ASIMUTH

ASIMUTH aims to Develop forecasting capabilities to warn of impending harmful algal blooms (HABs)   Through the ASIMUTH project, scientists and industry from 5 countries along Europe’s Atlantic Margin will form a network to produce the first realistic HAB advisory and forecasting capability as a  GMES downstream service to the European aquaculture industry. The early warning of severe blooms will allow fish and shellfish farmers to adapt their culture and harvesting practices in time, in order to reduce potential losses. 

ASIMUTH is the first step to develop short term HAB alert systems for Atlantic Europe.  This will be achieved using information on the most current marine condition (weather, water characteristics, toxicity, harmful algal presence etc.) combined with local numerical predictions.  Geospatial products from the MyOcean project will be used by ASIMUTH to initiate the HAB models developed during the project.  Biological HAB experts from each country will evaluate data from the HAB monitoring programmes, satellite images and model output to produce bulletins to inform the public and aquaculture industry.  The bulletins produced will present the current state of HABs in each area and the likelihood of a toxic or harmful event of target species for the following week.