OSPAR Science Agenda Knowledge Gap Portal

Welcome to the OSPAR Science Agenda knowledge gap portal. The page showcases important scientific questions and evidence needs identified by OSPAR to help protect and sustainably manage the North-East Atlantic. Use the filters and search options below to explore knowledge gaps by topic, category, region, and status, or browse visually to discover areas where new research, data, or collaborations are needed. The aim is to make it easy for anyone - scientists, funders, and policy makers to understand the current priorities, access key details, and get involved in helping to close these important gaps for a healthier ocean future.

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Implications of removing fish from the wild for use as cleaner fish

ID Number: BB33.05

Knowledge gap description: There is need to study implications of removing fish from the wild (wrasse and lumpfish) for use as cleaner fish to manage parasite levels in farmed fish, including the genetic interaction of escaped cleaner fish.

Topics:

Fish and Cephalopods

Knowledge Gap Category:

4. data coverage

Assessment Category:

Thematic assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

N/A

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Fish Thematic Assessment

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Lack of spatial data beyond coastal zone

ID Number: BB33.06

Knowledge gap description: Challenges that limit the ability to determine effectiveness of measures: the need for more spatial data to fill large gaps, especially for beyond the coastal zone.

Topics:

Fish and Cephalopods

Knowledge Gap Category:

6. effectiveness of measures

Assessment Category:

Thematic assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

N/A

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Fish Thematic Assessment

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Cause and effect for individual actions on fish

ID Number: BB33.07

Knowledge gap description: Challenges that limit the ability to determine effectiveness of measures: Recommendations address many actions, making it difficult to link cause and effect for individual actions and to determine where more effort could have the greatest effect.

Topics:

Fish and Cephalopods

Knowledge Gap Category:

6. effectiveness of measures

Assessment Category:

Thematic assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

N/A

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Fish Thematic Assessment

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Effectiveness of measures: time lag between action and effect

ID Number: BB33.08

Knowledge gap description: Challenges that limit the ability to determine effectiveness of measures: The need to consider time lag between taking an action and confirming whether it is having the desired effect. This time lag depends on a number of factors specific to each species' life history.

Topics:

Fish and Cephalopods

Knowledge Gap Category:

6. effectiveness of measures

Assessment Category:

Thematic assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

N/A

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Fish Thematic Assessment

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Effectiveness of area-based management

ID Number: BB33.09

Knowledge gap description: There are gaps in understanding of whether or not area-based management is effective (e.g., of the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)s within the network or of the network itself).

Topics:

Knowledge Gap Category:

6. effectiveness of measures

Assessment Category:

Thematic assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

N/A

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Fish Thematic Assessment

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Data availability relating to the OSPAR MPA network

ID Number: BB33.10

Knowledge gap description: There needs to be improved data availability relating to the OSPAR Marine Protected Area (MPA) network to inform managers of the various human activities in the marine environment.

Topics:

Fish and Cephalopods

Knowledge Gap Category:

4. data coverage

Assessment Category:

Thematic assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

N/A

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Fish Thematic Assessment

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Identify collective actions that add value to national actions

ID Number: BB33.11

Knowledge gap description: There is need for OSPAR to identify (and implement) collective actions that add value to existing national actions and to the efforts of other international organisations.

Topics:

Fish and Cephalopods

Knowledge Gap Category:

5. cumulative effects & integration

Assessment Category:

Thematic assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

N/A

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Fish Thematic Assessment

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International coordination of management and conservation measures for pelagic shelf fish

ID Number: BB33.12

Knowledge gap description: There is need for international coordination of management and conservation measures for pelagic shelf fish.

Topics:

Fish and Cephalopods

Knowledge Gap Category:

5. cumulative effects & integration

Assessment Category:

Thematic assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

N/A

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Fish Thematic Assessment

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Causes and consequences of changes in ecosystem state

ID Number: BB33.13

Knowledge gap description: OSPAR needs to consider the causes and consequences of changes in ecosystem state more holistically in order to fully apply ecosystem-based management.

