Abstract |
The ATLAS project is striving to improve our understanding of complex deep-sea ecosystems and their associated species, including those that are new to science. Researchers are looking to predict future changes to these ecosystems and species together with their vulnerabilities in the face of climate change. As well as carrying out pioneering research and discovery, ATLAS is developing a scientific knowledge base that can inform the development of international policies to ensure deep-sea Atlantic resources are managed effectively. This will contribute to the European Commission’s long-term “Blue Growth” strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors as a whole.
The ATLAS consortium brings together a wide range of stakeholders including oceanographers, marine ecologists, social scientists and policy experts from 25 organisations across 10 European countries, the USA and Canada. By bringing together such a diverse range of expertise, ATLAS will work towards four key objectives to:
- Advance our understanding of deep Atlantic marine ecosystems and populations
- Improve our capacity to monitor, model and predict shifts in deep-water ecosystems and populations
- Transform new data, tools and understanding into effective ocean governance
- Scenario-test and develop science-led, cost-effective adaptive management strategies that stimulate Blue Growth
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