Coastal ecosystems in focus: Hackathon success strengthens environmental awareness!

Coastal ecosystems in focus: Hackathon success strengthens environmental awareness!

At the end of March 2025, the Open Sea Lab 4.0 hackathon took place, a significant event aimed at uniting interdisciplinary teams from Europe to develop solutions to challenges in the oceans. The hackathon was organized by EMODnet, the European Digital Twin of the Ocean, the European Commission and Copernicus Marine. Participants were encouraged to use freely accessible ocean data to find innovative answers to acute maritime problems. In this context, the “Digital Lighthouse” team, which also included Jan Meischner from the University of Rostock, received the highest award for their “Smoke on the Water” project.

The project addressed the impacts of forest fires on coastal and marine ecosystems, with a focus on the 2023 forest fire in Dadia, Greece. Significant changes in marine chemistry and biodiversity were examined. The team combined atmospheric, terrestrial and oceanic systems to analyze the impact of the fires on the waters surrounding the island of Lemnos. They identified indicators of ecosystem stress using in situ EMODnet data and Copernicus satellite observations.

Challenges and future goals

One of the biggest challenges the team found was the limited data history, which made analysis difficult. To address these data gaps, Digital Lighthouse plans to develop an AI-powered model that can better predict the impact of wildfires on marine systems. This is intended to not only help researchers, but also support marine protected area managers, policy makers, and the tourism and fisheries sectors. A key date for the initiative will be at the European Maritime Day in Cork, Ireland, in May, where the team plans to present its results.

Parallels to the sustainable blue economy are clear, particularly in the context of the challenges affecting the Mediterranean region. On February 2, 2021, ministers from 42 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) gathered to formulate common strategies to promote a sustainable blue economy. A new statement addressed key issues such as governance, marine research and innovation, tourism sustainability and the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems.

The meaning of Posidonia oceanica

A central theme of this conference was the conservation of Posidonia oceanica, an endemic seagrass species in the Mediterranean, referred to as the “lungs of the Mediterranean”. This plant species is crucial to the health of marine ecosystems as it provides numerous ecosystem services. It improves water quality, absorbs CO2, stabilizes the seabed and provides refuges for many species.

The declines in Posidonia oceanica meadows are worrying and require urgent action to ensure the health of the marine environment. According to the State of the Environment and Development in the Mediterranean 2020 report, existing sustainable development policies are insufficient to significantly reduce pressure on coastal and marine environments.

In summary, both the innovation approaches such as those of “Digital Lighthouse” and the political efforts of the UfM are crucial to address the challenges in the Mediterranean region and beyond. Combining science, technology and policy collaboration could be crucial for a sustainable blue economy future.