In order to define and develop strategies for the management and preservation of coastal environments and biological diversity, it is essential to use tools to identify appropriate strategies for intervention. Faced with climate change, which is changing the balances and management options, the need to have support instruments in decision-making based on ecosystems, becomes even more necessary. The project aims to respond to this challenge through a toolbox of microbial and trophic bioindicators to determine the ecological status of SUDOE coastal areas. To do this, BIOMIC relies on experimental and demonstrative approaches to strategies for the use of diagnostic tools. Traditional methods of management and rehabilitation of coastal areas have allowed solving problems at the local level, but often lead to ecological problems. Coastal zone indicators are limited to the characterization of fauna and flora. However, the objective of BIOMIC is to offer specific indicators for the aquatic environment, hence its innovative nature. BIOMIC will make it possible to evaluate and develop the transferability to Spain and Portugal of a trophic indicator tool already implemented in France, and complete it with the development of microbial bioindicators, taking into account the representativeness and variety of the specific environment of the SUDOE coastal and retrolitoral zones. The project approach is based on cooperation between the scientific community, public decision-making institutions, the private sector, and technology transfer. This cooperation will contribute to the development of a common strategy in SUDOE, aimed at actions for the protection and management of coastal areas as well as biodiversity. The involvement of the territorial partners of SUDOE will allow the implementation and appropriation of the tool in the different territories and its transfer to the key actors identified during the project in collaboration with national institutions, thus ensuring the sustainability of this tool.
