Técnicas Multi-observacionais para deteção de florescências de ALgas tóxicas e previsão de contaminação em aquaculturas offshore de bIValvEs

HABs are a serious issue in coastal management, impacting food security and economic sectors. Aquaculture is a relevant sector of Blue Growth and its intensification is welcomed. HABs represent a risk for this sector, with bivalve harvesting being bound to closure frequently in Portugal, where the Algarve region is the most important region for bivalve molluscs production (Fig.1 and Fig.3, annex). MultiALIVE is framed to test the hypothesis that the phytoplankton toxin contamination in offshore aquaculture sites can be detected, modelled and forecasted effectively and that this knowledge can be used to produce valuable tools to aid aquaculture management and improve its production. The MultiALIVE team believes that this objective can be achieved due to the combination of existent expertise, historical database availability and the logistic capacity to carry out the necessary data collection and analysis. MultiALIVE also takes advantage of the location of the study site and hence benefits from the support and motivation of the aquaculture sector. To succeed, MultiALIVE needs to address challenges such as a) merging of in situ data of biological parameters (e.g. phytoplankton dynamics, Chla concentration) and the abiotic factors that explain toxic phytoplankton dynamics (e.g. temperature, salinity, currents, nutrients) with the evidence of contamination on the bivalves; b) detection of toxic bloom events with higher temporal and spatial resolution techniques; c) accessing representative and good quality data series to enable the successful application of models for spatial circulation and accumulation/elimination rates of toxin contamination; d) selecting of the best model to forecast toxin contamination and e) making it available in a practical way to the stakeholders. In this context the results achieved by MultiALIVE might not only contribute to the development of HABs research but also by using the acquired know-how to boost aquaculture management and production, allowing the evolution of the state-of-the-art in several fronts, namely: 1. Scientific advances regarding the HABs drivers, behaviour and impacts in a climate change scenario in coastal and marine systems, 2. Technological advances, through development meticulously structured and rigorously quality-controlled meteoceanographic dataset an ensemble of biogeochemical hydrodynamic models, DEB models for bivalves, and artificial intelligence. in an aquaculture scenario; 3. Stakeholders engage with easy access communication tools, if possible delivering 2-3 days forecasts of water quality in aquaculture sites; 4. Improve aquaculture production and capacity building in state-of-the-art technologies/scientific research lines. After testing the hypothesis the multidisciplinary team aims to reach the 4 main goals: 1- Improve the knowledge of processes associated with HAB formation and senescence; 2- Development of new tools for HABs observation & Shellfish Contamination forecasting at local scale; 3- Boosting offshore aquaculture management with science development towards predicting natural contamination. 4- Effective project results uptake by the end-users – aquaculture stakeholders.