A new survey invites stakeholders to take part in the prospective Blue Economy Partnership co-design process by sharing insights and suggestions on the first draft of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA).The proposed Blue Economy Partnership is a co-funded partnership under the Horizon Europe research and innovation framework programme 2021-27. The format is a public-public initiative with a core group of partners including research and innovation ministries and funding agencies from the participating countries. The SRIA builds on existing mature and inclusively developed pan-European and regional strategic frameworks.The current draft of the SRIA has been prepared on the basis of input from representatives of Member States, countries associated to the current Framework Programme and JPI Oceans, in close collaboration with the European Commission. The feedback collected via the survey will be analysed by the drafting team and feed into the revision of the SRIA. Share your views by 16 December.
Link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/news/open-consultation-blue-economy-partnership-2020-nov-25_ro
To help meet the EU's goal of climate neutrality by 2050, the European Commission presented the EU Strategy on Offshore Renewable Energy. The Strategy proposes to increase Europe's offshore wind capacity from its current level of 12 GW to at least 60 GW by 2030 and to 300 GW by 2050. The Commission aims to complement this with 40 GW of ocean energy and other emerging technologies such as floating wind and solar by 2050.
This ambitious growth will be based on the vast potential across all of Europe's sea basins and on the global leadership position of EU companies in the sector. It will create new opportunities for industry, generate green jobs across the continent, and strengthen the EU's global leadership in offshore energy technologies. It will also ensure the protection of our environment, biodiversity and fisheries.
Link : https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_20_2096
Ocean observation is essential for the knowledge base of the Green Deal. Data are collected by different authorities for different purposes. A proposed EU initiative aims to achieve a common EU approach for measuring once and using the data for many purposes.
It proposes :joint planning of observation activities and a framework for collaboration on a national and EU scale
By oceans observations we include all surveys, monitoring campaigns or sampling programmes for measuring the state and dynamics of oceans and the marine organisms that inhabit them. It does not include observations made from earth-orbiting satellites which are dealt with elsewhere. By oceans, we mean seas and oceans including the seabed as well as the overlying water column.
An inception impact assessment has been published. There were 39 replies (see complete replies here).
An open consultation has now been opened to seek stakeholder views.
Have your say
The blue economy is growing fast and attracting investment worldwide. Its potential for sustainable economic growth, in line with the European Green Deal, is enormous. Unfortunately, not all economic activities at sea contribute to a healthy marine environment. A new report by the European Commission analyses why that is, and how we can turn the tide.
https://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/press/why-does-money-keep-flowing-activities-harm-ocean_en
EMFF opens a new Blue Economy Window call with a total budget of € 20 million. Join online our virtual info day and learn all what you need to know about the EMFF BlueInvest grants 2020.
This call is intended for SMEs across the European Union. You can get up to 70% co-funding for your project with an average EU contribution between between €700.000 and € 2.500.000.
Website: https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/emff-information-day-2020
The Black Sea has always left a powerful impression on Europeans throughout history. Today, it is still one of the continent’s most important seas. A unique sea basin, rich in biodiversity, heritage and natural resources, the Black Sea has been a prominent waterway for goods, ideas and people for millennia. But the Black Sea is facing significant challenges, ranging from environmental to human-induced, all contributing to degradation that began as early as the 1970s. This CORDIS Results Pack highlights important and cross-sectoral EU-funded research initiatives that have been working towards ensuring the sustainable future of the Black Sea by supporting its research and innovation ecosystem.
Link:
https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/422446-ambitious-cooperation-for-a-healthy-resilient-and-productive-black-sea
The book published by the Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV) is filled with the contributions of 93 researchers from eight countries and 28 universities, institutes and civil society organizations. The 361-page book, online published in English, becomes an important resource for everyone from scientists to decision-makers, by comprehensively addressing the issue of marine litter that threatens our seas increasingly every day.
Link: http://tudav.org/en/our-fields/publications/books/
On Science Day, the FAO Mediterranean Projects, AdriaMed, CopeMedII, EastMed, MedSudMed, and the GFCM BlackSea4Fish project, organized a workshop to address common regional small-scale fisheries (SSF) issues such as collaborative science (including participatory data collection, reporting and monitoring), local ecological knowledge (LEK), climate change and the environmental impacts of fishing.
Please find more details in GFCM's news
The Blue Growth Initiative for Research and Innovation in the Black Sea successfully conducted a two-day event dedicated to Black Sea Day with the participation of more than 200 stakeholders from academia, funding agencies, industry, policy, and society. More information and the material of the event could be found in the Connect Black Sea web page
Link: http://connect2blacksea.org/research-and-innovation-in-the-black-sea-empowering-the-next-generation-for-a-healthy-resilient-and-productive-black-sea/
The "Blue Manifesto - Roadmap to a Healthy Ocean in 2030" is a unified a call to action by civil society organisations from all over Europe working for healthy seas and ocean. There is still lot to be done as we need thriving marine and coastal ecosystems to support a climate-resilient future.
The high-level meeting on the future strategy for the Mediterranean and Black Sea took place today, under the umbrella of the FAO General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM). Virginijus Sinkevičius, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries attended the meeting, as well as the fisheries ministers of GFCM contracting parties.
Participants reconfirmed the political commitments under the MedFish4Ever and Sofia Declarations and launched the process defining a new common strategy for ensuring the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
https://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/press/gfcm-high-level-meeting-building-new-strategy-mediterranean-and-black-sea-fisheries-and_en
The Economist Intelligence Unit examines the past, present and future of energy innovation for the blue economy. The report looks at the energy needs of different ocean economy sectors, assesses groundbreaking innovations and outlines an enabling environment for energy innovation within the blue economy. Based on three case studies and in-depth interviews with 30 energy and blue economy experts, this report provides valuable insights for all stakeholders working to develop new, clean solutions for the blue economy and beyond.