Libya takes a major step towards a national blue economy strategy with African Union support

A National Stakeholders Consultation and Validation workshop for the National Blue Economy Strategy in Libya has been held under the auspices of the African Union from May 13-15, 2024 in Mombasa, Kenya.

Many ministries incl transport and maritime transport, tourism, economy and trade, the oil sector, the Libyan Ports Authority, the General Secretariat, the National Aquaculture Project in Libya, and other sector representatives, participated in this workshop dedicated to the blue economy in Libya.

The workshop was rich with lecturers and many experts from different countries of the world. Leonardo Manzari (WestMED National Hub Italy) and Matteo Bocci (WestMED and EU Sea Basin Assistance Mechanism central team) also participated and shared valuable information on the sustainable blue economy in Africa with a focus on Libya.

Ali Shagrune (Libyan National Coordinator and member of the WestMED Steering Committee) and Masauda Abuarosha (WestMED Centre Libya) both were pivotal for the success of this event.

This workshop is part of an initiative by the African Union aimed at supporting a number of member states in Africa to develop blue economy strategies. This is made possible with funding by the Kingdom of Norway.

Outcomes of the group discussions

Group 1: Draft Strategy

Group 2: Draft Implementation Plan

Group 3: Draft Governance Coordination Mechanism

(for details see report below)


Next steps

  1. The Outline of the National Blue Economy Strategy will be disseminated to all key stakeholders present and not present at the consultative workshop to get broader views, gain the political goodwill, support, and ownership. The National consultant will follow-up and obtain feedback on views and opinions and incorporate into the National Blue Economy Strategy.
  2. The Draft National Blue Economy Strategy will be finalized and validated in a physical meeting to be held in Libya.

Full report/ Communiqué

Read the full report with all outcomes and recommendations of this workshop
See agenda

WestMED and African Union cooperation

The workshop jumpstarted discussions between the WestMED and the African Union with an open invitation to cooperate by Dr Hellen Guebama from the Union’s InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) – which will be followed through – see video below

Press release on the AU-IBAR website: Blueprints for Prosperity: Libya’s Blue Economy Strategy Shaped in Mombasa

Dr Hellen Guebama from the Union’s InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)

 

Group of people posing in an office room. decarbonsation meeting

The Atlantic Action Plan, WestMED Initiative, Port of Vigo, DG MARE, MAPA and the Energy Transition Partnership streamline port and vessel decarbonization actions

On May 13, 2024 a meeting was held in Brussels to discuss concrete decarbonization opportunities for ports and vessels between some major stakeholders and EU policy makers

The meeting was attended by the WestMED National Hub Spain, the Atlantic Action Plan (AAP), DG MARE, Vigo Port Authorities, the Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) and the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA).

Marta Pascual (WestMED & Atlantic National Hub Spain/ member of WestMED’s Technical Group on Green Shipping) and Gerardo González (Port Authority of Vigo), presented their respective decarbonization prototype reports. The observations and suggestions in these reports were based on stakeholder discussions held in Mahón, Menorca for the WestMED and Vigo, Spain for the Atlantic.

Carlos Botana, president of the Port Authotity Vigo (and  Atlantic Action Plan – Pillar 1 coordinator on ports) also presented a roadmap on potential energy sources and the prototypes needed to facilitate the energy transition of the different maritime fleets.

The discussion focused on the main challenges encountered when finding solutions for energy sources and adapting the various maritime fleets towards the energy transition needs. The proposed prototypes were analyzed,  potential funding opportunities discussed and ways of collaboration explored to increase critical mass for joint and coordinated action.

This mutual exchange was productive with specific follow-up actions agreed amongst the participants to advance these decarbonization efforts both through the WestMED Initiative and the Atlantic Action Plan.

