The European Union has announced an investment of €116 million in 13 new projects aimed at restoring the health of the ocean and waters, with Cyprus participating in one of the efforts.
With an EU contribution of €12.5 million and the coordinating beneficiary the Hellenic Center for Marine Research, the participating countries in the specific project are Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Belgium, Ireland and Italy. The TASC-RestoreMed programme is for technical assistance and support to communities of actors for the Mission Restore our oceans and waters by 2030 for the Mediterranean basin.
The European Commission says that projects, selected under the EU Mission Ocean and Waters will focus on a range of initiatives, including preserving offshore marine protected areas, protecting migratory fish habitats, reducing the environmental impact of fisheries and empowering local communities to lead the restoration of our ocean, seas and waters.
The 13 projects, which involve small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research organisations, local authorities, schools, and businesses, will deliver a wide range of benefits to the ocean and waters in the EU and beyond.
The projects 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, the Commission says, 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 programme, 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.
"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 European Ocean Pact - and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come" the Commission says.
(Source: CNA)
