Rapid reduction of Nutrients in Transitional waters

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A critical environmental challenge of the Channel region (FCE) (and globally), is that coastal waterbodies used by humans have elevated nutrient levels caused by inputs of fertilizers and human waste. This water quality reduction causes excessive growth of plants (termed eutrophication). Coastal eutrophication results in the growth of green algal mats on intertidal mudflats covering thousands of hectares. These have ecological impacts, as well as economic and human health issues. Protecting and enhancing these ecosystems (Common Challenge 6) by reducing nutrients is essential to: protecting habitats; improving public health (e.g. reducing shellfish contamination), but also for a sustainable marine economy (e.g. maintaining fisheries), i.e. Common Challenge 5. The RaNTrans project will be the first to develop and test innovative and cost-effective methods that will rapidly reduce algal mat coverage and contribute to reductions in nutrient levels. Using two sites per country we will develop algal mat removal and nutrient reduction techniques specific for intertidal mudflats. These include i) mechanical removal of algal mats; ii) feeding algal mats to polychaete worms and converting these to aquaculture feed; establishing and optimising iii) seaweed culture and; iv) European oyster aquaculture. Methods will reduce nutrients indirectly e.g. oysters filtering the water or directly by removing/converting the algal mats. The project will also develop novel uses of algal mats by extracting chemicals with human health benefits. By developing the business potential of these sustainably-produced outputs we will show how biodiversity preservation and environmental improvements can underpin regional job creation as oysters, aquaculture feeds and seaweeds are multibillion dollar industries (FAO, 2016).   The partnership gathers experts that have significant knowledge, but only through the cross-border and academic resource management and business collaboration will we achieve our goals. These are to reduce nutrients that will not only generate societal and economic benefits, but 5 years post-project will increase the FCE percentage of TAC (Transitional and Coastal) water bodies with Good Ecological Status (GES) by 20%.

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