Brussels (Belgium), March 7, 2025. Ifremer at European Ocean Days: Working Together to Protect Our Waters
On March 7th, Ifremer took part in the European Ocean Days workshop in Brussels. The European Ocean Days 2025 brought together over 1,800 stakeholders, including: public Institutions, businesses, NGOs, youth organizations, researchers and innovators. The workshop, entitled “Cross-Sea Basin Synergies: Deploying the Mission Ocean and Waters and Scaling Up for the Next Phase,” gathered 100 experts from across Europe to share ideas and plan the next steps in protecting our oceans, seas, and rivers.
This event is part of the wider EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters,” which aims by 2030 to heal marine and freshwater ecosystems, reduce pollution, and build a cleaner, more sustainable “blue economy.” That means encouraging industries that rely on the sea—like fishing, shipping, and tourism—to adopt greener, more efficient practices.
The workshop gathered representatives from projects across different sea regions (overall called Coordination and Support Actions, or CSAs). It was a great opportunity to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and support a growing network of people and organizations working toward healthy oceans and sustainable innovation.
One key topic discussed was Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) as an innovative approach to aquaculture that can help reduce pollution and support new, eco-friendly business models. In this system, different types of species (like fish, shellfish, and seaweed) are farmed together in a way that mimics natural ecosystems. IMTA is already being supported by two major Mission projects (European-funded initiatives):
- BlueMissionMed, which focuses on reducing pollution in the Mediterranean through its portfolio of solutions;
- BlueMissionBANOS, which promotes a sustainable, carbon-neutral, and circular blue economy in the Baltic and North Sea regions.
Both of these projects share a common goal: finding smart, sustainable ways to manage our marine resources. Looking ahead, Ifremer aims to host a BlueMissionMed French hub meeting to strengthen collaboration with BlueMissionBANOS and 2B-BLUE, focusing on advancing sustainable aquaculture practices.
As a reminder, Ifremer is a partner in four CSAs linked to the first phase of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters”. These are:
- Prep4Blue: Helping the Mission get off to a strong start by engaging citizens and aligning efforts across projects.
- BlueMissionMed: Tackling pollution and promoting clean solutions in the Mediterranean Sea.
- BlueMissionBANOS: Encouraging innovation and sustainable growth in the Baltic and North Sea areas.
- BlueMissionAA: Supporting restoration and biodiversity in the Atlantic and Arctic regions through new ideas and collaboration.
For more information check: European Ocean Days.
