Project description
Safeguarding the Coral Sea’s marine mammals, sea turtles and sharks
It is challenging for the EU to safeguard pelagic (open ocean) biodiversity in its overseas countries and territories. Techniques to assess the variety and quantity of pelagic megafauna (marine mammals, sea turtles, sharks) are lacking. The EU-funded MEGAFAUNA project will introduce a network that protects megafauna and keeps fisheries profitable in New Caledonia’s Natural Park of the Coral Sea. The network will inform the marine park’s decision-makers while helping to meet the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s target of protecting 30 % of the world's oceans by 2030. The project will use image-based surveys, deep learning and fishery economic data to detect pelagic megafauna, and predict and protect hotspots in the Coral Sea.
Objective
The EU faces the challenge to protect pelagic biodiversity over immense Overseas Countries and Territories. However, cost-efficient, safe and reproducible methods are still missing for assessing the diversity and abundance of pelagic megafauna (marine mammals, sea turtles and sharks). We will adapt image-based surveys and deep learning—a new method based on artificial intelligence—to pelagic megafauna. A Coral Sea Nature Park (CSNP) was recently created in New Caledonia Overseas Territory but this area still lacks reserves in pelagic ecosystems. We will propose a reserve network that optimises the trade-off between critical habitat protection of pelagic megafauna and fisheries economic profitability in this area. This network will directly advise decision makers of the CSNP and help fulfil IUCN target of 30% of oceans protected by reserves by 2030. Our objectives are: RO1—Detect pelagic megafauna, RO2—Predict pelagic megafauna hotspots, and RO3—Protect hotspots in the Coral Sea. To reach RO1, image-based surveys will be conducted and megafauna will be automatically detected on images using deep learning. To reach RO2, habitat models will be used to predict megafauna diversity and abundance as a function of environmental variables. To reach RO3, fisheries economic data will be incorporated to propose a reserve network optimising both conservation and economic needs. This project will be jointly hosted by the Marine Biodiversity Exploitation and Conservation Laboratory (MARBEC) and the Montpellier Laboratory of Informatics, Robotics, and Microelectronics (LIRMM), both part of the University of Montpellier. Supervised by D. Mouillot (MARBEC) and M. Chaumont (LIRMM), I will receive the best appropriate interdisciplinary training. After an enriching research experience in the U.S I aim to integrate a long-term research position in Europe. This fellowship would be a superb opportunity to develop an independent and innovative research project in marine numerical ecology.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences marine biology
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology mammalogy cetology
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics microelectronics
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence machine learning deep learning
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF-EF-RI - RI – Reintegration panel
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
34090 Montpellier
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.