The ocean’s biodiversity provides us with vital services: it sustains 32 out of the 33 known animal phyla and supports the livelihoods of over three billion people. These services are endangered by human pressures and climate change. To understand the pressures on the ocean and manage resources in a sustainable manner requires comprehensive, accurate and timely data.
The Copernicus Marine Service produces ocean monitoring products by integrating satellite and in situ ocean observations with marine models. However, the models currently applied are restraining the provision of information on biodiversity and marine food-webs.
Our vision is to build new and innovative models that will accurately simulate the marine ecosystem, including higher trophic level organisms and the benthic environment. NECCTON will use state-of-the-art techniques and incorporate new data streams to produce a fully integrated modelling system that more closely represents the functioning of the marine ecosystem.
Integrating our systems into the Copernicus Marine Service will enable a greater number of more reliable ocean products to be delivered to support biodiversity conservation and food security.
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The overall objective of NECCTON is to enable CMEMS to deliver products that inform marine biodiversity conservation and food resources management, by fusing innovative ocean ecosystem models and new data.
Read our case studies showing how NECCTON tools and products have been used and co-developed with stakeholders in the fisheries management and biodiversity conservation sectors.
New NECCTON Paper showing that merging biogeochemical observations with models improves the simulation of phytoplankton phenology and reduces uncertainty in plankton community structure & production....
Learn moreWe’re excited to announce the release of fabmos, a Python-based software package developed within NECCTON. fabmos provides new biogeochemical/ecological model testbeds that bridge the gap between fast 0D/1D models and computationally expensive high-resolution 3D simulations....
Learn moreOur latest report, Deliverable 4.2, evaluates the potential of the PRISMA satellite for marine ecosystem monitoring. We assessed PRISMA’s Level 2 products and atmospheric correction techniques (ACOLITE & POLYMER) across multiple coastal sites, comparing them with in situ measurements....
Learn moreWe’re happy to announce that NECCTON will be making a key presentation at the Copernicus Marine Service Phase 2 (2025–2028) Kick-Off Event. This event marks the beginning of a new phase of collaboration and innovation for sustainable ocean management, and NECCTON is proud to be a part of it!...
Learn moreWe’re excited to announce the release of plasticparcels, a cutting-edge Python package for simulating the transport and dispersion of plastics in the ocean. PlasticParcels is designed to empower researchers, modelers, and developers to advance our understanding of plastic pollution pathways and dynamics. ...
Learn moreA recent study highlights gaps in the protection of Mediterranean seagrass habitats, and suggests that strategically placed MPAs could improve protection and connectivity within the ecosystem. ...
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