ACO is a network partner of RECOVER
Interreg project RECOVER develops a digital management system for the Baltic Sea.
How can the Baltic Sea be effectively protected and its ecological status improved? This question lies at the heart of the new German-Danish Interreg project, RECOVER, which is developing a digital twin of the south-western Baltic Sea. Using microalgae as sensitive bioindicators, the projects’ aim is a system that will provide near-real time assessments of the environmental health of the Baltic Sea under increasing anthropogenic pressures and of effective restoration measures. To ensure that reliable water-quality data is available across the German-Danish border region, the RECOVER team is developing robust, low-cost sensors that can easily be used by trained citizens to measure nutrients, temperature, oxygen and the green pigment in algae – chlorophyll a. As a network partner of the Interreg project RECOVER, we actively contribute to achieving the project goals by contributing our expertise, sharing resources and jointly developing solutions for a sustainable future.
Over the next three years, the RECOVER project will lay the groundwork for a digital twin of the western Baltic Sea: a virtual model that visualises environmental developments and can detect emerging pressures at an early stage. To this end, researchers will use among others high-resolution camera systems to record species and abundance of microalgae in real time. Modern environmental DNA (eDNA) analyses will also be employed. These methods detect genetic traces of organisms in water samples, providing insights into overall biodiversity. The digital twin is intended for more than just research. RECOVER aims to translate the “warning signals” sent by algae into a format that is understandable for policymakers, fisheries, coastal communities and the wider public, thereby strengthening awareness of the Baltic Sea’s condition. To this end, the project is creating a participatory platform to support the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and best practice in Baltic Sea management. Representatives from politics, business, agriculture, fisheries, municipalities and civil society are actively involved in assessing the effectiveness and feasibility of potential protection measures. The project aims to raise awareness of the value of marine ecosystems and foster a better understanding of the ecological health of the Baltic Sea. Research institutions, universities and numerous network partners on both sides of the border are working together.
official press release GEOMAR: How can the environmental health of the Baltic Sea be improved?