Researchers involved in the LAMARCA project gathered at IMEDEA (Mallorca) on 17-18 September 2026 for the annual project meeting. The event provided an opportunity to review recent achievements, discuss ongoing scientific activities, and define priorities for the final phase of the project.
The programme covered key topics including project milestones, communication and data management, results from the MEDLIT campaign, microbiological and plastic analyses, drifter observations, and advances in understanding two- and three-dimensional transport processes. Discussions also focused on emerging applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence for the analysis of ocean variables and the prediction of marine litter transport pathways. These developments complement LAMARCA’s multidisciplinary approach, which combines high-resolution ocean modelling, observations, Lagrangian analysis and innovative digital tools to better understand the dispersion and accumulation of marine litter and microplastics in coastal waters.
As the project approaches its final stage, partners explored future collaboration opportunities and strategies to build on LAMARCA’s scientific achievements beyond 2027. The knowledge generated by the project is expected to contribute to improved marine litter monitoring, support evidence-based management decisions, and advance understanding of ocean transport processes in both the Bay of Biscay and the Northwestern Mediterranean.