Towards the Sustainable Development of the Atlantic Ocean: Mapping and Assessing the present and future status of Atlantic marine ecosystems under the influence of climate change and exploitation

How do drivers of change (climate, acidification and societal development) and other pressures (exploitation and pollution) impact the state and resilience of the Atlantic Ocean ecosystems? How do they alter the distribution and sustainability of services provided to humans? To answer these questions, the EU-funded MISSION ATLANTIC project will bring together scientists, managers and stakeholders from Brazil, South Africa, North America and the EU. Applying the Atlantic Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEAs), which are developed at basin and regional scales, the project will identify ecosystem components most at risk from natural hazards and the consequences of human activities. To support these assessments, the project will map, model and assess Atlantic Ocean ecosystems, including their resilience and response to cumulative pressures.