The Eurecat technology centre and the companies Ocean Ecostructures and GPA SEABOTS have teamed up on the OASIS project which is designed to roll out nature-based solutions to address the environmental impact of port infrastructures and thus help turn ports into active players in biodiversity regeneration and the fight against climate change on coasts.
The project, which is being presented this week at the Smart City Expo fair in Barcelona, has developed the optimisation of an Ocean Ecostructures product, “a structure with natural materials which imitate nature and make it possible to build micro-reefs and bio-walls in three dimensions to foster the formation of new habitats on the seabed,” said Irene Ràfols, director of Eurecat’s Product Development Unit.
Eurecat has been involved in “developing new products for the structures, designing and engineering them and in advanced simulation while also helping the company to find industrial suppliers for the production required,” added Maite Iriondo, a researcher in Eurecat’s Product Development Unit.
“We have been working together for a long time on several initiatives to support marine regeneration and the battle against climate change,” pointed out Jesús Boschmonart, head of Business Development in the Green Cities & Industries team. “So we have worked in various areas besides the development of nature-based solutions through product design and advanced simulation, such as data generation and Internet of Things (IoT) systems for seabed monitoring and coastal systems to help combat climate change.”
The strategy aims to transform grey infrastructures, in this case commercial ports, into blue infrastructures or marine oases by restoring degraded and polluted areas and recovering biodiversity, thus bolstering the battle against climate change.
The project “will bring about improved sustainability and digitalisation of the commercial ports and marinas which account for the highest concentration of pollution and environmental impact,” argued Anna Lloveras, Ocean Ecostructures’ scientific director. In addition, the project “will mean progress in economic development in the blue economy and pave the way for new ecosystem services which can be monetised by the ports.”
As part of the OASIS project, Ocean Ecostructures’ initial deployment for the restoration of marine ecosystems in the Port of Barcelona kicked off in June 2023. These structures have been continuously monitored since their installation and are designed to support marine life and help restore and protect marine ecosystems. On 26 September 2023, in conjunction with GPA SEABOTS which has handled the technological integration, several Ocean Ecostructures micro-reefs were put in place in the Port of Palma in partnership with the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands.
The OASIS project for transforming ports into active agents for the regeneration of biodiversity and the fight against climate change comes under the call for grants in the Ports 4.0 Plan to Promote Entrepreneurship for Innovation in the Port Sector.
