Research subline

Conservation and restoration of marine species and habitats

Protection and restoration of marine biodiversity through the identification of areas to be protected, species to be conserved or habitats to be restored, and the proposal of management and monitoring measures.

Solutions

We work with public authorities and sectors to create and manage marine protected areas, contribute to conservation plans for threatened species and to strategies for controlling invasive species. We apply nature-based solutions and design and implement ecological restoration plans to recover marine habitats that are in decline or have disappeared. We monitor and map marine biodiversity.

Invasive alien species

Inventory and distribution of invasive alien species.
Risk analysis for invasive alien species.
Early warning systems for early detection.
Control and eradication strategies for invasive alien species.

Assessment and monitoring of the marine natural environment

Assessment and monitoring of the marine environment (coastal waters, shoreline and deep sea):

Characterisation and monitoring of the marine environment (biodiversity).
Status indicators for the marine environment (biodiversity).
Vulnerability of marine ecosystems to global change (climate change, human activities, etc.).
New technologies and methodologies for marine monitoring, such as environmental DNA sampling, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), seabed platforms (landers) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).

Restoration of marine ecosystems

Plans for the restoration of degraded or lost marine habitats and for maintaining biodiversity.

Ecological restoration plans for degraded habitats (seagrass meadows, saltmarshes, reefs, benthic habitats).
Biodiversity monitoring using tailored survey and mapping methodologies.
Nature-based solutions to strengthen ecosystem resilience.

Catalogues and management plans for threatened species

Specific strategies for threatened marine species:

Monitoring and cataloguing of threatened marine species.
Management proposals for the conservation of threatened marine species.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Support for the identification, characterisation, delineation, monitoring and management of marine protected areas.

Development of maps of habitats and species of conservation interest.
Identification of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs).
Prioritisation and Systematic Conservation Planning.
Proposals and management plans for MPAs.

Our services

Solutions to protect marine biodiversity through the identification and management of protected areas, the conservation of threatened species, and ecosystem restoration—strengthened by ecological status assessments and the detection of human pressures.

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Our products

Products that support the management, restoration, and monitoring of habitats and species.

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Oceanographic ships and craft

AZTI has its own and partner fleets to support oceanographic and fishery research, combining its own resources with the support of specialist companies and public institutions. This capacity ensures that scientific campaigns can be carried out at sea and in coastal areas with the highest technical and safety levels.

Marine and fishery biology Laboratories

Laboratories specialising in the study of marine organisms, from phytoplankton and zooplankton to species of interest to fisheries.

Guidance every step of the way

Contact our expert team about this Service.

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