The BlueMissionAA project, funded by the European Union, aims to develop a shared vision and a road map for the ecological restoration of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It also encourages citizen participation and innovation in this field. The project had its annual meeting in Cascais, Portugal, with the involvement of PLOCAN.
The opening of this first annual meeting of BlueMissionAA, a project funded by the European Union (Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under the grant agreement 101093962) was led by Elisabetta Balzi, Head of the Oceans, Seas and Waters Unit of the European Commission, and was attended by representatives of the 15 partner entities of the consortium, comprising research institutions, public administrations, organizations and companies from eight European countries.
The main objective of the meeting was to review the first year of implementation of the project, to present the results achieved so far and to plan future activities.
The partners addressed the establishment of a community of practice around ecological restoration, the analysis of existing policy and governance frameworks, the development of indicators and restoration activities, the design of an evaluation tool and a road map for innovation, dissemination, exploitation and social impact of the project, and communication and engagement with citizens and other related projects.
PLOCAN leads the work package focused on providing technological advice, experience and knowledge to stakeholders interested in the ecological restoration of the Atlantic and Arctic areas.
The BlueMissionAA project (Building a coordination hub to support the implementation of the Mission in the Atlantic and Arctic basin), which began in late 2022 and lasts for three years, is part of the European Union’s Restore Our Oceans and Waters Mission, which aims to protect and restore 75% of Europe’s marine and coastal ecosystems by 2030. The project is coordinated by the International Centre for Atlantic Research (AIR Centre) and has a budget of EUR 3 million.
