The European Union has announced a €116 million investment in 13 new projects aimed at restoring the health of oceans and freshwater systems.
Among them is TASC-RestoreMed, which will receive €12.5 million in EU funding. Coordinated by the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, the project brings together partners from Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, and Slovenia. Its mission is to provide technical assistance and support to stakeholder communities in restoring Mediterranean waters and oceans by 2030. It will also help member states implement EU legislation on marine and freshwater protection to meet biodiversity, pollution, and climate goals under the European Green Deal.
According to the European Commission, the projects were selected through calls under the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters,” and will target a wide range of initiatives. These include the conservation of offshore marine protected areas, safeguarding habitats of migratory fish, reducing the environmental impact of fishing, and empowering local communities to lead restoration efforts.
The 13 projects involve small and medium-sized enterprises, research organizations, local authorities, schools, and businesses. They will be implemented across several marine and river basins, including the Black Sea, Danube, Baltic and North Seas, the Mediterranean, and parts of the Atlantic and Arctic.
Among the standout initiatives is SEAMPHONI, which will deploy advanced technology to monitor offshore marine biodiversity, and DanubeLifelines, which aims to restore migratory routes for fish in the Danube. Other projects, such as ECO-CATCH and MarineGuardian, will develop new fishing technologies to reduce bycatch and protect marine habitats.
The investment falls under Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation program addressing major societal challenges.
All projects were evaluated by independent experts, with full details, including budgets and beneficiaries, available on the EU Mission’s website.
The Commission described the initiative as a major step toward restoring the health of Europe’s oceans and waters, a key priority of the EU’s Ocean Pact and essential for ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
With information from CNA