STAY TUNED and watch this website or follow us on Twitter for the latest developments

For more information contact Marta Pascual (WestMED National Hub Spain)

Read the press release by the Port Authority of Vigo

Agenda

16,00 – 16,10 Tour de table with presentations of those participating (all present)
16,10 – 16, 20 Context of both documents to be presented at the meeting

 

Marta Pascual – Spanish National Hub Atlantic Action Plan & WestMED Initiative

16,20 – 16,35 Presentation of the Atlantic Pillar I decarbonization prototypes report

 

Gerardo González – AAP Vigo

16,35 – 16,45 Presentation of the Blue Growth Strategy of Port of Vigo

 

Carlos Botana – President of Port Authority of Vigo

16,45 – 17,00 Presentation of the WestMED decarbonization prototypes report

 

Marta Pascual – Spanish National Hub Atlantic Action Plan & WestMED Initiative

17,00 – 17,10 Presentation of the needs and potential funding opportunities for such prototypes

 

Marta Pascual – Spanish National Hub Atlantic Action Plan & WestMED Initiative

17,10 – 17,45 Open discussion between ETP team and participants to seek for synergies, collaboration opportunities, how some of these could be embedded into the 2024 ETP roadmap, etc

 

All present

17,45 – 18,00 Closing remarks and closing of the meeting

 Ana Peralta – DG MARE / Carlos Botana – AAP Vigo / Francisco Manuel Fernández Martínez – MAPA / Marta Pascual – AAP & WestMED

 

emfaf 10 years announcement poster with two photos from a school of fish and a rocky coastline

Celebrating 10 years of EMFF/EMFAF – the European Maritime, Fisheries (and Aquaculture) Fund!

On 15 May 2014, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Regulation was adopted. This also marked the date when for the first time, the European Commission delegated the implementation of part of the fund to a European Executive Agency and new funding possibilities opened for beneficiaries.

In the past ten years, the fund has achieved great results, supporting fisheries science and innovative blue economy solutions for citizens, companies, fishing and coastal communities and the environment.

Since 2021, the fund is called European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), and is managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). It supports the EU Common Fisheries Policy, the EU Integrated Maritime Policy and the EU agenda for international ocean governance through a diversified portfolio of actions.

This year, CINEA will be celebrating the great achievements of the fund and give extra visibility to the projects and the fund via several actions during the year.

Would you like to join?

  • Post on your social media:
    1. explaining how the EMFF/EMFAF funding helped your innovation. In alternative, you can use the following text “We are proud to contribute to a more sustainable blue economy in Europe, thanks to the EU #EMFAF funding (or #EMFF, according to which year your project has been funded). Happy #10yearsEMFaF.”
    2. Do not forget to use #10yearsEMFaF
    3. Use this visual as it is, or in its editable form.
  • Send a testimony of how the EMFF/EMFAF funding supported your project. CINEA will be happy to promote it on their social media platforms. Use the following email address to get in touch: CINEA-COMMUNICATION-EMFAF@ec.europa.eu.
  • Talk about the anniversary at the events where you take part.

 

What has been achieved in 10 years?

The European Maritime, Fisheries (and Aquaculture Fund) has a total budget of EUR 12.508 billion for the period 2014-2027. Part of the fund is directly managed by the European Commission and its Executive Agency since 2014, in complementarity with the EU Member States, which manage the rest of the fund by financing national projects.

For the period 2014-2024, the Executive Agency funded more than 500 actions, with a budget of EUR 389.5 million, reaching more than 8,000 stakeholders. In only 10 years:

