Researchers from the University of the Algarve and 18 other countries are to cooperate in one of the most ambitious marine research projects for decades.
Sadly, the research is necessary due to the risks associated with the oil transport business in the Atlantic and especially off Portugal’s south west tip where tankers pass, heading to and from the Mediterranean.
The AtlantOS project aims to set a framework for a new European oceanic observation system for ‘better management of marine resources.’
The project involves 62 partners from 18 countries and the University of the Algarve is responsible for developing the forecasting systems and risk maps for possible oil spills in the Atlantic.
Researchers from the CIMA, the Marine and Environmental Research Centre, will develop mathematical models based on currents, the state of the sea and sea routes.
These models will help define forecasting systems and dynamic risk assessment maps for oil spills.
Off Cape St Vincent, the dangers of an oil spill are heightened. Most of the shipping to and from the Mediterranean to northern Europe passes by including ships carrying crude oil cargos, 200 million tons of oil a year at a conservative estimate.
The AtlantOS project has €20 million to spend over four years, which already is being criticised as too little too late when comparable international risk assessment modelling exercises are better funded.
At the same time as the AtlantOS announcement, which at least mentions the word ‘oil, the latest Policy brief from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s Oceans Initiative has been issued but fails to mention the stuff.
The brief purports to look at ‘the economic value of oceans in Portugal’ while failing to mention the oil business upon which its funding relies 100% due to all profits from oil company Partex being remitted to the Foundation.
While on the topic of Cape St Vincent, an underwater survey has revealed miles of garbage on the seabed, mostly old fishing nets and rope.
Scientists from the University of Algarve and the Oceana association have found "a large amount" of junk on the seabed in the trench off Cape St Vicente and say the heap of rubbish will continue to grow as it is unable to rot.
The scientific study, published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin released yesterday, "notes the rising amount trash in the southwestern marine depths of Portugal" and in three ROV (a submarine robot) dives in the St. Vicente Canyon, there was waste accumulated at a depth of 500 meters and more, mostly old nets lost from fishing boats.
"Nearly 90% of the rubbish was made up of old ropes and nets made of synthetic materials making degradation very slow in these deep areas,” according to Oceana's research director in Europe, Ricardo Aguilar.
Therefore, "measures need to be taken to stop the loss of fishing equipment or the amount of waste will steadily increase in the coming years," said Aguilar.
About a third of the waste logged on the ocean floor directly affects fauna and researchers pointed to "numerous cases" of corals, sea urchins and other deep water life forms entangled in lost fishing nets.
"Unfortunately, the methods to control fishing gear loss are currently ineffective. The long-term effects are still poorly known, particularly in the deep ocean areas," warned the investigator from the Marine Sciences Centre (CCMAR), at the University of the Algarve, Frederico Oliveira.
Deep sea habitats, many of them still little studied, have slow-growing species that can be highly vulnerable to disturbances and the presence of foreign materials, or pollutants, explained the scientist.
The St Vincent Canyon is 12 kilometres from the Portuguese coast off Sagres and is 120 kilometers long. The study published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin was based on three ROV dives with the scientists analysing over nine hours of recordings.
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