Topics:

Fish and Cephalopods

Knowledge Gap Category:

5. cumulative effects & integration

Assessment Category:

Thematic assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

N/A

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Fish Thematic Assessment

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Seasonal high risk areas for bycatch at sea

ID Number: TBC

Knowledge gap description: Identify seasonal high risk areas for bycatch at sea

Topics:

Knowledge Gap Category:

4. data coverage

Assessment Category:

Status assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

D1C4

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status Assessment 2022 - Allis shad

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Impact of aquatic noise and electromagnetic fields on diadromous fish

ID Number: TBC

Knowledge gap description: Lack of knowledge on impact of aquatic noise, electromagnetic fields on diadromous fish behaviour

Topics:

Knowledge Gap Category:

4. data coverage

Assessment Category:

Status assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

D11C1, D11C2

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status Assessment 2022 - Allis shad

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Suitability of areas in the light of climate change

ID Number: TBC

Knowledge gap description: Climate change: identify future unsuitable areas (i.e. southern Europe) and locate potential suitable ones that will ensure reproductive success

Topics:

Knowledge Gap Category:

4. data coverage

Assessment Category:

Status assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

D1C4

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status Assessment 2022 - Allis shad

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Potential effect of invasive species

ID Number: TBC

Knowledge gap description: Potential effect of invasive species

Topics:

Knowledge Gap Category:

4. data coverage

Assessment Category:

Status assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

D2C3

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status Assessment 2022 - Allis shad

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Marine life stages of Alosa species - sources of mortality and modifications in geographical range

ID Number: TBC

Knowledge gap description: There is a considerable lack of knowledge on the adult marine life stage of both Alosa species Allis and Twait. This could particularly impair the expert capability to understand modification in the geographical range and disentangle sources of mortality.

Topics:

Fish and Cephalopods

Knowledge Gap Category:

4. data coverage

Assessment Category:

Status assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

D1C3

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status Assessment 2022 - Allis shad

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Basking shark: Impacts of range shift in prey species, climate change, coastal development and potential habitats in MSP

ID Number: TBC

Knowledge gap description: Impacts of range shifts in prey species as well as ocean warming and acidification should be investigated. Special attention should be drawn to any coastal development project, and potential habitat and/or hotspots included in national or regional marine spatial planning frameworks

Topics:

Knowledge Gap Category:

4. data coverage

Assessment Category:

Status assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

D1C2, D1C3

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status Assessment 2021 - Basking shark

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Basking shark: Critical areas

ID Number: TBC

Knowledge gap description: The importance of individual gatherings of basking sharks in the OSPAR Region is unknown at the global scale, but they might be associated with critical areas linked to foraging or reproduction

Topics:

Fish and Cephalopods

Knowledge Gap Category:

4. data coverage

Assessment Category:

Status assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

D1C4

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status Assessment 2021 - Basking shark

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Common skate: Further information on stock delineation, habitat use, and discarding

ID Number: TBC

Knowledge gap description: Further studies on stock delineation, habitat use, and discarding could inform future management options

Topics:

Fish and Cephalopods

Knowledge Gap Category:

4. data coverage

Assessment Category:

Status assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

D1C4

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status Assessment 2021 - Common skate

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Common skate: Southern geographical limits

ID Number: TBC

Knowledge gap description: Southern geographical limits need to be better understood

Topics:

Fish and Cephalopods

Knowledge Gap Category:

4. data coverage

Assessment Category:

Status assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

D1C4

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status Assessment 2021 - Common skate

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Common skate: Knowledge on essential habitats for spatial management measures

ID Number: TBC

Knowledge gap description: Information on both species’ essential habitats for reproduction, nursery grounds, and feeding is needed to assess options for potential spatial management measures.

Topics:

Fish and Cephalopods

Knowledge Gap Category:

4. data coverage

Assessment Category:

Status assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

D1C4

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status Assessment 2021 - Common skate

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European eel: data on impacts of non-fisheries threats on status

ID Number: TBC

Knowledge gap description: Increased data collection and development of data collection infrastructure to better acknowledge the impacts of non-fisheries threats on eel status

Topics:

Fish and Cephalopods

Knowledge Gap Category:

4. data coverage

Assessment Category:

Status assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

D1C2

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status Assessment 2022 - European eel

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European eel: Overview of the prevalence, abundance and condition over the distribution area

ID Number: TBC

Knowledge gap description: Studies to gain an overview of the prevalence, abundance and condition of the eels over its distribution area and to assess the effects of contaminants and disease factors on lipid metabolism, condition, migration capacities and reproduction

Topics:

Fish and Cephalopods

Knowledge Gap Category:

4. data coverage

Assessment Category:

Status assessment

Relevant for MSFD Art 8:

D1C3, D1C4

Implementation Status

OSPAR Region: All Regions

Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status Assessment 2022 - European eel

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Gulper shark: Distribution and stock structure

ID Number: TBC

Knowledge gap description: For the NE Atlantic, the knowledge on distribution and stock structure is very deficient. There is a need for increased and rigorous monitoring of deep-water shark populations.

Topics: