REMARCO

Remediation, Management, Monitoring and Cooperation addressing North Sea UXO After decades in the sea water, ammunition shells from World Wars are in different stages of degradation. Leaking toxic and carcinogenic compounds have been found surrounding war wrecks and dumping sites. Apart from the risk of uncontrolled explosions, samples taken in marine expeditions and laboratory analyses found leaked toxic compounds also in biota that explained health impairments of exposed organisms. These results are leading to marine food safety concerns. There is no common systematic approach to assess or to implement the monitoring and remediation measures needed to mitigate hazards. These hazards don't stop at borders and require a strategy of transnational dimension, moving from the North Sea Wrecks project analytic approach to remediation. REMARCO aims to reduce pollution and contribute to marine ecosystem protection by 1) increasing the capacity of authorities with a systematized risks assessment strategy within the MFSD and enhanced methodology, 2) promoting the adoption of transnationally validated remote and automated solutions for NSR authorities and supra-national bodies to monitor and remediate risks, 3) promoting a change of behaviour of responsible stakeholders leading to the improvement of policy instruments. To make the proposed change happen, we structure the work into experimental development activities, surveying & laboratory analysis of toxic compounds, test solutions in selected locations, strategies and policy recommendations, promotion and lobbying activities for reaching decision makers.

Cruises

Plan code Principal Investigator Duration Shared campaigns