EcoScope is a H2020 project funded under the Blue Growth Call, coordinated by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) that brings together 24 international partners from 18 countries across the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, Israel, Canada and the Philippines.
The project sets out to promote efficient, ecosystem-based fisheries management through the development of an interoperable web-based Data and Visualisation Platform and a robust Decision-Making Toolbox.
Blue Lobster will lead the project communication activities and the design and development of the front-end of the EcoScope Data and Visualisation Platform, as well as play a significant role in Stakeholder Engagement.
Key responsibilities include design of EcoScope Branding, design and implementation of Communication and Marketing Strategies, Graphical, Digital and UI Design of the project website, web applications and communication materials. Development of the Data Visualisation Platform (EcoScope Platform). The EcoScope Platform will integrate multiple platforms into a single public portal. It will be built on the successful Marinomica application, following the same architectural guidelines. Blue Lobster has a key role in the design, development and marketing of Marinomica, which is a bespoke data and visualisation tool that was initially developed as part of the H2020 funded ODYSSEA Project.
Project Summary
The Ecoscope Project will develop an interoperable Platform and a robust decision making Toolbox that will be available through a single public portal. It will aim to promote an efficient, ecosystem based approach to the management of fisheries. The design will be guided by policy makers and scientific advisory bodies to address ecosystem degradation and anthropogenic impact that is causing the unsustainable exploitation of fisheries across European Seas.
The EcoScope Platform will organise and integrate climatic, oceanographic, biogeochemical, biological, and fisheries datasets for European Seas to form a united standard type and format that will be accessible to users through interactive mapping layers.
The Ecoscope Toolbox (a scoring system linked to the platform), will host ecosystem models, socio-economic indicators, fisheries, and ecosystem assessments tools. These will be used to examine and develop fisheries management and marine policy scenarios, including maritime spatial planning simulations.
End users and stakeholders will be involved in the design, development and operation of the Toolbox and Platform. Innovative assessment methods for data-poor fisheries (including noncommercial species, biodiversities, the conservation status of protected megafauna) will be utilised to assess the status of all ecosystem components across European Seas. This will allow testing new technologies for evaluating the environmental, anthropogenic, and climatic impact on ecosystems and fisheries. Sophisticated capacity building tools will include online courses, documentary films, webinars, and games. All of which will be available to stakeholders through the EcoScope Academy.
The Ecoscope project will complete the gaps in knowledge and develop unprecedented methods and tools, providing a useful Toolbox for decision-makers and end users The toolbox will be adaptive to their capacity, requirements, and data availability. It will incorporate methods of handling uncertainty and, therefore, will promote efficient, holistic, and sustainable, ecosystem-based fisheries management. Effective ecosystem-based fisheries management will result in the restoration of sustainable fisheries and ensure a stability between food security and healthy seas.
The EcoScope project will provide a space for the collection of data across all oceans, creating an accessible and important advancement in the way we ensure the future of our marine environments.
This project has received funding from the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement No 101000302. The information and views of this website lie entirely with the authors. The European Commision is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.