IMMERSE Call 12 Extension
The IMMERSE partnership has been granted 1 year extension to activities.
The Call 12 extension extends the scope of IMMERSE activities towards the exploration and assessment of solutions for 2 estuarine pressures not covered so far: 1) the occurrence of microplastics and 2) transport pathways specific to sediment-bound pollutants such as Mercury (Hg) & Cadmium (Cd). Both topics are regarded as 'emerging' pressures and are likely to affect future management of estuaries and seas. The additional activities in this extension fit within the IMMERSE project logic and enforce the current IMMERSE outputs and results. It will also enhance the current transnational exchange of knowledge and experiences between partners and other interested stakeholders on the subject of these emerging pollutants.
Microplastics and sediment-bound pollutants are estuarine pressures occurring in most estuarine environments (and beyond) the North Sea Region. The development of solutions will contribute to preparing and implementing measures which can be adopted by other estuary managers. The estuarine pressures covered in this extension are expected to become more important in coming years with increasing impact of human activities combined with the effects of climate change. The addition of finding solutions for micro plastics and sediment-bound pollutants will enforce the success of IMMERSE, as it allows us to take one step further in the measure development to monitor & address these pressures, towards more sustainable estuaries.
The extension includes the following new deliverables:
- WP3 / Measures: Defining pressures & solutions
- State of knowledge of the effects and distribution of microplastics in estuarine environments and exploration of possible measures
- Summary of the knowledge on transport and distribution of organic & inorganic sediment-bound pollutants in estuaries and coastal waters
- Mapping the state of sediment-bound contamination in the Elbe estuary.
- WP4 / Measures: Assessments, tests & pilots
- Develop innovative rain gardens to filter & degrade microplastics
- Quantify the potential to use biological agents to filter microplastics from the water column within the Humber.
- WP7 / Horizontal: Transnationality
- TEEL on the subjects of microplastics and sediment-bound pollutants.
The composition of the project partnership remains unchanged, with no beneficiaries added. 6 project partners will actively contribute to activities in the extension. The other 5 partners will participate in transnational exchange by attending the TEEL.