The EU invests 116 million euros in 13 projects ‘for the restoration of oceans and waters’
The European Union is investing €116 million in 13 new projects aimed at “restoring the health of oceans and waters,” as announced today by the European Commission.
These projects, selected under the EU’s ocean and water mission calls for proposals, will focus on a range of initiatives, including, among others, “actions for the conservation of protected marine offshore areas, for the protection of migratory fish habitats, for reducing the environmental impacts of fishing, and for empowering local communities to lead the restoration of our oceans, seas, and waters.”
The 13 projects, involving small and medium-sized enterprises, research organizations, local authorities, schools, and businesses, “will bring a wide range of benefits for oceans and waters in the EU and beyond,” according to a related announcement, emphasizing that “the projects will be implemented in various marine basins and river catchment areas, including the Black Sea, the Danube, the Baltic and North Seas, the Mediterranean, as well as areas of the Atlantic and Arctic.”
Among others, there is the SEAMPHONI project, which will use advanced technology to monitor offshore marine biodiversity, as well as the DanubeLifelines project, which will restore migratory routes for fish in the Danube. Other projects, such as ECO-CATCH and MarineGuardian, will develop new fishing technologies to reduce bycatch and protect marine habitats.
The investment is part of the “Horizon Europe” program, which aims to find solutions to some of society’s greatest challenges. The projects were selected following evaluation by independent experts, while more details about the selected projects, including budget and beneficiaries, are available on the EU mission’s website.
With this significant investment, the EU is taking an important step towards restoring the health of oceans and waters, a goal that is a key priority of the European Ocean Pact, as well as ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come, the announcement concludes. (31/1/2025)
