Technology transfer units (ADERA)

Cohabys is an ADERA transfer unit attached to La Rochelle University and hosted in the LIENSs laboratory. It specializes in studying the interactions between industrial activities at sea and marine fauna. For 10 years, Cohabys has been working with economic operators and industrial project leaders to better understand the impacts of their activities on ecosystems and thus better manage them.

Cohabys carries out specialized studies from the benthic macrofauna to the pelagic megafauna (birds, marine mammals, etc.) aimed at improving knowledge of the species, impacts of the projects,  measures and monitoring implemented in the sectors of marine renewable energies, Oil & Gas, seismic prospecting, marine aggregates or regulatory monitoring.

At the interface of research and industrial projects, Cohabys contributes to the improvement of practices and to a more sustainable development of blue economy activities.

The unit has brought its expertise in numerous marine energy projects as scientific advisers on the follow-ups to be implemented or the methods to be favored to reduce the impacts on marine fauna. Cohabys participated in the RESPECT R&D program aimed at better understanding the impact of the acoustic disturbance of the construction of offshore wind turbines on marine mammals (program funded by the project company Eoliennes en Mer Dieppe Le Tréport, carried out in partnership with Quiet-Oceans , the University of Le Havre, the Langevin Institute and Cathie Associates).

Cohabys has also acquired good experience in large international projects by working on an exploratory drilling for Total for 2 years. The cell was tasked with studying the project’s impact on marine megafauna and implementing mitigation measures. Beyond the regulatory aspect of the work carried out, the knowledge acquired in the area provides valuable information on the species present and their behavior towards such a site.

Finally, Cohabys also draws on the specific knowledge of its team by participating in guides to good practice. The unit notably participated in the drafting of a guide of recommendations under the aegis of the Ministry of Ecology aiming to limit the impact of anthropogenic acoustic emissions on marine fauna.

The team

Coming from the academic world and the laboratories of La Rochelle Université, the Cohabys permanent team is made up of Ludivine Martinez (marine biologist, unit manager), Fabien Aubert (benthic ecology engineer) and Emeline Pettex (marine ecology researcher) .

Depending on the projects and needs, Cohabys also relies on members of the LIENSs laboratory and / or fixed-term contracts recruited for the projects.

Géonauvha is an ADERA transfer unit attached to La Rochelle University and hosted in the LIENSs laboratory. It specializes in taking into account issues related to situations of disability. This is a major problem for public authorities and private companies. The objective is to promote equitable access for all to the resources of the territory. This equitable access contributes to the well-being of people as well as to the sustainable development of societies.

The team :

From the academic world and the laboratories of La Rochelle University, the permanent team of GeoNauvha is composed of David Amiaud (geography researcher, unit manager).