Fourteen research and innovation projects co-funded under the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership’s first joint transnational call are now officially recognized by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 as UN Ocean Decade Actions.
This acknowledgement, the UN said, underscores their contribution to global efforts towards a climate-neutral, sustainable, resilient, and competitive Blue Economy. It also translates into increased visibility and new opportunities for collaboration and funding that will help amplify their impact.
The projects span priority areas that contribute to advancing Ocean Decade Challenge 4: Develop a sustainable, resilient and equitable ocean economy. This includes decision-support tools for ecosystem-based maritime spatial planning, sustainable blue food and feed production, Digital Twin of the Ocean applications, and multi-use of offshore marine infrastructure. They are:
- WASTE2TASTE develops commercially viable products from waste left over after harvesting fish. This includes by-catch–fish accidentally caught when fishing for other species–and byproducts from fish processing. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates loss and waste of global fish harvest is around 35%; WASTE2WASTE works to turn what would otherwise be wasted marine resources into products.
- BluEcho deals with the impact that underwater noise from shipping and wind farms can have on sea life including disrupting migration and mating patterns. The organization is devising advanced noise modeling and mitigation strategies to protect marine biodiversity.
- FAMOS develops innovative floating island concepts, integrating renewable energy and assessing climate suitability to create sustainable and socially accepted offshore living spaces.
- ShellFishBoost aims to mitigate climate change’s effects on European bivalve production in support of the shellfish farming sector—vital to the blue bioeconomy.
- Blue Bio Boost strives for the sustainable economic development of the macroalgae industry, which has the potential to contribute to societal challenges such as carbon neutrality and food security.
- INSPIRE integrates offshore wind and hydrogen production to reduce reliance on Rare Earth Elements–which are in short supply and require mining practices that are environmentally and socially destructive; optimize the lifecycle of electrolyzer which divide water into hydrogen and oxygen; and support green energy infrastructure design.
- AQUABALANCE explores strategies and best practices for balancing economic, environmental, and social sustainability in the European aquaculture industry.
- MEDSEAPLAN aims to enhance maritime spatial planning in the Mediterranean by developing an ecosystem-based tool that ensures data accuracy and stakeholder participation.
- SEAREFINERY intends to establish a novel production platform for bio-based blue food, feed, and food packaging materials by valorizing marine-based sources and waste.
- ARCFISH is creating a pilot Digital Twin of the Ocean platform to deliver new data products and services for sustainable Arctic fisheries, with a focus on Western Greenland and Icelandic waters.
- BLUEBOOST seeks to demonstrate that co-cultivating a wide range of low-trophic species with established species can boost blue foods and feeds while supporting environmental and carbon-neutral goals.
- FOODIMAR pushes the boundaries of current food production practices by developing industrial processing methods to extract nutrients from side streams and underutilized species, reducing environmental impact and promoting species diversifications.
- DTOTrack maps the movements and distributions of marine life in the North Sea and uses that data to create a digital twin of the area to support decision-making.
- AQUAUP explores seaweed-derived alternatives to conventional aquafeed ingredients to enhance fish growth and health while reducing aquaculture’s environmental impact and supporting ecosystem services.
Launched in 2023, the joint call was the first in a series of three, with a second call already underway and the third planned for September 2025. As an initiative of Horizon Europe, the EU’s current Research and Innovation Framework Program, the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership brings together more than 70 partners from 30 countries, including EU Member States, Norway, Brazil, Turkey and Ukraine, as well as the European Commission to mobilize a total investment of €450 million over seven years. Partners primarily represent national ministries, innovation agencies, research funding and performing organizations, and regional authorities.
