The objective of HabWAVE is the development of new forecasting capabilities to allow for timely management decisions that may reduce the impact of HABs on the emerging aquaculture industry in Portugal. To achieve this goal, a multidisciplinary consortium with a long track record of research in HABs and coastal oceanography, will investigate the conditions leading to bloom initiation, in particular, species such as G. catenatum (Gc) that produce in their life-cycle a benthic resting cyst.

An inventory of Gc cyst beds will be done, on both bottom sediments and the adjacent benthic nephloid layer. Physical processes, responsible for bottom particulate matter dynamics (e.g. internal waves) will be identified by in situ observations and satellite data. The environmental and physiological traits of Gc cysts will be investigated and a germination and an hydrodynamic models will be developed to assess transport mechanisms of resting cysts that may explain the initiation of HABs.