The Ocean of Tomorrow 2012 - Info day

Research in support to the Good Environmental Status (GES) of our Seas and Oceans

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Oceans offer huge opportunities for innovation and economic development. However, the impact of human activities on the marine environment keeps increasing. Maritime transport, offshore energy, tourism, coastal development, resource extraction, fisheries and aquaculture are examples of activities which can have a major impact on the marine environment, putting at risk fragile marine ecosystems. The European Union has taken up this challenge with the Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP) of which the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) is the environmental pillar.

"The Ocean of Tomorrow 2012" initiative is consistent with the two previous cross-thematic calls FP7-OCEAN-2010 and FP7-OCEAN-2011. It is one of the actions undertaken in order to implement the European Strategy for Marine and Maritime Research COM (2008) 534

Following the two previous "The Ocean of Tomorrow" cross-thematic calls, several topics will be launched to support the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/C). Cooperation will involve Theme 2 Food, Agriculture, Fisheries and biotechnology, Theme 5 Energy, Theme 6 Environment, (including climate change), and Theme 7 Transport (including Aeronautics). The focus will be on research gaps about the definition and monitoring of the "Good Environment Status" (GES) of EU waters, to be achieved by 2020.

THE OCEAN OF TOMORROW 2012 - THE APPROACH AT A GLANCE
"The Ocean of Tomorrow" 2012 initiative requires a multi-disciplinary approach and the involvement of various scientific and technological research fields directly relevant for advancing the knowledge base on the good environmental status (GES). It is implemented through 9 coordinated topics addressing a wide range of marine related issues relevant to several descriptors of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON THE INFODAY?

To emphasise the relevance of the combined efforts between DG ENVIRONMENT, MARE and DG Research and Innovation, the event will be opened by high level representatives from the three DGs.
It will be followed by a general presentation on the rationale of "The Ocean of Tomorrow" 2012 initiative, and the description of the relevant topics in the four different Themes. The event will end with a brokerage and informal networking session.