European marinas advance ocean stewardship
TransEurope Marinas has joined a 20-strong partnership to improve land-sea interface observation via the LandSeaLot project, an exciting four-year project to improve the observational capacity of the land-sea interface.
A kick-off meeting hosted by Deltares in Delft, Netherlands in March comprised an intensive three-day workshop with encounter sessions, sensor trials and a guided tour of the impressive Deltares research and simulation facilities. Presentations from European agencies, European Commission representatives and policy officers stressed the high levels of expectation for the project’s outcomes, emphasising the importance of building upon the results of previous Horizon Europe projects, and detailing where efforts could contribute to current initiatives, such as the European Digital Twin of the Ocean.
Project rationale
The land-sea interface comprises a complex observational environment due to constant flux stemming from tides and currents, meteorological variability, changing morphology, the mix of freshwater and saline waters, and the presence of pollutants, amongst other factors. Despite significant research being carried out in this often densely populated domain, there are still notable gaps. Examples include where fine scale in situ monitoring can serve to both offset the limitations of satellite data and for validation and calibration.
Further efforts are thus required to integrate the different observing communities and strengthen the observation capacity. Benefits of this work include the means to detect and track pollutants, monitor the flow of carbon, study impacts on local biodiversity and identify harmful algal blooms that could present a danger to watersports enthusiasts. Implementation is planned to take place across nine living labs, located in major estuaries across Europe.
Best practices for data management have an important role in the project. Scientific research heavily relies on the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) to ensure the quality, transparency and reproducibility of research findings. Consequently, FAIR data exchange standards will be created to incorporate citizen science data. LandSeaLot will also progress towards semantic interoperability between the various streams and develop interoperability standards supporting the harmonisation between in situ and satellite observations and citizen science data. To become an open-access resource, data is then prepared for uptake into the European data aggregators EMODnet, for use by policymakers, researchers and businesses.
TransEurope Marinas’ role
Bridging land and sea, and hosting boaters, nautical tourism activities, residents and marine companies, TransEurope Marinas’ role in the project is related to citizen engagement as a component of a co-designed community strategy, together with in situ observations, remote sensing and computer modelling. Marina communities will receive guidance on the use of smart-value sensors and related resources to facilitate observations of different variables such as sea-level, salinity, temperature, pH, turbidity, etc.
As marinas start to consider incorporating resilience-related practices, e.g. more climate-proof infrastructure and regional early-warning systems, modelling that predicts sea-level rise or changes in weather patterns can help with decision making and planning for marina infrastructure upgrades. Equally, learning how a marina affects local dynamics, such as water quality, current patterns and sediment transport, can be used to improve marina design and reduce environmental impact.
LandSeaLot project coordinator Jos Brils welcomed the inclusion of TransEurope Marinas: “Working with marinas is a novel experience for us, but as intrinsic land-sea interface hubs, their contribution is key to empowering citizen involvement and helping this project achieve the impact it deserves. We look forward to developing this work with TransEurope Marinas,” he said.
Benefits for the wider industry
The recreational boating industry is facing multiple transitional challenges related to sustainability, digitalisation, changing demographics and increased regulation. Actions are underway to start responding to matters such as the adoption of renewable energy or circular solutions for boat construction, but areas such as digital representation and climate resilience, for example, still require effective collective strategies.
As identified in recent years, marinas could gain from becoming more societally relevant within their wider regional communities. This might include better environmental education programmes regarding nearby marine habitats and ecological preservation, advancing biosecurity initiatives, contributing to environmental science endeavours, and connecting with local community groups to further inclusivity and diversity initiatives.
Preparatory work in LandSeaLot will also provide a closer understanding of regional sea conventions promoting responsible practices at sea (e.g. OSPAR, HELCOM) and environmental protection legislation such as the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive and Water Framework Directive.
Joe Lynch, CEO of the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA), commented: “As the global boating industry works towards becoming more sustainable, collaboration and joint research initiatives with groups such as the oceanographic science community can only serve to better prepare us to future-proof the industry. We commend TransEurope Marinas for its role in LandseaLot and look forward to supporting the project, as well as sharing the outcomes with our global membership.”
From gaining a strategic understanding of data management practices to more familiarity with the coastal ocean governance ecosystem, the learning opportunities in this project are profound and TransEurope Marinas’ role will enable a flow of insights back to the industry – together with the generation of educational tools and resources for boaters and other marina visitors.
For more information visit the project website: landsealot.eu
