Bilbao Port renews marine monitoring deal

Port of Bilbao and the University of the Basque Country have renewed their long-standing partnership to continue the environmental biomonitoring of port waters, strengthening a collaboration that has been ongoing for over three decades.

Under the new four-year agreement, valued at €785,810, researchers will carry out comprehensive monitoring of biological and environmental indicators, including phytoplankton communities.

The renewed Biomonitoring Plan aims to offer deeper insight into the health of the marine ecosystem in and around the port, helping to guide sustainable management of port activities. A key addition to this latest agreement is the inclusion of phytoplankton monitoring. This will help scientists better understand the composition and dynamics of microscopic marine algae, and identify the presence of potentially harmful or toxic species that could pose risks to marine life and port operations.

Long-term data collected through this initiative indicates a positive trend in the biological maturity of the port’s marine communities. Despite ongoing port activity and infrastructure expansion, researchers have observed no widespread negative impact on marine biodiversity.

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