Representatives from 20 partner organisations making up the LandSeaLot consortium met at the Deltares Headquarters in Delft from the 26 to the 28 of March, the event was hosted by the research institution Deltares in Delft, NL.

Seeking to connect fragmented communities in the land-sea interface area, the primary aim of LandSeaLot is to unify stakeholders, and scientific disciplines that work in land-sea observation and research. The project aims to connect in situ observations and citizen science with satellite observations and models. The results of these observations will be incorporated into European initiatives such as EMODnet and Copernicus services, as well as into the observation component of the European Digital Twin of the Ocean (EDITO, ILIAD). The resulting Common Observation Strategy is envisioned to be comprehensive, efficient, and resilient, ultimately optimising resources and outcomes for healthy ecosystems and a thriving sustainable blue economy.

During the Kick-off event, the project consortium engaged with a diverse array of stakeholders, each highlighting LandSeaLot’s role in advancing land-sea interface area observation and research initiatives. These stakeholders included WWF Belgium 4SEA, the European Space Agency, OSPAR/HELCOM, EU Soil Observatory, EUROGOOS, JERICO, DANUBIUS, and CoastPredict.

Despite the environmental challenges we face today, such as climate change and biodiversity loss, the demand for resources extracted from coastal areas and shelf seas is expected to rise significantly in the coming years. The imperative of reconciling ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, and climate adaptation with the escalating requirements for energy, food, and marine resources cannot be ignored. Effective monitoring of coastal saltwater and freshwater ecosystems is essential for generating science-based insights that can inform policy makers and local communities to take effective action.

LandSeaLot partners gave presentations on their specific roles and collaborative strategies aimed at achieving the project objectives. The event took an experimental turn with a visit to the Deltares test facilities, showcasing the integration of observation, data collection, and modelling to tackle societal challenges head-on. In a practical demonstration, the consortium tested an array of cost-effective CTDs, temperature sensors, and water colour sensors in the Deltares pond, highlighting their potential for citizen science engagement.

Over the span of four years, LandSeaLot will bring together 20 partners from 12 European countries, including universities, research institutes, marinas, coastal and freshwater research infrastructures, and citizen science networks to support of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” and the EU Green Deal.