MIMAR+ seeks to consolidate and expand the advances in knowledge generated with the previous MIMAR project. It involves agents from the regions of the Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Cape Verde and Senegal to cover the Marine Observatory dedicated to evaluating the impact generated by invasive species, harmful algal blooms (HABs) and the changes produced by global warming and human activity in marine habitats.
Under the title "Monitoring, control and mitigation of marine organism proliferations associated with human disturbances and climate change in the Macaronesian Region", MIMAR+ proposes common monitoring, control and mitigation methodologies. In addition, it will export all the scientific knowledge acquired and implement an ambitious training and awareness program on the changes that are taking place in the marine ecosystem and its conservation.
The Vice-Ministry for the Fight against Climate Change of the Government of the Canary Islands is the leader of the project, which has a consortium made up of 18 organizations, among which is the Canary Islands Institute of Technology, a public R&D&i center attached to the regional Ministry of Universities, Science & Innovation and Culture of the Canary Islands Government.
The project (with code MAC2/4.6d/249) is co-financed by the Interreg MAC 2014-2020 Cooperation Program, within Axis 4 "Conserve and Protect the environment and promote resource efficiency".
MIMAR+ is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the following being of special interest:
- Viceconsejería de Lucha contra el Cambio Climático. Gobierno de Canarias. España
- Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI). Madeira. Portugal.
- Universidade da Madeira (UMa). Madeira. Portugal
- Secretaria Regional de Ambiente, Recursos Naturais e Alterações Climáticas. Madeira. Portugal
- Direçâo Regional de Pescas. Secretaria Regional de Mar e Pescas. Madeira. Portugal
- Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC). Canarias. España
- Fundación Parque Científico Tecnológico de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (FPCT-ULPGC). Canarias. España
- Universidad de La Laguna (ULL). Canarias. España
- Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias (ITC). España
- Gestión del Medio Rural de Canarias S.A.U. (GMR). España
- Fundación Radio ECCA. Canarias. España
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC). España.
- Gestión y Planeamiento Territorial Medioambiental S.A. (GESPLAN). Gobierno de Canarias. España
- Universidade dos Açores (UAc). Azores. Portugal
- Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso. Azores. Portugal
- Universidade de Cabo Verde (UniCV). Cabo Verde
- Direção Geral dos Recursos Marinhos. Ministerio da Economia Marítima. Cabo Verde
- l'Institut Universitaire de Pêche et d'Aquaculture (IUPA). Senegal
Main Objective:
Create and consolidate the structures and operating mechanisms of a marine observatory in the Macaronesian region (eastern central Atlantic) and the methodologies for monitoring changes caused by proliferations of marine organisms
Specific Objectives:
- Monitoring of invasive species and their effect on native habitats and the Natura 2000 Network.
- Development of common methodologies for monitoring harmful algal blooms with effects on human health and the natural environment, and study of the mechanisms that produce them.
- Consolidation of a marine observatory in the Macaronesian region and implementation of common methodologies for monitoring changes in marine habitats and their biodiversity.