BIOPADE, 2017-2019

Cedre, in partnership with the University of Western Brittany (UBO) and the Norwegian firm Akvaplan Niva (based in Tromsø), is involved in the research project BIOPADE (Biological Impact of Oil Pollution in Arctic and Deep-sea Environment), funded by Europe through a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) fellowship and additional funding from the French oil and gas company TOTAL.

This project focuses on the potential biological impacts of anthropogenic activities in new oil exploration and production areas, mainly situated in Arctic and deep-sea marine environments. These potential biological impacts will be assessed through exposure experiments on organisms representative of such environments. The chosen model species cover several trophic levels: Atlantic cod Gadus morhua, the Northern prawn Pandalus borealis and the coral Lophelia pertusa.

In addition to these studies, applied research will be conducted in order to develop bioassays designed to characterise the effects of hydrostatic pressure on the toxicity and fate of a chemical. 

The BIOPADE project has 4 main objectives:

• To assess the potential long-term effects of dispersed oil on a key Arctic species
• To improve knowledge of the impacts of dispersed oil on the deep-sea benthic ecosystem
• To develop bioassays to assess the biological impacts in deep-water environments
• To strengthen scientific knowledge for the Spill Impact Mitigation Assessment (SIMA) process in Arctic and deep-sea areas 

Further information

European Commission website, project description: www.cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/210586_fr.html