Winner 2021

MODELRISK, 2021 winner

Development of models capable of predicting ecological hazards caused by hazardous and noxious substance (HNS) spills.

The beneficiary of the 10th ITOPF R&D Award is the Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR) in Portugal. The winning project - MODELRISK - will develop end-to-end models of marine ecosystems capable of predicting ecological hazards caused by hazardous and noxious substance (HNS) spills.

Specifically, the project will look at the food web, physico-chemical properties of the surrounding environment, circulation patterns and toxicity to marine organisms of four different types of HNS (a dissolver, a sinker, a floater and an evaporator) which are commonly transported in European Atlantic waters. Studies will be focused on the Azores archipelago, a busy shipping route and area of significant ecological importance.  Building on previous work, the team will also upgrade its existing HNS database to understand and predict impacts on different ecosystems, extending the applicability of the models into other geographic areas.

Final report

MODELRISK - Ecosystem models to support Environmental Risk Assessment of marine ecosystems under HNS spills

Executive summary (2023)

Final report (2023)