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 - 100 of 168 items
Harm from microlitter on marine biota
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: There is still limited understanding of the harm caused by certain types of litter. More understanding is needed on the occurrence and abundance of (micro)litter in marine biota and associated harm. Research is needed on dose-response relationships in order to develop additional threshold values and targeted measures. This includes microplastics: occurrence and abundance of microliter (including microplastics) in marine biota and associated harm.
Knowledge Gap Category:
2. thresholds & references
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D10C3, D10C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Marine Litter Thematic Assessment
Marine litter sources
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Source identification: sources, pathways and (transboundary) transport of marine litter
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 - Marine Litter Thematic Assessment
Marine litter impacting ecosystem services
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Socio economic aspects: Further work on “impact on ecosystem services is needed.
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 - Marine Litter Thematic Assessment
Climate change effects on marine litter
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Improve understanding of the effects of climate change (including extreme weather events) on marine litter and 2) improve understanding of measures to prepare and respond to these effects.
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 - Marine Litter Thematic Assessment
Harmful effects of litter
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Harm: There is still limited understanding of the harm caused by certain types of litter. More understanding is needed on the bioavailability, occurrence and abundance of (micro)litter in marine biota and associated harm. Research is needed on dose-response relationships in order to develop additional threshold values and targeted measures. This includes microplastics: occurrence and abundance of microliter (including microplastics) in marine biota and associated harm.
Knowledge Gap Category:
2. thresholds & references
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D10C3, D10C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Impacts of marine litter on biota in the OSPAR Maritime Area
Effects of marine litter on populations and species
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: There is a considerable gap concerning the quantification of effects on the levels of populations and species.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D10C3, D10C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Impacts of marine litter on biota in the OSPAR Maritime Area
Cumulative effects from different pressures, including marine litter
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Cumulative effects from different pressures, including on marine litter, have to be set into the context of other anthropogenic factors, driving the deterioration of marine ecosystems in the OSPAR region.
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 - Impacts of marine litter on biota in the OSPAR Maritime Area
Plastic sources of particular concern
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Refine the understanding of which specific sources/types of plastic waste are of particular concern for the marine environment (e.g. because of volume, harm or toxicity), and consider what action can be taken to tackle these.
Knowledge Gap Category:
1. indicator development
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 - Production and Consumption of Plastics
Microlitter in the marine environment
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Sources, transport, fate and distribution of microlitter (including microplastics) in the marine environment.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Pilot assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D10C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Microplastics Candidate Indicator Pilot Assessment
Sediment types impacting retention and transport of microlitter
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: How do different types of sediment impact retention and transport of microlitter as well as implication for field sampling.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Pilot assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D10C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Microplastics Candidate Indicator Pilot Assessment
Fluxes of microlitter
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Understanding fluxes of microlitter (including microplastics) between different environmental compartments (surface waters, water column, biota and seafloor sediment) and feasibility of mass balance approach.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Pilot assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D10C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Microplastics Candidate Indicator Pilot Assessment
Microlitter in biota and associated harm
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Occurrence and abundance of microlitter (including microplastics) in marine biota and associated harm.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Pilot assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D10C3, D10C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Microplastics Candidate Indicator Pilot Assessment
Microplastics from offshore infrastructure
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Source of microplastics from offshore infrastructures
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Pilot assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D10C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Microplastics Candidate Indicator Pilot Assessment
Riverine data
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Riverine data on river inputs
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Pilot assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D10C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Microplastics Candidate Indicator Pilot Assessment
Role of estuaries in inputs of litter to the sea
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Clarify the role of estuaries in transferring litter from rivers to the marine environment (likely a big sink instead of transfer).
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D10C1, D10C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Synthesis of data on riverine macrolitter in OSPAR region II
Distribution of litter in rivers
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Research is needed on the distribution of litter across different river compartments and to the fundamental behaviour to explain this distribution.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D10C1, D10C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Synthesis of data on riverine macrolitter in OSPAR region II
Uncertainties in modelled estimates of impulsive sounds for North Sea harbour porpoise
ID Number: BE04.04
Knowledge gap description: Despite best available data for North Sea harbour porpoise being used, there are substantial uncertainties in these modelled estimates which are even greater for other species, which translate into uncertainties in the assessment.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Common indicator assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D11C1
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Risk of Impact from Anthropogenic Impulsive Sound
More precise assesment of risk impact from impulsive noise
ID Number: BE04.06
Knowledge gap description: More specific data on the responses of selected species to noise sources in the registry (e.g., dose-response curves for each source/receptor combination) may allow for a more precise assessment of the risk of impact.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Common indicator assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D11C1
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Risk of Impact from Anthropogenic Impulsive Sound
Impacts of noise on marine mammals, fish and invertebrate species
ID Number: BE04.07
Knowledge gap description: This assessment of the indicator covers only harbour porpoise. Future assessments may encompass further marine mammal species, and fish or invertebrate species.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Common indicator assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D11C1
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Risk of Impact from Anthropogenic Impulsive Sound
Effects of continuous noise on marine life
ID Number: BE09.01
Knowledge gap description: The major knowledge gaps for continuous noise concern the effects of continuous noise on marine life, both individual animals and the whole population. The choice of species to assess in the North Sea needs to be made based on objective criteria.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
1. indicator development
Assessment Category:
Pilot assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D11C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Pilot Assessment of Ambient Noise
Improving methods for monitoring and assessing continuous noise
ID Number: BE09.03
Knowledge gap description: The method for monitoring and assessment can be improved by including more sources of continuous noise with a proper description of their source strength.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
3. assessment areas
Assessment Category:
Pilot assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D11C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Pilot Assessment of Ambient Noise
Assessing effects of continuous noise in shallow waters
ID Number: BE09.04
Knowledge gap description: The models used for this assessment are not suited to very shallow water (less than 10 metre water depth) and intertidal areas. More knowledge on the pressure and effects of continuous noise in shallow waters is needed.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Pilot assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D11C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Pilot Assessment of Ambient Noise
Cumulative impact of noise on the ecosystem
ID Number: BE09.06
Knowledge gap description: There is lack of knowledge concerning the cumulative impact on the ecosystem of noise from human activities.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
7. emerging issues of human activities
Assessment Category:
Pilot assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D11C1, D11C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Pilot Assessment of Ambient Noise
Threshold values for underwater noise
ID Number: BE04.01
Knowledge gap description: It remains uncertain what the effect from impulsive sound means at the population or ecosystem scale. As yet there is no agreed definition of good environmental status for underwater noise. There are not yet agreed threshold values for underwater noise.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
2. thresholds & references
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D11C1
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Underwater Noise Thematic Assessment
Long-term trends in noise level
ID Number: BE04.02
Knowledge gap description: For both impulsive and continuous noise, it is not yet possible to establish any definitive long-term trends in noise levels, including since the Quality Status Report 2010.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
6. effectiveness of measures
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