Claim Work Packages

Work package 2 will develop innovative methods, both for prevention and cleaning the sea from invisible and visible litter, transforming waste into a resource by recovering energy from visible litter.

Out of the four devices developed here, two incorporate innovative technological methods (self-cleaning photocatalytic nanocoating and small-scale thermal treatment).The proposed technologies stop litter from entering the sea at two source points: civil wastewater plants and river mouths.

The devices developed in this WP will be demonstrated in WP3, where efficiency data will be gathered. The potential benefit from up-scaling the proposed methods on ecosystem services will be assessed in WP4. The socioeconomic and environmental impacts, as well as the cost-effectiveness of all proposed methods to reduce cleaning up/restoration costs will be assessed together in WP4 and WP5.

Work package 3 is tasked to demonstrate the efficacy of the CLAIM-developed litter cleaning devices and microplastics measurement system in real environmental conditions:

• waste water treatment plants for the cleaning nanocoating prototype
• ADR vessel and port facilities for visible litter thermal treatment device (pyrolizer)
• rivers mouth for floating booms (macro-litter collectors)
• Ferry lines for Ferryboxes (FBs) measurement system

Data from Ferrybox field demonstration will feed the data depository for the validation of forecasting models in WP1, while cleaning efficiency data will be used to evaluate the benefit from up-scaling the developed cleaning methods on the marine ecosystem in WP4.

Additional field data samples of plastic in water and seafood, will be collected in the key study areas to be used for model initialisation and validation in WP1 and also to understand the visible and invisible litter impact on specific ecosystem services (commercial fisheries and aquaculture) that will be investigated in WP4.

Clearly, this WP will be in close collaboration with WP2 in order to validate the cleaning efficiency and the cost-effective performance of the developed devices. In addition, a close collaboration with WP4 and WP5 and WP6 will be set with data collection involving local fishermen and aquaculture associations important for the dissemination, communication and outreach activities in WP6.

Following an ecosystem approach, Work package 4 will apply the forecasting and modelling tools developed in WP1 to identify areas, where the proposed intervention have the greatest potential to limit the impacts of plastic pollution on ecosystem services. In particular, the approaches demonstrated will be assessed for their ability to limit the impact of visible and invisible plastic pollution on the ecological services, stemming from commercial fish stocks, aquaculture facilities and biodiversity hotspots, as well as recreational areas in the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas. Furthermore, activities will identify areas and services under threat from visible and invisible plastic pollution as well as assess the degree of threat they are experiencing at present as well as past and future impacts.

Work package 5 will work to identify the most promising business cases for which viable business models including appropriate financing concepts and assess the integrated impacts of these technologies for upscaling purposes. Analyses of the legal and policy framework necessary to ensure the uptake and upscaling of innovative marine litter pollution control, mitigation and removal technologies in the Mediterranean and Baltic Sea will be used as a basis to gauge stakeholder acceptance of these technologies. In addition, WP5 will foster the exploitation of the CLAIM project results considering the value proposition of the devices and solutions obtained.

Work package 6 has the challenge to “translate” the CLAIM findings and will present this information in an attractive, user-friendly format meaningful and targeted for the needs of each stakeholder group. The aim is to increase awareness and acceptance within civil society of the importance of healthy oceans and seas, freed from litter and pollutants. Key messages will convey the importance of progress towards reducing pollution and debris (macro, micro and nano) in regional sea basins and beyond towards restoring marine ecosystems. Each CLAIM WP will work closely with the dissemination team to provide results and ensure that every step of project is communicated, stakeholders are engaged from the outset and their expectations are managed throughout the project’s duration.

Work package 7 will provide effective and comprehensive project coordination and management of the CLAIM project bringing all different parts together towards a common goal. The project will be managed by the Coordination Management Group (CMG) and the Steering Group (SG), decisions will be ratified by the Project Assembly (PA). An external Advisory Panel (AP) will advise and bring external expertise to the project. The Coordinator together with the Project Manager will interact with WP leaders and project partners to ensure adherence to the work plan, manage risks and will communicate minutes of any decisions.