Oceanographic Structure Daphne

The Oceanographic Structure Daphne is the regional reference centre for the environmental control of the coastal marine ecosystem and for the monitoring and integrated management of coastal areas (ICZM) and represents a branch of ARPA ER.

It was established by the regional authorities of Emilia-Romagna in 1977 and subsequently transferred to the Regional Prevention and Environment Agency of Emilia-Romagna (ARPAER).

The various activities involving both monitoring and research carried out by Daphne, aim to identify the factors affecting the environment and provide proper technical support to the regional and local authorities in order to protect the sea and its resources. The overall provision of services is enriched by the cooperation of the other specialized network "nodes" of the agency.

To fulfil these needs, Daphne has developed several areas of activity:

• coastal oceanography
• monitoring and studying of eutrophication processes
• monitoring of litter on the beaches and microlitter in the sea column water
• analysis of accumulation of contaminants in marine sediment
• control of radiopollution
• analysis of bioaccumulation of micropollutants in marine organisms
• study and distribution of mucilages aggregates
• study and control of benthic communities
• ecotoxicology
• harbour dredging monitoring and characterization of discharge areas
• specialised laboratory activity
• particle size analysis in sediments

The Structure has use of the Oceanographic vessel "Daphne II" and of land laboratories, together with the laboratory network of ARPA local departments. It is located in the same structure as the Centre for marine research (CRM) of Cesenatico, which is the national reference laboratory for marine biotoxins. Marine activities involve a high density network of monitoring stations down the Emilia-Romagna coastline. Sampling and measuring stations distributed along the coastal zone from the Po Delta to Cattolica, up to a distance of 20 km offshore, are monitored weekly.

With the aim to provide a detailed description of the health of the marine-coastal ecosystem, great care is given to the development of:

• methods and criteria for the classification of environmental quality
• technology focused on system optimisation of control and study
• research into anoxic conditions and their effects on benthic fauna
• communication, raising of awareness

 

 

The Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change is a non-profit research institution established in 2005, with the financial support of the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research. CMCC manages and promotes scientific and applied activities in the field of international climate change research. The Center has been fully operative since 2006.

The CMCC network structure has offices in Lecce, Bologna, Capua, Milan, Sassari, Venice, Viterbo, and Benevento. It involves and links private and public institutions jointly investigating multidisciplinary topics related to climate science research.

CMCC has been founded with the main goal of establishing a Center of excellence focused on integrated study of climate change related topics in Italy. CMCC represents at the national and international scale, an institutional point of reference for decision makers, public institutions, as well as private and public companies seeking technical-scientific support.

CMCC’s expertise and approach to climate science is strengthened by its capacity to develop research projects, which contribute to a national network of excellence. CMCC also collaborates with the best international centers specialized in advanced and applied research on climate change.
 Thanks to its networked structure, CMCC brings together highly qualified experts/professionals from different climate research areas in a single unique institution. The workflow within the CMCC network fosters the integration of technological resources and skills needed to develop a global and extensive approach to climate research including: mathematics, physics, economics and computer science. CMCC collaborates with experienced scientists, economists, and technicians, which work together in order to provide full analyses of climate impacts on various systems such as agriculture, ecosystems, coasts, water resources, health, and economics. CMCC also supports policymakers in setting and assessing costs, mitigation, and adaptation policies.

Further information can be found at www.cmcc.it

The Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (IOF) is a scientific public institution founded in 1930 as the first national scientific and research institution dealing with research of the sea. It is Croatian National Reference Centre for the marine research with almost 100 employees of whom more than 50 are PhD experts in different field of research. Since the founding scientific activity of the Institute is multidisciplinary and covers research in the fields of biological, chemical and physical oceanography, sedimentology, and fisheries biology and aquaculture. The IOF research vessels Bios and Navicula are used for oceanographic and fisheries research activities, designed specifically for surveys and data collection for both coastal and open-sea waters.

The basic direction in the IOF work is represented by fundamental scientific research, which is mostly conducted through projects of continuing research activities funded by the Croatian Ministry of Education and Sports. The aim of this research is extending the knowledge of the structure of different plant and animal populations in the Adriatic Sea, as well as their relation to various abiotic and biotic factors important for the balance of the Adriatic ecosystem, and the definition of coast-open sea interdependence, in order to recognize possible changes resulting from climatic and anthropogenic factors. The basic mechanisms of action of population dynamics, biology and ecology of marine organisms are also under research, especially the most economical fish species and edible invertebrates (crustaceans and cephalopods), in order to determine the biologically acceptable level of their exploitation.

From the beginning, the scientists at the IOF have published over 1700 scientific and professional papers in both domestic and foreign publications. The published papers have included expedition reports, hydrographic studies, dynamic properties of the marine eco-system, description of flora and fauna, ecological research (in particular, primary and secondary production), fisheries research, advancements in fishing and artificial breeding (in relation to the Adriatic and Mediterranean, including coastal and open seas), as well as man’s impact on the sea. Apart from basic scientific research, IOF conducts a number of applied research projects for environmental protection, aquaculture and the economy in general, through which a large part of scientific knowledge and results finds a practical application.

A part of the IOF actions is dedicated to pedagogical activities, because the Institute is entrusted with the organization and execution of teaching at the Center for the Study of the Sea at the University of Split. The Institute has, in collaboration with University of Split and University of Dubrovnik, founded and organized a Ph.D. in Applied Science on the Sea, as well as doctoral studies in Oceanology with University of Zagreb and Rudjer Boskovic Institute. Within these sectors, the Institute, in collaboration with the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, for ten years regularly held an international course in fishery science, which was unfortunately discontinued in early 1991 with the beginning of the war.

Very important is the publishing activity, as of 1932. IOF publishes a scientific journal “Acta Adriatica” through which it makes the exchange with about 350 domestic and international scientific publishers.

International cooperation is developed on various grounds. This activity was extremely important since the foundation, so the employees was actively engaged in the work and making of many international organizations, committees and programs for sea exploration, especially in the Mediterranean, where the Institute has had and still has a very important role (CIESM – International Commission for Scientific Research of the Mediterranean, GFCM – General Fisheries Council for the Mediterranean, EU-MEDITS, IOC – Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, WMO - World Meteorological Organization, WHO - World Health Organization, OECD - Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, UNEP - the United Nations Environment Program).

Within the FAO-AdriaMed, the Institute was named the "focal point" institution at the level of countries of the eastern Adriatic, and was named responsible for co-operation with the IOC by Republic of Croatia. In the past years, the largest part of international cooperation has developed through bilateral cooperation (Italy, France, USA, Germany, United Kingdom), while in recent years an increasing part of international cooperation takes place through a variety of multidisciplinary projects of the EU, particularly through regionaly based projects.