GRACE, Integrated oil spill response actions and environmental effects

The results of the project will be made available for use to international organizations that plan and carry out cross-border oil spill response cooperation in Arctic sea areas.

The overall objectives of the project are to:

• explore the true environmental impacts and benefits of a suite of marine oil spill response technologies in the cold climate and ice-infested areas in the northern Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea;
• assess in particular the impacts on fish, invertebrates (e.g., mussels, crustaceans) and macro algae of naturally and chemically dispersed oil, in situ burning residues and non-collected oil using highly sensitive biomarker methods, and to develop specific methods for the rapid detection of the effects of oil pollution on biota;
• improve the observation, monitoring and predictions of oil movements in the sea using novel on-line sensors on vessels, fixed platforms incl. gliders and smart buoys together with realtime data transfer into operational systems of oil spill situational awareness; 
• develop a Strategic Net Environmental Benefit Analysis tool for oil spill response strategy and decision making in cold climate and ice-infested areas.