Photo by samsommer on Unsplash
The European Union has announced a major new investment, one which promises to make waves.
It says it will plough some €116 million in 13 new projects aimed at restoring the health of the ocean and waters.
The projects, selected under the EU Mission Ocean and Waters calls, will focus on a range of initiatives.
These include preserving offshore marine protected areas, protecting migratory fish habitats, reducing the environmental impact of fisheries and empowering local communities to lead the restoration of oceans, seas and waters.
The 13 projects involve small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research organisations, local authorities, schools, and businesses.
They promise to deliver a wide range of benefits to the ocean and waters in the EU and beyond.
The projects, say the EU, will be implemented across various sea basins, including the Black Sea, Danube River, Baltic and North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Atlantic and Arctic regions.
Some of the notable projects include SEAMPHONI, which will use advanced technology to monitor offshore marine biodiversity, and DanubeLifelines, which will restore pathways for fish in the Danube River.
Other projects, such as ECO-CATCH and MarineGuardian, will develop new fishing technologies to reduce unwanted bycatch and protect marine habitats.
The investment is part of the Horizon Europe scheme which aims to bring solutions to some of society’s greatest challenges.
The projects were selected following a peer evaluation by independent experts, and more details on the selected projects, including budget and beneficiaries, are available on the EU Mission website.
An EC spokesman told this site, “With this significant investment, the EU is taking a major step towards restoring the health of the ocean and waters – a key priority under the Euro Ocean Pact and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.”
