best fake rolex
Forward

Fostering research excellence
in EU Outermost Regions

Welcome on the Outermost Regions Research and Innovation Platform


Discover research and innovation in Outermost regions: Assets and challenges; Research and innovation communities; projects and research initiatives; infrastructures, events and news

 

Would you like a tour of the platform? (1minute)

Homepage


Search by keywords

Regional and thematic filters


Select a Region or a R&I thematic to access information

Search on the map


Visualise on a map OR partners and their research and innovation projects.

Regions


Discover the assets and Research and Innovation capacities of the Outermost regions.

Thematics


Learn about research and innovation challenges, assets and expertise in outermost regions.

R&I Communities


Learn about the OR’s research community expertise, detect collaboration opportunities and get easily in touch with research groups and other R&I partners.

Projects


Discover OR flagship projects.

Resources


Access documents, videos and media coverage related to OR Research & Innovation.

News


Stay connected to Outermost Regions by following our News page, social media.

About Forward


Learn more about the Horizon 2020 Project FORWARD : “ Fostering research excellence in EU Outermost Regions”.

Contact


Contact our dedicated team for more information regarding R&I in Outermost Regions and sign up to our newsletter.

Published 02.01.2020

summer_logo

SUMMER

Sustainable management of mesopelagic resources


Azores

Canary Islands

 | Public Project

BiomassEcosystemsMesopelagic resourcesSustainability

The mesopelagic layer is one of the least understood ecosystems on Earth. Recent research suggests that the fish biomass in the mesopelagic ecosystem might be 10 times higher than previously thought, and therefore represent 90 % of the fish biomass of the planet. However, this estimate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty in the fraction of the community that is fish. The potential high biomass has raised interest in its exploitation, mainly as a fish meal, but other potential exploitation pathways for high value compounds, such as nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals, are possible. Nevertheless, if the biomass is as high as estimated, mesopelagic fish may play a key role in ecosystem services, such as sustaining other commercially relevant species and carbon sequestration. SUMMER will establish a protocol to accurately estimate mesopelagic fish biomass, quantify the ecosystem services provided by the mesopelagic community (food, climate regulation and potential for bioactive compounds) and develop a decision support tool to measure the trade-offs between the different services. Combining eDNA with in situ acoustics and trawls SUMMER will obtain an accurate assessment of the composition and biomass of the mesopelagic community. Gut content analysis, molecular markers and stable isotopes will allow quantification of the vertically integrated trophic network, linking to commercial and charismatic species. Models will be used to estimate the impact of fishing scenarios on trophic network stability and carbon sequestration. Mesopelagic organisms will be tested for their potential as fish meal, nutra and pharmaceuticals. The project will develop a decision support tool to enable accounting for trade-offs between services in when considering sustainable use of mesopelagic resources. Finally, a range of interactions with stakeholders, policy makers and public will ensure that any strategy to exploit the mesopelagic ecosystem takes account of all the consequences.

HOME

Contact

IMAR (Azores - Portugal); Universidad de las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands - Spain)

Other european and international partners

  • IMAR – INSTITUTO DO MAR (AZORES – PORTUGAL)
  • UNIVERSIDAD DE LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA (Canary Islands – Spain)
  • FUNDACION AZTI – AZTI FUNDAZIOA (Spain)
  • UNIVERSITAET BREMEN (Germany)
  • THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS (United Kingdom)
  • UNITED KINGDOM RESEARCH AND INNOVATION (United Kingdom)
  • HELMHOLTZ ZENTRUM FUR OZEANFORSCHUNG KIEL (Germany)
  • UNIVERSITETET I OSLO (Norway)
  • UNIVERSITETET I BERGEN (Norway)
  • AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DEINVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS (Spain)
  • UNIVERSITE DE LA ROCHELLE (France)
  • INSTITUT FRANCAIS DE RECHERCHE POUR L’EXPLOITATION DE LA MER (France)
  • UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE (United Kingdom)
  • UNIVERSIDAD DE LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA (Spain)
  • INSTITUT DE RECHERCHE POUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT (France)
  • DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET (Denmark)
  • HAVFORSKNINGSINSTITUTTET (Norway)
  • SINTEF OCEAN AS (Norway)
  • MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY (Turkey)
  • ACONDICIONAMIENTO TARRASENSE ASSOCIACION (Spain)
  • HAFRANNSOKNASTOFNUN, RANNSOKNA- OG RADGJAFARSTOFNUN HAFS OG VATNA (Iceland)
  • BARNA SA (Spain)
  • KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (Saudi Arabia)