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 1 - 15 of 15 items
Offshore renewables and plankton dynamics
ID Number: BB32.07
Knowledge gap description: Consider plankton dynamics in the scaling-up of offshore renewable infrastructure.
Knowledge Gap Category:
5. cumulative effects & integration
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D1C6
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Pelagic Habitats Thematic Assessment
Impacts from noise on marine mammals
ID Number: BB31.17
Knowledge gap description: There is a need to consider the potential impacts of noise on marine mammals from offshore wind developments, particularly impulsive noise from pile driving of foundations.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D1C2, D11C2, D11C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Marine Mammals Thematic Assessment
Activities to be included in the assessment of benthic habitats in coastal areas
ID Number: BB20.01
Knowledge gap description: The assessment is limited to some offshore structures, trawling and aggregate extraction. Other activities (e.g., capital dredging, disposal of sediments, coastal
defence structures or shipping infrastructure) that may be an important factor in coastal areas, are not yet included.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
1. indicator development, 4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Pilot assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D6C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: Greater North Sea, Celtic Seas
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Pilot Assessment of Area of Habitat Loss
Knowledge of the potential future impacts of windfarms on trophic structure and food web functioning
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: More knowledge of the potential future impacts of windfarms on trophic structure and food web functioning is needed.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D4C1, D4C2, D4C3, D4C4
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Food webs Thematic Assessment
Large scale cumulative effects from offshore renewable energy developments
ID Number: A3.02
Knowledge gap description: There is a need for evidence on the potential impacts of large scale offshore renewable energy developments, and their cumulative effects on the marine environment.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage, 5. cumulative effects & integration, 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 - Climate Change Thematic Assessment
Cumulative effects from offshore renewable energy developments
ID Number: A3.02a
Knowledge gap description: Knowledge gaps around cumulative effects of offshore renewable energy, especially at large scale.
Knowledge Gap Category:
7. emerging issues of human activities
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
no MSFD Descriptor/Criterion
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Climate Change Thematic 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
Noise from tidal energy
ID Number: BE04.11
Knowledge gap description: The noise effects of offshore energy sources other than wind power, such as tidal energy, are not fully understood due to a lack of field studies to date and the challenges of monitoring in high tidal flow environments.
Knowledge Gap Category:
7. emerging issues of human activities
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
Non airgun geophysical surveys
ID Number: BE04.13
Knowledge gap description: More information needed on non airgun geophysical surveys sources with regard to their source characteristics and effects on marine life
Knowledge Gap Category:
1. indicator development
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Underwater Noise Thematic Assessment
Sources of underwater noise
ID Number: BE04.14
Knowledge gap description: More information needed on OSPAR RAP-Noise Action 7 on other sources with regard to their source characteristics and effects on marine life
Knowledge Gap Category:
1. indicator development
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D11C1, D11C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Underwater Noise Thematic Assessment
Harmonise monitoring methodology for offshore energy
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Knowledge gap in how best to harmonise monitoring methodology for offshore energy
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 - Offshore Renewable Energy Generation
Environmental impacts of noise from wind farms during construction, production, decommissioning phase.
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Knowledge gap on environmental impacts of noise from wind farms during construction, production, decommissioning phase.
Knowledge Gap Category:
1. indicator development
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D11C1, D11C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Feeder Report 2021 - Offshore Renewable Energy Generation
Consider risks associated with changes in shipping routes
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Navigational risk assessments will need to consider risks associated with changes in shipping routes (e.g., resulting from windfarm construction).
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 - Shipping and Ports
Consider the significance of newly emerging or poorly understood issues and risks
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Consider the significance of newly emerging or poorly understood issues and risks and potential OSPAR involvement (e.g. discharges from scrubbers, microplastics in ship paints; potential increase in risks or impact from collision/accident due to expansion of wind farms or larger ships; better understanding of the impact of ship wakes; effects of new low-sulphur fuels in terms of toxicity and difficulty in clean-up)
Knowledge Gap Category:
7. emerging issues of human activities
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 - Shipping and Ports
Impact of wind farms on Balearic shearwater
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Regarding new/increasing potential threats, windfarm development should receive particular attention
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