Catchment research has traditionally been focussed on the science and management of water flow and quality. In recent years, achieving good ecological status and compliance with the Water Framework Directive has been a priority. This has been challenging not least because the majority of rivers in the UK are heavily polluted with nitrogen, phosphorus, and a range of contaminants including pathogens and transfers of dissolved organic C from upland areas are increasing. These can be detrimental to the ecology of rivers and coastal waters, be a risk for human health and increases costs of the water industry. Following the publication of the National Ecosystem Assessment (2011) and the Government's White Paper on the Natural Environment (2011), catchment managers face an even greater challenge trying to ensure water resource objectives do not compromise delivery of other functions which deliver a range of regulating, provisioning or cultural services which we all benefit from. Underpinning delivery of these ecosystem services are basic ecosystem processes such as carbon fixation by plants and the return of carbon back to the atmosphere through decomposition (the carbon cycle), the cycling of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus through plants, soil, water and the atmosphere and detoxification of a range of contaminants including pathogens. Much is known concerning the individual carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus (C, N and P) and contaminant cycles, however the coupling of these cycles through the landscape and the subsequent impacts on the natural environment and the services provided are rarely studied. To respond to this gap in our current understanding we will address two research questions. The first is when, where and how do coupled macronutrient cycles (of C, N and P) affect the the functioning of the natural environment within and between landscape units at the catchment scale? The second is how will these coupled cycles alter under land use, air pollution, and climate-change and what will be the effect on water quality, carbon sequestration and biodiversity (three important ecosyststem services) at both catchment and national scale? To achieve this, we will quantify the fluxes, transformations and coupling of the C, N, and P cycles through key processes (net primary productivity, decomposition, nutrient cycling) and quantify the links to pathogen transfer and viability using a combination of targeted field-based monitoring and field- and laboratory-based experimentation in the Conwy catchment supplemented by measurements in intensively farmed areas of the Ribble. The following outcomes are expected: 1. Quantification and improved process-understanding of coupled C, N and P processes, transformations and fluxes across soil functional types and within processing hotspots. 2. Quantification of the effects of instream ecosystem function and co-limitation of N/P on eutrophication development in freshwaters. 3. Testing of hypotheses that terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity can be explained at the catchment- and national-scales as function of macronutrient flux and primary productivity. 4. Source to sea flux quantification and process-understanding of the fate of pathogens and the controls exerted by macronutrients within very fine sediments (flocs). 5. An integrated, parsimonious coupled macronutrient (C, N, P) air-land-water modelling platform, configured for a 1 km grid across the Conwy (i.e. an enhanced JULES model). 6. Sensitivity analysis of carbon sequestration, water quality and biodiversity to past and future climate, nutrient and land (forest) cover change to determine the key controls on past and future changes in carbon sequestration, water quality and biodiversity. 7. Quantification of trade offs in delivery of carbon sequestration, water quality and biodiversity at the catchment scale and the relationship to land cover type and climate regime.

For any business, making decisions on the best course of action should be informed by the best available evidence. The UK business sector is asked to integrate issues of sustainability and environmental impact into their decision-making as part of a transition to a greener economy (http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/economy). In current circumstances this is inhibited by the absence of a shared and reliable evidence base from which to draw decision-making support and develop consensus on best practice. In a competitive world it will be important for business decisions to be based on a reliable evidence-base characterized by rigour in assembly , transparency and objectivity. Most importantly the evidence base will need to be synthetic and inclusive of all available primary research related to a question relevant to evidence needs of the decision makers. In environmental management, the evidence base supporting policy decisions is incipient and syntheses of the best available evidence are not readily available. This project will develop and test an open-access database of research syntheses (evidence syntheses). The database will list syntheses conducted to assess evidence on a specific question of policy or practical relevance in environmental management. The database will provide information on the reliability and transparency of the syntheses, tailored to the needs of decision makers/end users in government, non-government and private sectors. We will work with a group of end users and pilot the database format by identifying a subject area that represents an example of their evidence needs. Existing research syntheses will then be identified and critically appraised for their reliability as a source of the best available evidence. The web-based product will be presented to the end-user group for their feedback and modifications made in preparation for expansion from a pilot to a fully functional system.

ShellEye-DEMO aims to translate novel satellite-informed techniques for early warning of harmful algae blooms (HABs) and microbiological risks into a unique and viable service to support the sustainability of UK aquaculture. This exploits existing research to identify certain HABs using satellite ocean colour, and the fusion of Earth observation, meteorological and in situ data to infer increased risk of E. coli. The objectives are: 1. [D]omain expansion: to involve pilot aquaculture farms in two additional UK regions, and consultation with the largest salmon farms in Scotland, as a route to wider exploitation of the potential benefits of ShellEye's approach. 2. [E]nhanced resolution of HAB detection, from 1km to 300m, to improve precision of near-coast and near-farm HAB risk estimation (using latest Sentinel-3 satellite). 3. [M]arine insurance: to develop long-term HAB probability maps to assist in insurance risk assessment, and encourage clients to take up satellite early warning to reduce losses. 4. [O]ther types of aquaculture, using a customised version of the ShellEye methods to protect the emerging potential of offshore lobster farming. This will be achieved through activities organised into 5 work packages: Stakeholder engagement; Enhanced HAB warning; Microbiological hazard warning for new domains and types; Quantifying HAB risk for marine insurance; and Advanced pilot trial. Partners from the insurance industry, aquaculture farms in three regions, and regulatory organisations, will contribute their time, expertise and data to support the application of our novel methods and engage in real-time trials. Outputs will comprise pilot risk-warning services to address the challenges of satellite monitoring and modelling of dynamic near-coastal environments; and a long-term HAB probability to inform the challenge of assessing insurance risk. Impact will be realised through development and protection of UK aquaculture industries, the quantification of reduced stock losses and recalls, and improved insurance risk assessment enabling lower premiums. All of which will help to boost the UK aquaculture industry and the quality of its produce, and contribute to increased economic gains and food security impacts for the UK. Keywords: Sustainable aquaculture; shellfish; finfish; salmon; harmful algal blooms; E coli; satellite Earth observation; ocean colour; modelling of microbiological hazards. Secured project partner stakeholders: Sunderland Marine Insurance (SMI) National Lobster Hatchery (NLH) Westcountry Mussels Ltd (WCM) Morecambe Bay Oysters Bangor Mussel Producers Ltd Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) Food Standards Agency (FSA) Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB) Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation (SSPO)