This project investigates the environmental and socioeconomic risks of hydrocarbon exploration in the Israeli Mediterranean Sea. Using advanced modeling techniques (OpenOil and OceanDrift), we assess potential oil and gas spill impacts from six proposed exploration blocks. The analysis focuses on critical assets, including marine protected areas, desalination plants, and coastal infrastructure, under various seasonal conditions. Our findings highlight that spill location, season, and oil type significantly affect the severity of impacts. This project emphasizes the need for comprehensive risk assessments and regulatory measures before offshore drilling to protect marine ecosystems and economic interests. 

One of the key research projects in our lab examines the impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on fish larvae, which are essential for connectivity and dispersal within marine ecosystems. Fish larvae are particularly sensitive to environmental changes and pollutants, and while PAHs are known to have negative physiological effects, their behavioral responses remain largely unexplored.

This project employs a combination of laboratory and field experiments, to investigate how PAHs affect larval behavior and survival. In the lab, we assess PAH detection using choice chambers, measure swimming speed with a swim flume, and determine mortality rates through Lethal Concentration (LC50) trials. Field evaluations focus on the impact of PAH exposure on settlement patterns, utilizing Standard Monitoring Units for Recruitment of Fish (SMURFs).

This research aims to provide insights into the immediate behavioral adaptations of larval fish to oil pollution, highlighting broader implications for dispersal, connectivity, and population dynamics in marine ecosystems. Ultimately, this work enhances our understanding of how oil pollution affects the ecological stability of these environments, particularly under increasing anthropogenic pressures.

Our lab is actively engaged in a critical research project focused on the pervasive issue of chronic oil pollution, primarily resulting from anthropogenic activities such as oil infrastructure, pipelines, and illegal discharges from marine vessels. While the locations of these oil pollution incidents are well documented through advancements in satellite and remote sensing technologies, their effects on marine environments remain poorly understood from a global perspective.

This research aims to deepen our understanding of oil pollution impacts on marine ecosystems and to develop a systematic assessment of these effects for the first time. We are working on a quantitative model designed to estimate the species-specific sensitivity to PAHs, which will enable the assessment of PAH sensitivity for thousands of currently unstudied species.

Building on this, our project seeks to create an index for evaluating the ecological impacts of chronic oil pollution on a global scale. Additionally, we will investigate the effects of acute, short-term oil pollution on primary production through remote sensing methods. Our efforts culminate in applying the developed model to a recent major oil spill event in the eastern Mediterranean.

Our lab is undertaking an important study focused on the marine environment of the Eastern Mediterranean, which is increasingly threatened by both natural and anthropogenic stressors. The establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is a crucial strategy for safeguarding marine ecosystems and preserving biodiversity. While currently only 4% of Israeli territorial waters are designated as MPAs, plans are underway to expand this significantly, with six new MPAs set to cover more than 20% of these waters.

A key aspect of MPA effectiveness is the connectivity of the protected populations. Our research aims to perform a comprehensive connectivity analysis for the proposed MPA network. Initial findings reveal that the new network greatly enhances local and regional larval connectivity patterns for five target species. This is reflected in metrics such as the number of recruits and betweenness centrality, as well as the connections among regional and local MPAs.

Overall, our results provide strong evidence for the effectiveness of the proposed MPAs in facilitating larval connectivity. These findings will inform marine spatial planning and natural resource management, ultimately enhancing the protection and conservation of the marine environment in the Eastern Mediterranean.