The director of the Marine Research Centre (CIM) at the University of Vigo, Elsa Vázquez, held her first institutional meeting this week with Carlos Botana, president of the Port Authority of Vigo. The meeting aimed to reinforce the strategic alliance between the two entities in the area of the blue economy.
Particular attention was given to significant research and innovation initiatives already approved, such as Europort.2035 and Neoria. These two European-scale projects position the Atlántida Submarine Observatory at Peiraos do Solpor as a leading international living laboratory.
Under the Horizon Europe project Europort.2035, which involves the CIM, Vigo will serve as a pilot port for various actions focused on biodiversity and environmental monitoring, further establishing the Atlántida Submarine Observatory as a cutting-edge Living Lab. This initiative includes the development of an environmental digital twin that will continuously integrate underwater cameras, hydrophones, and new multiparametric sensors for water quality measurement. Artificial intelligence tools will be applied to automatically identify species, conduct acoustic analysis, and simulate ecosystems, while also incorporating advanced cybersecurity standards.
Regarding Neoria, the Port Authority will play a leading role in deploying nature-based solutions (NbS) and validating the Climate Change Adaptation Plan in the port environment. The CIM will contribute its scientific expertise in biodiversity and marine ecology to Europort.2035, focusing primarily on the pilot project at the Port of Vigo, where it will collaborate on studying and monitoring biodiversity associated with the structures at Peiraos do Solpor.
The CIM's main contribution will be to generate scientific knowledge that allows for the evaluation of the functionality and effectiveness of these nature-based infrastructure solutions, aimed at promoting the recovery of marine ecosystems and enhancing environmental monitoring. The research team will carry out tasks such as characterising marine communities, collecting and analysing biological samples, and assessing biodiversity, while also contributing to the development of innovative environmental monitoring tools and knowledge transfer to facilitate the application of these solutions in other European ports.
Furthermore, as a result of this meeting, the Port Authority and the CIM proposed new lines of work aimed at the comprehensive management of aquatic environments. Among the new proposals are the implementation of nature-based solutions (NbS) to mitigate potential discharges, precise quantification of underwater noise using natural bioindicators—assessing the potential of benthic species against the impact of port activity—and studying the role of artificial reefs in the ecological recovery of altered habitats.
This meeting between Vázquez and Botana coincides with the 30th anniversary of the first graduating class of the Faculty of Marine Sciences at the University of Vigo, of which both were members.
