Our research

The project aims to fill knowledge gaps by increasing the knowledge needed for sustainable marine management, particularly with regard to eutrophication issues. The long-term goal of the project is to develop a plan that makes policies more effective and sustainable, and reduce the risk of unnecessary costs in the future.

Despite decades of dedicated work, it is clear that even stronger cooperation between conventions, European framework directives and various institutions is needed in order to reduce eutrophication and achieve – and maintain – good environmental conditions in our marine areas.

Research questions

The three main research questions within CodeBlue:

1. Has climate change been a significant factor in relation to the increased nutrient supply to the sea in terms of today's eutrophication?
2. Will the ‘maximum allowable input’ of nutrients discussed in international agreements be sufficient to solve the eutrophication problem in a changing climate?
3. At the local level: How will the measures implemented affect the blue economy, such as aquaculture and local management in CodeBlue's specific coastal areas?

The project's societal impact extends beyond improved water quality and is in line with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, particularly ‘Oceans and Marine Resources’.

Project structure

• Work package 1: Compile in situ, remote and model data for model validation and create a unique harmonized biogeochemical forcing
• Work package 2: Hindcasts: current state, pre-eutrophication and no-climate
• Work package 3: Projections: one climate projection scenario and its twin with nutrient levels fixed at the Maximum Available Input
• Work package 4: Harmonized methodology, and policy oriented synthesis
• Work package 5: Data management and visualization
• Work package 6: 5 local test cases
• Work package 7: Project coordination, activation of the co-design committee and communication