1st Preliminary Meeting - Workshop on Ocean and Coastal Information in Support of Marine Resources and Biodiversity in the Macaronesia

In coordination with the GEO Blue Planet Initiative, Future Earth Coasts and the Marine Biodiversity Network (MBON), the AIR Centre is co-organizing a workshop in Mindelo, Cape Verde, scheduled for February 2019, to identify initiatives under the topic of Marine Resources and Biodiversity. This workshop will build upon two preliminary cross-sectoral and cross-disciplinary meetings. The first one is this taking place in Faial, Azores, Portugal and a second one that will take place in Las Palmas, Canary Island, Spain (November 15th, 2018) to better understand local and regional information needs to enhance job creation and innovation in the blue economy and to foster the sustainable use of marine resources as a main economic component.

Sumary

The main challenges discussed during this 1st preliminary meeting were the low resolution of existing satellite data and the lack of qualified personnel to retrieve and convert the required data into interpretable information. As an outcome, strategic user´s needs for a virtual/ artificial user “Azores” was formulated. Among other; to see the distribution of biodiversity in the 0-20 m depth water column; to enable identification of biodiversity changes; to support coastal resources and risk management, ocean litter monitoring, harmful algal bloom detection, etc.

Organizing Committee

Emily Smail, NOAA/GEO Blue Planet | Francisco Wallenstein, Regional Government of the Azores | Frank Muller-Karger, GEO MBON | Gabrielle Canonico, NOAA/GEO MBON | Isabel Chavez, UNESCO | Joaquin Brito, PLOCAN | Jorge del Rio Vera, UNOOSA | José Moutinho, AIR Centre | Martin Le Tissier, Future Earth Coasts | Paul DiGiacomo, NOAA/GEO Blue Planet | Piero Messina, ESA | Samuel Djavidnia, GEO Blue Planet | Shubha Sathyendranath, Plymouth Marine Laboratory | Sophie Seeyave, POGO/GEO Blue Planet Alexandra Guerreiro Ana Martins – University of Azores / OKEANOS Ana Neto – University of Azores / CE3C Artur Oliveira – SeaExperts Carla Dâmaso / Maria Joana Cruz – Sea Observatory of the Azores (OMA) Carla Melo – SIMBIENTE Christopher Pham – University of Azores / Department of Oceanography and Fisheries Erica Cruz – WavEC Offshore Renewables Ester Pereira – City Council of Horta, Azores Frank Neumann – AIR Centre Frederic Vandeperre – University of Azores / Department of Oceanography and Fisheries Frederico Pessanha – Endemic-Açores Hugo Pacheco – The Azorean Sailing Association (ARVA) Jorge Fontes – University of Azores / Department of Oceanography and Fisheries Norberto Serpa – Norberto Diver