The European Union has announced a €116 million investment across 13 new projects aimed at restoring the health of its oceans and waterways. The funding, secured through the latest EU Mission Ocean and Waters call for proposals, will support a wide range of initiatives across the Black Sea, Danube River, Baltic and North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and the Atlantic and Arctic regions.
The selected projects will deliver a variety of benefits, focusing on crucial areas such as:
- Preserving offshore marine protected areas.
- Restoring habitats for migratory fish in the Danube area.
- Reducing the environmental impact of fisheries on marine species.
- Strengthening citizen science in the marine sector.
- Mobilising communities to take action for water and ocean health.
- Ensuring an operational European Digital Twin of the Ocean, a digital representation of the ocean’s components.
The projects will be implemented by a diverse group of organisations, including SMEs, research bodies, local authorities, schools, and businesses. This significant investment marks a major step towards the goals of the European Ocean Pact, a key priority for the EU.
Here is a glimpse into what some of the projects will deliver:
- SEAMPHONI will use advanced technology to monitor marine biodiversity and engage the public through creative storytelling.
- DanubeLifelines will work to restore natural migration routes for fish in the Danube River.
- ECO-CATCH and MarineGuardian will develop new fishing technologies and tools to reduce unwanted bycatch and minimise environmental impacts.
- CS-MACH1 will connect citizen scientists to share marine data, boosting public involvement and research.
- EDITO2 will build on previous work to enhance the European Digital Twin of the Ocean with more advanced tools.
More details on the selected projects, including budget and beneficiaries, are available in the overview of projects.
The projects were chosen following a peer evaluation by independent experts after a call for proposals was launched in 2024.
