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 - 25 of 27 items
Target different vectors to introductions of Non-Indigenous Species
ID Number: BB13.02
Knowledge gap description: Some vectors of introduction and spread could also be better targeted. For instance, while (commercial) shipping has been well targeted, management of leisure boating is still in the early stages.
Knowledge Gap Category:
1. indicator development
Assessment Category:
Thematic assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D2C1
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Non-Indigenous Species Thematic Assessment
Impacts from human activities on blue whale
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Impact of human activities such as shipping, underwater noise, entanglement and contaminants on species
Knowledge Gap Category:
5. cumulative effects & integration
Assessment Category:
Status assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D1C2, D11C1, D11C2
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Status Assessment 2020 - Blue Whale
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
Target all vectors of introduction and spread
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Some vectors of introduction and spread could also be better targeted. For instance, while (commercial) shipping has been well targeted, management of leisure boating is still in the early stages.
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 - Non-Indigenous Species Thematic Assessment
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
Uncertainties in analysing and modelling Exhaust Gas Cleaning System discharge totals
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Uncertainties in analysing and modelling Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (EGCS) discharge totals based on emission factors, power predictions, discharge rates, and accuracy of ship fleet data.
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 - Modelling of discharges to the marine environment from open circuit flue gas scrubbers on ships in the OSPAR Maritime Area
Availability of riverine data from some countries
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Contaminant loads of metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were calculated for OSPAR regions (Table 5 and Table 6) and a comparison with riverine input data (year 2019) from OSPAR Riverine Inputs and Direct Discharges monitoring programme (RID) were made with respect to some metals. However, riverine data are missing from some countries.
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 - Modelling of discharges to the marine environment from open circuit flue gas scrubbers on ships in the OSPAR Maritime Area
Environmental impacts of scrubbers and drift modell to see where the pollution goes
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Environmental impacts of ECGS needs further analysis from more ships of ecotoxicology and modelling to assess environmental impacts of scrubbers and also needs a drift modell to see where the pollution goes.
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 - Modelling of discharges to the marine environment from open circuit flue gas scrubbers on ships in the OSPAR Maritime Area
Improved fuel characterization standards
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: In addition to increased monitoring efforts for contaminants, there is a need for improved fuel characterization standards.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
2. thresholds & references
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Modelling of discharges to the marine environment from open circuit flue gas scrubbers on ships in the OSPAR Maritime Area
More extensive characterization of different types of low sulphur fuel oils
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: There is an immediate need for more extensive characterization of different types of low sulphur fuel oils, such as VLSFO (very low sulphur fuel oil, 0.5% S) and ULSFO (ultra-low sulphur fuel oil, 0.1%).
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
2. thresholds & references
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Modelling of discharges to the marine environment from open circuit flue gas scrubbers on ships in the OSPAR Maritime Area
Possible environmental impact resulting from all fuel alternatives
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: There is a need for better understanding of the possible environmental impact resulting from all available fuel alternatives.
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 - Modelling of discharges to the marine environment from open circuit flue gas scrubbers on ships in the OSPAR Maritime Area
Potential impacts of increased shipping activities on recreation sector in the Arctic
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: It is unknown whether increased shipping activities (expected from climate change) could interfere with the recreation sector in the Arctic.
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 - Recreation and Tourism in the North-East Atlantic
Availability of economic data for Norway, Iceland, and Faroe Islands regarding shipping activities
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Economic data (Gross value added/employment in the Blue Economy) is not included for Norway, Iceland, and Faroe Islands.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: Arctic Waters
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Feeder Report 2021 - Shipping and Ports
Uncertainties regarding the growth of global shipping volumes in OSPAR waters.
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Growth in global volumes in the short and longer terms is anticipated, but with uncertainties about the extent of growth in OSPAR waters.
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 - Shipping and Ports
Impact of COVID-19 on global and regional trade flows
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Impact of COVID-19 on global and regional trade flows is not yet known.
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 - Shipping and Ports
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
Uncertainties regarding the increase in maritime traffic in Arctic waters
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Further increase in shipping activity is anticipated for Arctic waters, buy how significant this will be as well as the market potential for most types of shipments) is uncertain (as well as the market potential).
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
N/A
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: Arctic Waters
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Feeder Report 2021 - Shipping and Ports
Uncertainties related to fleet changes, impacts, and risks
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Fleet compositions changes are expected but there are uncertainties with the pace and details of fleet change. These need to be considered to understand impacts and risks.
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 - Shipping and Ports
Confidence in data on trends on number of new introductions of non-indigenous species.
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: There is fairly low confidence in data on trends on number of new introductions of non-indigenous species.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D2C1
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Feeder Report 2021 - Shipping and Ports
Monitoring of non-indigenous species
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Monitoring of non-indigenous species is a knowledge gap for implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D2C1, D2C2, D2C3
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Feeder Report 2021 - Shipping and Ports
Continuous noise from shipping and impact of different designs and operations on environment.
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Continous noise from shipping needs more research to understand the impact of different designs, operations, and environmental impacts.
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
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 - Shipping and Ports
Baseline of litter inputs from commercial shipping
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: There is no reliable baseline of litter inputs from commercial shipping, which makes it unclear what the effectiveness of measures to address plastic litter are.
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 - Feeder Report 2021 - Shipping and Ports
Identification of sources of pollution and substances of detection spills
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: Oil spills: the source of pollution was identified for only 30% of detected spills. There were 114 detections of unknown substances.
Topics:
Knowledge Gap Category:
4. data coverage
Assessment Category:
Other assessment
Relevant for MSFD Art 8:
D8C3
Implementation Status
OSPAR Region: All Regions
Source of knowledge gap: QSR2023 - Feeder Report 2021 - Shipping and Ports
Monitoring implementation of measures for management of impacts
ID Number: TBC
Knowledge gap description: OSPAR could consider monitoring implementation of measures for management of impacts (e.g., on ballast water, air pollution, litter) and evidence of success.
Knowledge Gap Category:
6. effectiveness of measures
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