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The objective of the project is to establish the bases for a more sustainable development of extractive activity with less acoustic impact that contributes to achieving the good environmental status of the marine environment. To this end, the main sources of anthropogenic and natural noise in the Galician Rías Baixas will be identified, where there are a large number of protected marine areas with high extractive activity. At the same time, the feasibility of incorporating electric propulsion in some of the types of fishing vessels for small gear and fishing auxiliaries will be evaluated, involving the sector in actions to decarbonise its activity and reduce the noise pollution they generate.

Specific objectives of the project

OE1. Improvement of existing knowledge about the main sources of marine noise in areas with high extractive activity.
OE2. Development of innovative and sustainable solutions that reduce the marine noise generated by extractive activity and that also reduce the carbon footprint generated by the sector.
OE3. To strengthen the sector’s commitment to the problem of marine noise and sustainable development.
OE4. Efficient management of the project, developing the planned actions in a timely manner, with the planned resources, ensuring correct risk management and the involvement of the main stakeholders.
OE5. Dissemination of the idea of an environmentally sustainable, socially responsible and economically viable extractive sector in accordance with the provisions of the OP-EMFF.

1.1.Monitor marine noise in extractive areas
1.2.Identify main sources of noise
1.3.Development of a publicly accessible tool for visualising noise components
1.4.Transfer of results to other Oceanographic Observatories
2.1.Identify use cases for incorporating electric propulsion in fisheries
2.2.Adaptation of the electric propulsion system
2.3.Electric powertrain testing in use cases
2.4.Analysis of results and feasibility assessment of use cases
3.1.Analysis of marine noise reduction by the use of electric propulsion
3.2.Analysis of carbon footprint variation due to the use of electric propulsion
4.1.Project monitoring
4.2.Dialogue with funders, collaborators and beneficiaries
4.3.Administrative management of the project
4.4.Final evaluation
5.1. Communication Plan
5.2. PLEAMAR programme website, dissemination of social networks and press
5.3. Information and informative days
5.4.Final Event

The SILENCIO project aims to establish the bases for a more sustainable development of extractive activity with less acoustic impact that contributes to achieving Good Environmental Status of the
marine environment. To achieve this objective, a set of 5 activities will be carried out divided into various actions for which a series of expected results have been identified.

• Activity 1 focuses on the characterisation of marine noise in an area of high extractive activity such as the Galician Rías Baixas where there are protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network. At the end of the project, it is expected to have at least one permanent monitoring station for ambient noise in the area and to have characterized the main sources of noise in that station, distinguishing at least one source of anthropogenic origin and another natural source.
• Activity 2 addresses the feasibility study of the use of electric propulsion in small fishing vessels and fishing auxiliaries. Firstly, possible use cases of electric propulsion will be analysed together with the sector (through meetings with collaborating brotherhoods), identifying at least three potentially viable use cases to incorporate the typology of electric motors with which CETMAR works. After a previous adaptation of the engines to the requirements of the selected use cases, they will be installed on at least one vessel for testing. Finally, based on the results obtained and their extrapolation, the really viable use cases will be identified.
• In activity 3, the tests carried out will allow quantifying the reduction in noise and the reduction in fossil fuel consumption that the incorporation of electric propulsion in these types of vessels would entail, extrapolating these data to the entire fishing fleet, it is expected to obtain an estimate of the potential reduction of marine noise due to the incorporation of electric propulsion and an estimate of the potential reduction of CO2 emission due to the incorporation of electric propulsion in the fishing fleet segment where it is considered viable.
• For the communication and promotion of the project, its objectives, actions and results (activity 5) it is expected that the SILENCIO project will achieve a high degree of dissemination in areas such as marine monitoring, those responsible for the implementation of the DMEM and fishermen’s associations, proposing to measure this result through the agendas and the list of attendees at the dissemination and publicity days of the project. working meetings with Marine Observatories and fishermen’s guilds, tweets published or information disseminated through the website of the Pleamar programme.