Implementing and Innovating Marine Monitoring Approaches for Assessing Marine Environmental Status

Methods traditionally used for monitoring the spatial and temporal variability of abiotic and biotic variables in the marine environment are time-consuming and costly to scale up, and often have a low-resolution capacity. To implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), European Member States are also required to improve marine monitoring and design monitoring networks. This can be achieved by developing and testing innovative and cost-effective monitoring systems and indicators of environmental status. Here, we present several recently developed methodologies and technologies to improve marine biodiversity indicators and monitoring methods. The innovative tools are discussed concerning the technologies presently utilized as well as the advantages and disadvantages of their use in routine monitoring. In particular, the present analysis is focused on: i) molecular approaches, including microarray, Real Time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and metagenetic (metabarcoding) tools, (ii) optical (remote) sensing and acoustic methods, and (iii) in situ monitoring instruments. We also discuss their applications in marine monitoring within the MSFD through the analysis of case studies in order to evaluate their potential utilization in future routine marine monitoring. We show that the recently-developed technologies can present clear advantages in accuracy, efficiency and costs.