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 76 - 83 of 83 items
Combined effects of TBT and other pressures on European shrimp
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Integration: It is questionable whether tribuyltin (TBT) is an important indicator for health status of European shrimp. The species is also threatened by other pressures. Thus, the reference case study of TBT and European shrimp indicates the necessity of long-term monitoring of ecosystem influences and the need for pragmatic integrations of unrelated drivers.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
5. cumulative effects & integration
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D8C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Integrated biological effects and chemical contaminants approach: a case study
End user risks
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: The risks for the end user of potential false positives and negatives need to be reduced.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D8C1
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Wide-scope target and suspect screening of emerging contaminants and their transformation products in marine biota samples from the North-East Atlantic
Clean sampling techniques
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Contamination needs to be eliminated from sampling.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D8C1
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Wide-scope target and suspect screening of emerging contaminants and their transformation products in marine biota samples from the North-East Atlantic
Improve the power of assessment
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: There needs to be improved assessment power.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D8C1
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Wide-scope target and suspect screening of emerging contaminants and their transformation products in marine biota samples from the North-East Atlantic
Improve sampling techniques for the marine environment
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: There needs to be development of marine focussed common sampling methodologies.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D8C1
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Wide-scope target and suspect screening of emerging contaminants and their transformation products in marine biota samples from the North-East Atlantic
Improve ecotoxicological thresholds for the marine environment
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Also required: focussed ecotoxicological (marine) threshold values. There is currently a high focus on water based predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) and modelled thresholds.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D8C1
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Wide-scope target and suspect screening of emerging contaminants and their transformation products in marine biota samples from the North-East Atlantic
Improve confidence of ecotoxicological thresholds for the marine environment
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Building on water based predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) and modelled thresholds into higher confidence risk/prioritisation models is a longer term aim.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D8C1
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Wide-scope target and suspect screening of emerging contaminants and their transformation products in marine biota samples from the North-East Atlantic
Combined effects of diseases and hazardous substances in marine mammals
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Effects of diseases and infections and the effects of hazardous substances.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Status assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D8C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status Assessment 2020 - Blue Whale