The general objective of the project is to evaluate the bioaccumulation of emerging pollutants of high risk to the health of marine ecosystems in the North Atlantic, South Atlantic and Strait of Alboran Sea demarcations, through the analysis of synthetic hormones, antibiotic residues and resistant bacteria in bioindicator species of different trophic levels and residence patterns. to estimate the environmental risk of major anthropogenic pressures, improve food security and strengthen aquaculture sustainability.

Specific objectives:

OE.1: To collect and characterise the biological samples of the target species of the project: sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), dogfish (Galeorhinus galeus) and bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).
OE.2: To analyse the concentrations of antibiotic residues (authorised in aquaculture) and synthetic hormones (commonly used in human medicine) in the target species of the project.
OE.3: To evaluate the presence of bacteria resistant to selected antibiotics in fish, through microbiological analysis, and to characterize antibiotic resistance genes and microbial communities in water samples, using metagenomic techniques.
OE.4: To analyze the population genetic differentiation of the specimens studied and the sex in the case of bottlenose dolphins to contextualize the bioaccumulation results according to origin, geographical distribution and population structure.
OE.5: To comparatively assess the levels of bioaccumulation of pollutants between species and marine demarcations (North Atlantic, South Atlantic and Strait and Alboran), including aquaculture farms and marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network present in these demarcations.
OE.6: Infer the possible sources of contamination associated with the residues of antibiotics and synthetic hormones detected, analysing the profiles of compounds according to their predominant sector of use (human, livestock or aquaculture) and their frequency of application according to geographical area.
OE.7: Assess the state of health of the marine ecosystems under study with a One Health approach, considering the environmental risk derived from emerging pollutants and the health of bottlenose dolphin populations as a bioindicator species, with special attention to the areas of aquaculture influence and the priority areas for the assessment of the risk of discharges from land-based sources identified in the Marine Strategies, providing criteria for integrated management, environmental sustainability of ecosystems and fishing and aquaculture activities and the strengthening of ecosystem resilience.
OE.8: Transfer of knowledge on the conservation of the coastal and marine environment with a One Health approach, through the delivery of training workshops structured in three thematic blocks: chemical pollution, assessment of the marine environmental status and sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture.