Aquatic Pollution from Light and Anthropogenic Noise: management of impacts on biodiversity

Project Information

AquaPLAN

Grant agreement ID: 101135471

DOI

10.3030/101135471

EC signature date 8 November 2023

Start date 1 January 2024

End date 31 December 2027

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 3 207 576,25

EU contribution

€ 3 207 576,25

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITA DI PISA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AquaPLAN (Aquatic Pollution from Light and Anthropogenic Noise: management of impacts on biodiversity)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Recent decades have seen dramatic increases in our understanding of Light and Noise Pollution (LNP) impacts on aquatic biodiversity. These impacts are globally widespread and occurring in all aquatic ecosystems from lakes and rivers to the seafloor. A variety of technologies and policy interventions are also now available to mitigate LNP impacts in aquatic ecosystems. Yet, numerous knowledge gaps exist that, if addressed, would substantially improve our understanding of the prevalence and impacts of LNP, and our ability to manage them. There remain critical gaps in our understanding of the combined occurrence and impacts of LNPacrossthe breadth of aquatic ecosystems, particularly at large spatial scales and over long-time frames. While numerous abatement options exist, pathways to achieving their effective implementation remain unclear. AquaPLAN is an interdisciplinary pan-European consortium that are world leaders in the fields of aquatic light and/or noise pollution. AquaPLAN aims to quantify the combined impacts of LNP on aquatic biodiversity across European seas, lakes and rivers, and facilitate the implementation of empirically sound strategies for managing these pollutants through novel interdisciplinary approaches. AquaPLAN will: i) provide a comprehensive review of the state of the art on the impacts of LNP on aquatic biodiversity; ii) assess perceptions of LNP impacts and the need for their management across key stakeholder groups; iii) quantify the combined impacts of LNP on the conservation status of biodiversity in aquatic habitats; iv) identify the mechanisms leading to individual and combined impacts of LNP on aquatic biodiversity; v) explore innovative interdisciplinary solutions to prevent and mitigate LNP impacts on aquatic biodiversity; vi) build an international, interdisciplinary network to assess, prevent and mitigate the combined impacts of LNP on aquatic biodiversity.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During Reporting Period 1 (RP1) - 01/01/2024 – 30/06/2025, the project made significant progress in both field-based and analytical work. Core achievements include:
a) Field campaigns across European marine, freshwater, and estuarine ecosystems, where LNP levels and biodiversity responses are being monitored.
b) Socio-ecological surveys to assess stakeholder awareness, acceptance, and behavioural dimensions linked to LNP.
c) Start of field experiments and modelling to understand how aquatic organisms respond to combined LNP stressors over different time frames and spatial scales.
d) Development of integrative frameworks for evaluating LNP impacts across taxonomic groups and habitats.
e) Collaboration between ecologists, physicists, social scientists, and engineers to test mitigation tools and policy scenarios.
Additionally, new research activities were launched with the involvement of recently joined partners, including FCIENCIAS.ID - ASSOCIACAO PARA A INVESTIGACAO E DESENVOLVIMENTO DE CIENCIAS (FC.ID) and the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (FACULDADE DE CIÊNCIAS DA UNIVERSIDADE DE LISBOA - Affiliated Entity to FC.ID) as well as the University of New South Wales (UNSW). These additions have introduced valuable expertise in urban freshwater ecology and the role of sound vibration, as well as on oyster reef restoration and coastal light pollution, enriching AquaPLAN’s interdisciplinary approach.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

AquaPLAN has gone and is going beyond the state of the art by:
a) Publicly releasing the first interactive map of European marine and freshwater habitats affected by both light and noise pollution (LNP)
b) Integrating light and noise pollution effects (including interactive effects) across diverse aquatic habitats and taxa, from benthic invertebrates to pelagic fish and amphibians in the first aquatic LNP monitoring program.
c) Introducing novel approaches for assessing noise-induced substrate vibration, especially in shallow urban aquatic habitats — an innovation led by a new partner from Portugal.
d) Expanding the taxonomic focus to include amphibians and freshwater macroinvertebrates, key indicator species often underrepresented in LNP research.
e) Surveying stakeholder awareness of LNP and acceptance of potential mitigation measures for LNP impacts
f) Proposing LNP-specific thresholds and risk assessment tools that could guide future regulatory frameworks.
These advances pave the way for further R&D on mitigation design, policy integration, and real-world implementation across Europe and beyond.

Monitoring activities within Task 3.3

AquaPLAN Visualisation Portal: interactive map of EU marine and freshwater habitats affected by LNP