Problem addressed
Marine projects (dredging, submarine cables, port concessions, land–sea discharges, offshore renewable energy, etc.) can generate environmental impacts on physical, biological, and socioeconomic components. Project developers require rigorous studies to comply with environmental regulations and to prevent significant adverse effects on the marine environment.
What we do and how we do it
- We assess the effects of contaminants on marine ecosystems by conducting bioassays with marine organisms at different trophic levels to evaluate toxicity and impacts in water, sediments, or leachates.
- Characterisation and management of dredged materials.
- Recommendations on the use of biocides based on ecotoxicological criteria, calculating acceptable emission values to avoid impacts in the immediate disposal area.
- Optimisation of sediment bioassays with high ammonium concentrations.
- Analysis of biofouling and its impacts on infrastructures and ecosystems.
- We characterise and monitor dredged materials for relocation in waters of the Maritime–Terrestrial Public Domain (MTPD):
- Physico-chemical characterisation.
- Biological characterisation.
- Ecotoxicological characterisation.
- Management recommendations in accordance with the Guidelines for the characterisation of dredged material and its relocation in waters of the Maritime–Terrestrial Public Domain of the Interministerial Commission for Marine Strategies (CIEM) (2024).
- We characterise and monitor underwater noise using passive acoustics.
- We deploy passive sampling devices for environmental monitoring.
- We implement advanced environmental monitoring systems (uncrewed surface, aerial and underwater vehicles, cameras, landers, etc.).
- We characterise and assess impacts generated by electromagnetic fields.
Key benefits
- Compliance with environmental regulations and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS).
- Reliable information on impacts across all project phases, supporting safer decision-making.
- Improved, context-specific mitigation and corrective measures.
- Transparent and effective communication with authorities and stakeholders.
- Backed by AZTI’s experience: over 25 years of multidisciplinary work and strong technical capacity for marine sampling, analysis, and modelling.
Proven expertise
- AZTI is a reference organisation in the marine environment at local, national, European, and global levels. We participate in international groups—such as ICES—focused on the environmental impacts of marine projects.
Success stories
- Basque Government (Department of Ports): dredging plans and projects in Basque ports (1994–2022).
- Port Authority of Bilbao: monitoring plans for dredging and port expansion works since 1992; EIAs for aggregate extraction; studies for the characterisation and management of dredged materials.
- Port Authority of Pasaia: studies for the characterisation and management of dredged materials.
- Nervión Estuary Monitoring Network (Bilbao-Bizkaia Water Consortium): ongoing since 1992.
