EU invests millions in 13 restoration projects
A new wave of projects has secured funding under the latest EU Mission Ocean and Waters calls. With a total budget of €116 million, the 13 projects selected will deliver a wide variety of benefits to the ocean and waters in the EU and beyond, as well as the communities that rely on them.
The investment is part of the Horizon Europe programme, with the projects to be implemented across various sea basins, including the Black Sea, Danube River, Baltic and North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Atlantic and Arctic regions. They focus on:
- Preserving offshore marine protected areas
- Protecting and restoring the habitats of migratory fish in the Danube area
- Reducing the environmental impact of fisheries on marine species and habitats
- Strengthening citizen science in the marine sector
- Mobilising communities to act for our ocean and waters
- Ensuring an operational European Digital Twin of the Ocean (a digital representation of the ocean and its multiple components)
The projects involve SMEs, research organisations, local authorities, schools and businesses.
- SEAMPHONI uses advanced technology to monitor offshore marine biodiversity and engages the public through creative storytelling
- DanubeLifelines restores pathways for fish in the Danube River, improving their natural migration routes
- SWIM enhances fish habitats in the Danube and Black Sea by applying eco-friendly restoration methods
- ECO-CATCH develops new fishing technologies to reduce unwanted bycatch and protect marine habitats
- MarineGuardian devises tools to help fishers reduce environmental impacts and align with EU biodiversity goals
- CS-MACH1 connects citizen scientists to share marine data, boosting public involvement and research
- INSPIRI combines science and art to inspire action for healthier EU waters in the future
- BlueActionBANOS, BlueActionAA, SoS2LearnDBS, TASC-RestoreMed empower local communities across various sea basins—including the Baltic and North Seas, Atlantic and Arctic regions, Danube and Black Sea regions, and the Mediterranean—to implement effective restoration and conservation efforts
- CO-WATERS empowers waterfront communities to lead the restoration of our ocean and waters
- EDITO2 builds on EDITO to improve the European Digital Twin Ocean with more advanced tools
The projects were selected following calls for proposals launched in 2024, including a peer evaluation by independent experts.
