Estonia (Partner 3)

Estonian Marine Institute (EMI), University of Tartu, is an educational and research body engaged in applied and basic research in aquatic sciences, and a advisory body to the Ministry of the Environment, and Ministry of Agriculture (marine monitoring, fisheries research including socioeconomic issues). Also, EMI is well represented in different bodies of the ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) and HELCOM. Research carried out in the Institute is closely related to climate change. EMI has competence in issues concerning effects of climate change in the Baltic region, and has an interest to cooperate in these issues with other regions. An important part of the EMI activities are related to environmental impact assessments of various human activities.

EMI has a strong experience to communicate with local stakeholders via regular and irregular meetings organized by the institute or by the Estonian government in issues related to the environment, via publications (e.g. overviews of the state of the fisheries and fish resources, climate change-induced press of alien species, etc.), in TV and radio. These communications have often been related to issues related to climate change.

Since 2000 has launched a series of researches about the monitoring and the deep knowledge of the mechanisms of our own natural capital (territory, biodiversity, water, air). These researches, in addition to afford knowledge of the local environmental systems, allow understanding how the same systems would be altered due to changed climatic conditions. Some of these studies are shared with other European bodies through a project of water management together with other European partners. This allowed ripening numerous experiences in this field.

EMI has participated (and participates currently) in many international projects, including EU FP projects, PHARE projects, and INTERREG projects (e.g. OILECO, EVAGULF)