IHCantabria reaffirms its commitment to marine sustainability in the framework of World Environment and Oceans Days 2025
Plastic pollution, prediction of extreme meteo-oceanic events and marine emergency management are some of IHCantabria’s lines of work in projects focused on oceans and environment
In the context of the double commemoration of World Environment Day (June 5) and World Oceans Day (June 8), the Environmental Hydraulics Institute of the Universidad de Cantabria (IHCantabria) reinforces its commitment to research, training and technology and knowledge transfer to address the challenges affecting marine ecosystems. Under the slogans “No Plastic Pollution” and “Ocean Wonders: sustaining what sustains us”, the United Nations draws attention to the urgency of protecting the marine environment from threats such as climate change and pollution.
Institutional commitment to the protection of oceans and the marine environment
“The sustainability of the marine environment requires decisive actions that combine scientific knowledge, technological innovation and international cooperation,” says the general director of IHCantabria, Raúl Medina. “From IHCantabria we work to generate solutions to improve risk management, preserve coastal ecosystems and prepare institutions for environmental emergencies. Our work is based on applied and rigorous research, aimed at solving real problems that affect environmental and human well-being”.
IHCantabria leads and participates in multiple projects that address the challenges of the marine environment from different perspectives. Many of these actions are developed within the framework of its Marine Science Program (PCM), integrated in the Complementary Plan for R+D+i in Marine Sciences (ThinkInAzul) and funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Government of Cantabria. This is the case of the GOS-GLOBAL, MARION, ARES and SIMULIT projects.
Forecasting and data for advanced coastal management
The Global Ocean Surge (GOS-GLOBAL) project generates a 30-year global historical sea level database with information on coastal sea level variations caused by atmospheric conditions associated with storms. “Thanks to GOS-GLOBAL we have gained new knowledge about sea level variations and in particular their extreme values, in order to be more protected and to contribute in taking the necessary mitigation measures in the face of events derived from sea level rise”, says Melisa Menéndez, one of the principal investigators (PI) of this project.
The MARION project focuses on water quality in coastal areas, such as the Bay of Santander; it uses innovative methods, such as artificial intelligence, to develop tools for the prevention and management of water quality and marine pollution, such as accidental spills and plastics. The acronym MARION refers to the “Operational system for the prediction of oceanographic variables and the prevention and management of marine pollution in coastal environments”.
“Both projects are part of IHCantabria’s PCM and are aligned with the 2030 Agenda, with Sustainable Development Goals (especially SDG 13, Climate Action, and SDG 14, Underwater Life) and with the Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development promoted by the UN,” says Ana Julia Abascal, PI of the MARION and GOS-GLOBAL projects.
PROMPT: spill prevention and response in coastal areas
Another project that is related to environmental issues and oceans is entitled “Preparedness for Operational Monitoring and Prediction of Pollution Transport at Sea” (PROMPT). This project, funded by the European Union, seeks to improve response capabilities to marine pollution events, especially in ports and coastal areas, from an integrated approach that considers physical, environmental, social and economic aspects. “PROMPT has enabled the development of a tool that will help port authorities and operators in making decisions related to spill emergency preparedness and management. The key is to integrate data and models for risk assessment with real operational capabilities, in order to provide a rapid and effective response,” says project PI Ana Julia Abascal.
Plastic pollution: a growing threat under study
The researcher Paula Núñez has developed in IHCantabria some researches in which she analyzes the presence and behavior of plastics and microplastics in marine and coastal environments, as well as their environmental impact. For example, in the framework of the ARES project, she is analyzing the potential of estuarine vegetation to retain floating plastic debris; while, in another study, she provided scientific evidence to quantify the threat of plastic debris in marine and coastal ecosystems. The results of these studies were published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin.
Other research focused on Climate Change and the Oceans
IHCantabria is involved in several research projects to advance the understanding of the possible effects that climate change may cause in the oceans. For example, researcher Héctor Lobeto is coordinating the most recent global study developed by the international scientific community COWCLIP, on the effects on waves derived from climate change. Within the framework of the national CYCLOMAR project, PI Melisa Menéndez reports that research is being carried out on how climate change may affect tropical cyclones (such as hurricanes) and extra-tropical cyclones (such as galernas) over the oceans, particularly on marine variables that may cause relevant impacts on society and the environment. Through the SIMULIT project, whose PI is Camino Fernández de la Hoz, advanced tools are being generated to identify the marine and estuarine species and habitats most vulnerable to climate change, as well as to predict future changes in their geographic distribution and ecological integrity.
A call to action from science
In the framework of the World Environment and Oceans Days, IHCantabria reaffirms its commitment to the generation of useful knowledge for the protection of the marine environment and to sustainable solutions to overcome the current and future threats facing the marine environment. Because, as the slogans of both commemorations remind us, the future of the planet depends, to a large extent, on the health of our oceans.
“No plastic pollution” and “Ocean wonders: sustaining what sustains us” are this year’s slogans for the commemoration of World Environment Day (June 5) and World Oceans Day (June 8). To celebrate, IHCantabria shares information about some of its projects that address issues related to environmental protection and sustainable use of the oceans
