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.
Showing 26 - 39 of 39 items
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
Porbeagle: Discard survival
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Research is needed on discard survival of porbeagles
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 2021 - Porbeagle
Assessment methodology on sources of underwater noise
ID Number: BE04.04
Knowledge gap description: The assessment methodology does not include sources other than shipping and fishing vessels with automatic identification or vessel monitoring systems.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
TBD
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Underwater Noise Thematic Assessment
Future trends in fish stocks
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Fisheries: Improve understanding of future trends, including impacts of climate change on fish stocks and the ecosystem, and instabilities caused by tensions over fisheries management or new fisheries.
Knowledge Gap Category:
7. emerging issues of human activities
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Human Activities Thematic Assessment
Understand how MSY influences other ecosystem components
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Fisheries: OSPAR should improve its understanding of how fishing at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) influences other components of the ecosystem and ecosystem health overall, and its understanding of future trends.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
7. emerging issues of human activities
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Human Activities Thematic Assessment
Harmful fishing activities that need particular focus
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Fisheries: OSPAR will continue to identify which fishing activities need particular focus from fisheries management authorities as posing a threat to species, habitats, biodiversity and ecosystems, including pressures affecting sea floor integrity, and litter from fishing activities.
Knowledge Gap Category:
7. emerging issues of human activities
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Human Activities Thematic Assessment
Uncertainties on environmental impacts from EU fisheries
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: European Commission’s Joint Research Centre reported that there were uncertainties around the short- and long-term environmental impacts, as well as economic and social impacts, of the landing obligation (discard ban) introduced in EU member states.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Feeder Report 2021 - Fisheries
MSY influencing the ecosystems
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: OSPAR could consider how to improve its understanding of how fishing at Maximum Sustainable Yields levels influences other components of the ecosystem, and ecosystem health overall.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
5. cumulative effects & integration
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Feeder Report 2021 - Fisheries
Lack of consistent fisheries approaches in the EU
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Even at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) levels, fishing will have impacts on the ecosystem and its food webs. European Commission has noted that assessment of the state of food webs across European seas is affected by a lack of consistent approaches, high uncertainty, or lack of data.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D4C1, D4C2, D4C3, D4C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Feeder Report 2021 - Fisheries
Impacts from fishing activities on biodiversity and ecosystems
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Identify which fishing activities need particular focus from fisheries management authorities as they pose a threat to biodiversity and ecosystems, and where, and which other human activities are affecting the fishing resource. This could include assessment of impacts in different regions, including where pressures on sea floor integrity might have the most significant negative impact on ecosystems.
Knowledge Gap Category:
7. emerging issues of human activities
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D3C1, D3C2, D3C3, D6C4, D6C5
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Feeder Report 2021 - Fisheries
Better understanding of the potential for and consequences of harvesting at lower trophic levels
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Norway’s bioeconomy strategy noted that a better understanding of the potential for and consequences of harvesting at lower trophic levels was still needed
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D4C1, D4C2, D4C3, D4C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Feeder Report 2021 - Fisheries
Impact of human induced pressures on Balearic shearwater
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Need to better understand and address the issue of by-catch. while the occurrence and impact of plastics on the species, as well as the influence of climate change, should also be addressed.
Knowledge Gap Category:
5. cumulative effects & integration
Assessment Category:
Status assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D1C1, D1C2, D10C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status Assessment 2022 - Balearic shearwater
Improved evaluation of discard reduction measures
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: The reduction of discards associated to the Common Fisheries Policy's (CFP) landing obligation should be properly evaluated.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
5. cumulative effects & integration
Assessment Category:
Status assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D1C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status Assessment 2022 - Balearic shearwater
Impacts of human activities on ecological functioning of hydrothermal vents communities
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Knowledge gaps of biodiversity, connectivity, life histories (including for example reproduction and growth rates), function and resilience of communities to disturbance and change (e.g. fishing, climate change, potential future deep-seabed mining).
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 - Oceanic Ridges with hydrothermal vents