SeaMoreEco – Seamless Monitoring, Restoration and Conservation in the Northern Gulf of Bothnia

Introduction

The shallow marine areas of the northern Gulf of Bothnia, the Baltic Sea, are important areas for the entire marine environment, for instance due to the high biodiversity found there. At the same time the species and habitats of the shallow areas are under increasing threat from human activities and climate change effects. However, one of the challenges facing sustainable use of marine resources and successful marine management is the lack of information. Especially, there is a large lack of geological and biological data in the shallow areas. As human pressures increase in coastal and marine areas, the needs for multidisciplinary information and data on the marine environment are also increasing.

The SeaMoreEco project will provide information on the marine environment of the northern Gulf of Bothnia, particularly on the threatened habitats and species in the region, as well as practical experiences on how to achieve the restoration of shallow marine habitats. The project will test and develop methods for research, effective monitoring and restoration of shallow bottoms, focusing on endangered species and habitats. Surveys and monitoring of the shallow marine areas has long been a difficult task. The SeaMoreCo project is testing tools such as mapping by drones and satellite imagery analysis, which have recently emerged as cost-effective options for surveys and mapping of very shallow water areas.

Partners:
Länsstyrelsen Norrbotten/Sweden (coordinator), Länsstyrelsen Västerbotten/Sweden, SGU/Sweden, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (South Ostrobothnia and North Ostrobothnia)/Finland, Geological Survey of Finland (GTK)

Funding:

• Interreg Aurora Programme
• The project utilizes FINMARI research infrastructure such as GTK’s Geomari and Gridi research vessels.

 

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