HaV-ICG-EMO – Expert support in biogeochemical modeling OSPAR ICG – EMO 2022 - 2024

Because eutrophication – the over-enrichment of water by nutrients that degrade the health of a marine ecosystem – became increasingly evident in the North Atlantic and the North Sea around 1980, the Oslo-Paris Commission (OSPAR) was established to monitor and find solutions to mitigate eutrophication and its related environmental problems. Despite large efforts to reduce nutrient loads, eutrophication still affects large areas of the North Atlantic and the North Sea. In 2005, the Intersessional Correspondence Group on Eutrophication Modelling (ICG-EMO) was formed to support OSPAR by providing robust model data sets that allow improved eutrophication assessments. These results are then taken into account in the OSPAR Quality Status Report (QSR).

In this context, FoU-Oce has been an active member of the ICG-EMO group since 2019, providing results from our most up-to-date ecosystem model and regularly participating in discussions within OSPAR through the ICG-EMO group. This project will continue at least until 2024.