audiences to gather feedback and simplify implementation. Two key methods introduced in the past year, Glossy Cards and What-If Scenarios (based on IPCC’s RSP and SSP pathways), help translate findings into actionable insights tailored to stakeholders' needs. The scenarios illustrate possible futures and are regionally customised with stakeholder input to show how different stressors might impact ecosystems.
A major research milestone was the ACTNOW cruise to Dogger Bank (North Sea) in June 2023, where partners collected and analysed data across the food chain, from plankton to whales.
ACTNOW’s 17 case studies are regionally and thematically clustered, covering diverse actions like modelling, lab experiments, and fieldwork. Themes include fish and zooplankton, macroalgal beds (Baltic and Barents Sea), marine animal forests, MPAs, phytoplankton, and harmful algal blooms. Regions span the Arctic, Baltic, North Sea, Black Sea, and Mediterranean areas.
For example, ACTNOW partner CMCC (Italy) developed a habitat mapping approach in Civitavecchia, integrating autonomous and remotely operated vehicle technology with in-situ measurements, focusing on coral structures and Posidonia oceanica meadows.
At NIOZ, a lab setup was created to test critical thermal limits in a flow-through system. Experiments on blue mussels explored physiological impacts of parasite loads and various stressors using sensors to monitor valve gaps, heart rates, and oxygen consumption.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Results and Potential Impacts:

1. Regionalised Scenario Development:
- Results: Created regional scenarios for French North Sea and Mediterranean fisheries, incorporating local perspectives. Identified pathways for sustainable adaptation to global changes.
- Impacts: Informs sustainable fisheries policy, improves resilience, and bridges science-policy gaps.
- Needs: Further research and funding to refine scenarios and engage stakeholders.

2. Biodiversity Assessments:
- Results: Comprehensive analysis of marine biodiversity stressors, focusing on macroalgae and fish nurseries, revealing organismal adaptations.
- Impacts: Supports marine ecosystem preservation and resilience, informing conservation and management practices.
- Needs: Ongoing research and funding for Marine Protected Areas.

3. Modelling & Decision Support Tools:*
- Results: Created tools to aid stakeholders in marine resource management.
- Impacts: Empowers stakeholder engagement and resource efficiency.
- Needs: Additional training and funding to support tool use and maintenance.

4. Societal and Environmental Impact:
- Results: Influenced policies for resilience and adaptation to global change.
- Impacts: Supports ecosystem and biodiversity conservation, empowering stakeholders in conservation efforts.
- Needs: Continued engagement and funding to monitor societal and environmental outcomes.

Project Overview:
ACTNOW has developed regional scenarios, biodiversity assessments, and decision tools, aiding policy decisions, ecosystem preservation, and resilience. Continued success depends on ongoing research, funding, and stakeholder engagement for sustainable resource management.

modified from Steenbeck et al. 2021 Environ Modelling & Software