Tools for Assessment and Planning of Aquaculture Sustainability (TAPAS)

Completed project

Project start: March 2016  |  Project end: February 2020
Funder: European Commission Horizon 2020
Principal Investigator: Stefan Simis
Other participants from PML: Dr Andrey Kurekin, Dr Francesco Nencioli, Dr Momme Butenschon, Dr Pierre Cazenave, Dr Ricardo Torres, Dr Stefano Ciavatta, Dr Susan Kay, Dr Victor Martinez-Vicente, Stefan Simis
Website: http://tapas-h2020.eu/

This “toolbox” will support transparent and efficient licensing, enhance environment sustainability and aquatic food security while tapping into the potential for food production and jobs. The research team will collaborate with industry, regulators, certifiers and other stakeholders to ensure the toolbox they create is accessible, using training and outreach activities to improve the image of European aquaculture and promote an integrated sustainability strategy.

TAPAS is a large-scale project funded as part of the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Action by the European Commission and is led by the University of Stirling. PML’s role in the project is to contribute large-scale ecosystem models of the north east Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, as well as high resolution models (farm scale), risk and growth projections of aquaculture, satellite processing of water quality and validation of satellite products. Research from the PML-led ROSA and ShellEye projects will also feed into the TAPAS project, providing advanced modelling capability and enhanced satellite observation techniques.

Impact

This collaborative work will play a major role in the European Commissions’ strategy to achieve smart growth in aquaculture production across the region’s seas. Key drivers for the economy, these waters presently represent approximately 5.4 million jobs and generate a gross added value of almost €500 billion a year.