Water Quality in Harbours

Programme 2007 - 2013 Atlantic Area

Date of latest update: 2025-04-26

Description

Description (EN):

Nowadays, ports are introducing changes in the management policies, moving towards the use of models in which economic and environmental factors are considered indicators of development. The conflict between the need to prioritise the development of specific economic activities and the fulfilment of the environmental objectives of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) was solved by the introduction of the 'heavily modified water bodies' concept that justifies a reduction in environmental objectives to fulfil those considered of 'good ecological potential'. Harbour waters are recognized as heavily modified water bodies, whose development implies hydromorphological changes in the water bodies and make it impossible to achieve a good ecological status whilst such uses remain active. PORTONOVO intends to obtain specific scientific results of high quality by standardizing a methodology for water quality management in port areas all over the AA. For that purpose, it intends to use management tools combining social, economic, legal, technical and environmental requirements regarding the WFD. It also aims to review the European, State and Regional water quality standards, develop a classification and evaluation methodology for the port water bodies and establish a general framework for port water bodies Environmental Risk Assessment. Methodology 5.1 ROM 'Quality of coastal waters in port areas', published by the Spanish National Port Administration in collaboration with the University of Cantabria, integrated a port management model regarding water quality to provide authorities with an effective management tool in accordance with the methodology established by the WFD. This project was designed with the aim to transfer this methodology, initially designed for the Spanish ports, to the AA ports. Some ports with different activities and environmental socio-economic characteristics were selected in the AA in order to validate this methodology through its application in case studies.

Achievements (EN):

This project has developed a methodology that has been validated in strategic points of the Atlantic Area (Port of Falmouth, Belfast, Bordeaux, Cherbourg, Aveiro, Portimao, Huelva, Santander). Among the results of the project is the installation of a Decision Support System (DSS). Information on achievements is available on the projects web site: http://www.ihcantabria.com/en/item/363

Expected Results (EN): Through the installation of a Decision Support System developed by the project, port authorities now have a transnational tool for the balanced management of port waters and for environmental quality monitoring in the AA ports.

Thematic information

Water management Coastal management and maritime issues

Partners (12)

Lead Partner: Universidad de Cantabria

Address: E.T.S.I. de Caminos, Canales y Puertos. Universidad de Cantabria. Avda. de los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, Spain

Legal status: n/a

Instituto Superior Técnico (IST)

Name: Instituto Superior Técnico (IST)

Address: Av. Rovisco Pais, 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal

Legal status: n/a

Consejería de Medio Ambiente del Gobierno de Cantabria

Name: Consejería de Medio Ambiente del Gobierno de Cantabria

Address: C/Lealtad, Nº24, 39002 Santander, Spain

Legal status: n/a

Fundación AZTI- AZTI Fundazioa

Name: Fundación AZTI- AZTI Fundazioa

Address: Muelle de la Herrera; Recinto Portuario s/n, 20 110 Pasajes, Spain

Legal status: n/a

University Bordeaux 1

Name: University Bordeaux 1

Address: 351 crs de la Libération, 33405 Talence, France

Legal status: n/a

Universidade de Aveiro

Name: Universidade de Aveiro

Address: Dept. Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

Legal status: n/a

Communauté urbaine de Cherbourg (CUC)

Name: Communauté urbaine de Cherbourg (CUC)

Address: Place Napoléon – BP 808, 50 108 Cherbourg-Octeville, France

Legal status: n/a

Centre National de la recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Name: Centre National de la recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Address: 351 crs de la Libération, 33405 Talence, France

Legal status: n/a

University of Plymouth

Name: University of Plymouth

Address: Marine Institute, Portland Square, University of Plymouth. Drake Circus, TR11 3JQ Plymouth, United Kingdom

Legal status: n/a

Universidade do Algarve

Name: Universidade do Algarve

Address: Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal

Legal status: n/a

Queens University Belfast

Name: Queens University Belfast

Address: David Keir Building. Stranmillis Road, BT95AG Belfast, United Kingdom

Legal status: n/a

Falmouth Harbour Commissioners

Name: Falmouth Harbour Commissioners

Address: 44. Arwenack St, TR11 3JQ Falmouth, United Kingdom

Legal status: n/a

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Instituto Superior Técnico (IST)

Water Quality in Harbours

Partners and Projects info

Consejería de Medio Ambiente del Gobierno de Cantabria

Water Quality in Harbours

Partners and Projects info

Fundación AZTI- AZTI Fundazioa

Water Quality in Harbours

Partners and Projects info

University Bordeaux 1

Water Quality in Harbours

Partners and Projects info

Universidade de Aveiro

Water Quality in Harbours

Partners and Projects info

Communauté urbaine de Cherbourg (CUC)

Water Quality in Harbours

Partners and Projects info

Centre National de la recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Water Quality in Harbours

Partners and Projects info

University of Plymouth

Water Quality in Harbours

Partners and Projects info

Universidad de Cantabria

Water Quality in Harbours

Partners and Projects info

Universidade do Algarve

Water Quality in Harbours

Partners and Projects info

Queens University Belfast

Water Quality in Harbours

Partners and Projects info

Falmouth Harbour Commissioners

Water Quality in Harbours

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Water Quality in Harbours

Project acronym: PORTONOVO

Project start date: 2009-11-16

Project end date: 2012-02-15

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 800 000.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 104 274.05

Co-financing sources:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2007 - 2013 Atlantic Area

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2015-12-01

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

70 / 70 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

655 / 655 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme

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Water Quality in Harbours

Description

Thematic information

Partners (12)

Partners map

Summary

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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