| Acronym: | PO ACORES2020-2015-ASPAZOR |
| Cost Center: | 634 |
| Operation Code: | ACORES-01-0145-FEDER-000060 |
| Title: | Ecosystem impacts and socioeconomic benefits of Asparagopsis armata in the Azores |
| Entidade Beneficiária Principal: | Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso |
| Gestores da FGF: | Bruno Fernambuco, Lúcia Cláudio |
| Responsible Researcher: | Ana Isabel De Melo Azevedo Neto |
| Organic Units: | FCAA - Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e do Ambiente |
| R&D Units: | GBA-cE3c - Grupo de Biodiversidade dos Açores |
| Entidade | Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso |
|---|---|
| Total Eligible Cost | 139.081,83 € |
| PO Açores 2020 - FEDER (85.0 %) | 118.219,56 € |
Main Objectives:
This project aims to understand the effect of the non-indigenous algae Asparagopsis armata on coastal communities in the Azores and predict how the abundance of this species will influence the coastal biodiversity of these islands in future scenarios of change. climate. The project also aims to assess the potential of Asparagopsis as an alternative resource for commercial exploitation in the archipelago. Increase Scientific Production of Quality and Oriented to Intelligent Specialization.
Project Description:
This project investigates how the cryptic and highly invasive red algae A. armata impacts the ecosystem services and coastal biodiversity of these islands in the current context and in future contexts of environmental changes. Additionally, this project investigates whether A. armata has the potential to become an exploitable marine resource in the Azores, in order to provide information on the available biomass for sustainable economic exploitation.
Results:
The development of this project will make it possible to fill the existing knowledge gap regarding the impact of A. armata on the Azorean coast in the current context and in future contexts of environmental changes. Additionally, it will provide knowledge and scientific bases to: (i) develop mitigation and conservation plans with a view to protecting native communities; (ii) understand whether the removal of the species can be effective in mitigating its negative impacts; and (iii) to test the usefulness of this invasive alga as a new marine resource. Considering the multiple uses of extracts from this non-native species and its high abundance on the coasts of the archipelago, this project will also promote the sustainable use of A. armata as a source of economic and social benefits for the Region in the area of marine biotechnology. This will allow local economic agents to implement a new fishery, which will have the added value of allowing the emergence of new local investments with economic potential in the area of technological innovation. Altogether, the expected results of this project will provide economic and social benefits to the Azorean population.
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