Transcript template Maritime Affairs

A layman’s observations
Cost and value of Marine Research
Infrastructure (MRI)
 MRI are expensive, cost of maintaining and operating them can
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represent ~ 50% of total marine research budget
Important to maximise synergies at EU level
Socio-economic value of research infrastructure is not easy to
assess, but…
We can and should propose ways / framework to approach it
Marine research (infrastructure) can contribute:
 to protect the marine environment
 better predict climate change impact and manage related risks
 Innovate in marine bio-economy, ocean energy…
 In times of budget constraints, need to show how MRI can help
respond to societal needs and better convey their socioeconomic value, including the protection of ecosystem services
What sorts of MRI?
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As a simplification, 2 big sorts of MRI:
1)
2)
3)
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Marine environment & Ocean / Climate interactions
Innovation in the maritime economy (marine bio-economy, ocean
energy…)
Plus data management infrastructures / IT systems, EMODNET as a
horizontal enabling initiative
But 1), 2) and 3) are linked. For example:
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EMBRC can improve both knowledge of marine environment processes
and support bio-medicine /biotechnologies
GMES / Marine Core Services can improve knowledge of marine
environment, ocean / climate interactions and help deliver new
commercial services
EMODNET can support science, policy and business innovation
Multi-use MRI  full access to and integration of data
Oceanographic fleet
 Oceanographic vessels remain an essential part of the MRI set-up but…
 Their role is changing with the development of in-situ observation
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(moorings, floats, gliders, cabled seabed observatories…)
They might be particularly useful to respond to some MSFD needs
(mapping of seabed habitats, litter?...)
Instruments exist to pool oceanographic vessels time (barter
mechanisms… etc.)
Renewal of fleet of regional oceanographic vessels in 5 coming years
will be a major issue
Structural funds can be a good funding source for ocean. vessels
EUROFLEETS project will give us a good overview of key challenges
and way forward
When will we have first « EUROFLEETS » results / more precise
recommendations regarding oceanographic fleet?
EURO-ARGO, EMSO…
 Euro-Argo most developed marine ESFRI project
 could soon get ERIC status
 integrated in major initiatives (GMES, GOOS…)
 needs sustained financing to ensure full coverage and renewal
 EMSO (ESONET)
 some selected sites being developed with commitment from a few
MS  proposal for ERIC?
 number of sites needed to respond to needs is an issue: start with
what we can get
 site selection is an issue: scientific vs. societal needs
 And what about EUROSITES? Proposal to integrate Euro-Argo /
EMSO / Eurosites?
Biological observation / Genomics
 Long tradition of coastal biological stations in Europe  MARS –
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MarBEF  harmonis. / standard. of marine bio-data
Availability of long time series of plankton data and fisheries data
(ICES)
Development of metagenomics and sequencing technologies  big
possibilities  but disruptive technology
Key knowledge at intersection of organisms / genes / environment
RI architecture around:
 EMBRC (acquisition of marine data)
 A marine bio-informatics centre for data quality, standards…, which needs
to be built
 Elixir (repository for all biological data)
To what extent can existing observation means respond to MSFD
needs What is missing? Will EMBRC contribute to this? What
about LIFEWATCH? How do this relate with observations from
GMES / ARGO /EMSO… etc. ?
GMES
 A structured European framework, with a legal basis
and political commitment, for environment
monitoring and security
 GMES marine core services will support operational
oceanography
 At the moment, satellite observation better sustained
than in-situ observations  need to develop sustain
EURO-ARGO, EMSO, Euro-Sites…
 Physical and chemical observations more developed
than biological
Should GMES respond to MSFD needs (pressures on
biodiversity, litter, noise… etc.)? Is it its role?
MRI Projects and Initiatives
(borrowed from A. Edwards)
Obs.
Sys.
Projects
e.g.
Initiatives
(can be)
EMECO,
TENATSO
- International
- Regional EU
- National
ESONET /
EMSO
MOON
EuroSITES
Euro-Argo
ECOOP
Operational
- Public
- Commercial
R/S
In
situ
GMES
Marine
Core
Service
SB
Research
- ERIC
(European
Research
Infrastructure
Consortium)
Eurofleets
Ships of opportunity
Mapping of EU sea beds / habitats
LIFEWATCH /
EMBRC
Selected Initiatives
SeaDataNet
Indicative data flows:
E
M
O
D
N
E
T
G
E
O
SB
S
S
SB
MRI – starting with the needs
Policy / Societal needs e.g.
Marine
Strategy
Framework
Directive
Ocean /
Climate
interactions
Operational
Oceanography
Projects/Initiatives e.g.
Need for
LIFEWATCH, EMBRC?
E
1. Biodiversity, alien species, fish stocks,
EMSO, EUROSITES?
food webs, seabed integrity / habitatsFull and
Ships of opportunity?
2. Eutrophication
M
Open EMECO
3. Hydrographical conditions
EUROFLEETS?Mapping
4. Contaminants
O
of Seabeds / habitats?
Exchange
5. Litter – 6. Noise / Energy
EURO-ARGO?
D
1. Ocean circulation system, ocean / Of
RAPID-ARRAY?
atmosphere interactions
Data PIRATA? N
2. Impact of climate change on marine
TENATSO?
environment
AcrossGLOSS-ESEAS?…
E
3. Impact of climate ch. on coastal areas
GMES marine r/s?
1. Marine safety
Initiatives
GMES in situ T
2. Marine and coastal environment &
EURO-ARGO
3. Weather / climate & seasonal
EMSO
forecasting
Projects LIFEWATCH?
4. Marine resources
MRI – some key issues
 How do we move from a project based
approach to ocean observation to a
permanent observation?
 Where does the funding come from to
implement the sustained observing
capacity and EMODNET?
 How do we ensure that a set of
European marine observation
initiatives converge to respond better
to policy / societal needs?
 Can we have an overview and better
coordinate EU contribution to global
projects (e.g. ARGO) and initiatives
(GMES - GEOSS / GOOS)?
An initiative at
European level
to help address
these
challenges?
The Joint Programming Initiative on "Healthy and
Productive Seas and Oceans"
Structure of the preliminary document
 Pillar 1: The marine system
 Pillar 2: The marine resources
 Pillar 3: Support to policy
Indicative timetable
 Recommendation from Commission to
Council on JPI « Oceans » in 2011
 Vision document in 2011? Followed by SRA in
2012 (coordinated with SEASERA)?
The Joint Programming Initiative on "Healthy and
Productive Seas and Oceans" - 2
Distinctive characteristics of JPIs
 A flexible political
commitment, which can make
use of any community
instrument
 Long term perspective (10
years +)
 Can potentially align member
states and EU funding
JPI « Oceans" makes a clear
reference to the need to sustain
and optimise MRI at EU level
An adapted
framework to
move towards
coordinated and
sustained EU
marine
observation
A European IOOS?
 Eurocean Ostende declaration calls for support to JPI
« Seas and Oceans » and European IOOS
 How broad should this IOOS be?
 What does it mean / require to integrate different sets
of data: physical / chemical / biological / geological…?
 How would such an initiative relate to GMES?
 Can this expert group propose, in cooperation with
MODEG, and political guidance from Commission /
JPI, a vision document for a European IOOS?