  • Highly innovative projects in all blue economy sectors developed new technologies and sustainable solutions, filled knowledge and gender gaps, introduced bio-based marketable products, addressed the issue of unexploded ammunitions at sea and much more. More than 1,000 beneficiaries have been supported!
  • 109 published studies provided scientific advice for fisheries, supporting policy decisions and the sustainable management of marine resources;
  • International ocean governance was fostered through dialogues and actions, including with indigenous people in the Arctic area;
  • Guidance and cross border exchanges supported EU Member States in the elaboration of their maritime spatial plans and the implementation of the EU MSP Directive, also through the establishment of the European Blue Forum;
  • 530 stakeholders benefitted from the EU Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism, aimed at supporting EU Member States, the EU aquaculture industry and other relevant economic players in implementing the « Strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture;
  • 472 companies and investors have benefitted from coaching, investment readiness and fundraising assistance thanks to BlueInvest since 2019;
  • The EU4Algae community, counting on 927 stakeholders, is working to scale-up a resilient and climate-friendly algae industry since 2020;
  • Through the EU4Ocean, 926 stakeholders have been involved in ocean literacy activities and 382 schools have been certified Blue Schools;
  • EMODnet streamlined access to marine data through the creation of a central portal, providing a single access point for an easy and free access to marine environmental and human activities data;
  • 3717 stakeholders networked and benefitted from events and activities under the sea basin strategy assistance mechanism for the Atlantic, WestMed and Black Sea.

These are only some of the fund’s big accomplishments and much more is to come in the coming years!

Manolis presenting at WestMED-OurOcean Conference 2024 Conference

WestMED highlights the power of regional cooperation at Our Ocean Conference 2024

On 16 April 2024, The WestMED Asistance Mechanism organised a side-event at the 9th edition of the Our Ocean Conference in Athens, Greece.

Attendance to the Conference was by invitation only; extended to representatives from countries, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, academia, philanthropists, and the private sector, all of whom demonstrate a dedicated commitment to the protection of the ocean.

During the conference, participants discussed critical topics related to ocean health and sustainability, including marine protected areas, sustainable blue economies, climate change, maritime security, sustainable fisheries, marine pollution and green shipping.

These discussions aimed to foster collaboration and implement effective solutions for safeguarding our oceans’ delicate equilibrium

Additionally, the conference received more than 460 commitments worth USD 11.35 billion across the six issue areas, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts to protect ocean health and security

WestMED workshop – Emerging impacts of regional cooperation
One of the discussions that took place was a side-event organised by the WestMED Assistance Mechanism and  moderated by Thanos Smanis. It was titled ‘Emerging impacts of regional cooperation in the Mediterranean Sea – with a special focus on green shipping and sustainable coastal tourism.’

In the opening remarks Orlando Costa (Portuguese directorate for maritime policy and WestMED’s current copresidency) outlined the shared objectives between the Our Ocean Conference and the WestMED Initiative focused on supporting a sustaiable blue economy.

Thanos Smanis then highlighted the results that have been achieved through the WestMED Initiative with  partnerships and discussions that have been formed and consist of organisations from Northern and Southern shore countries. Increasingly, project cooperations are established across the full Mediterranean sea basin, especially when applying for cross-border funding opportunities.

EU funded project cooperation examples
The 2nd part of this workshop was reserved for 3 projects that were awarded funding with the support of the WestMED Assistance Mechanism and focused on green shipping and decarbonisation, sustainable tourism in coastal areas and blue skills.

Manolis Annetis from the Ethnicon Metsovion Polytechnion in Greece presented ‘Greenmed – Green Shipping Pathways Towards a Clean Energy Transition in the Mediterranean’. GreenMED is a regionally oriented project aiming to effectively support green shipping efforts in the Mediterranean Sea basin, by promoting plausible scenario-based decarbonisation pathways.

Amal Muntaser from X23 took the floor to present WeMED NATOUR and ECO-Cruising FU TOUR that aims at enhancing sustainable coastal tourism. She stressed the importance of smart technologies, digitalization, education and training

Ioannis Argyriou from the Technical University of Crete presented ‘Blue Ports – Blue careers in net zero energy ports’  with the objective to help port staff and port authorities with practical tips and smart tools to cover the gap between current port services and targets of the European Green Deal, including the Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy until 2030 and 2050.

The presentations resulted in an animated in-depth discussion amongst the approx 30 participants,  focused on the projects as well as the broader topic of decarbonization efforts and technologies.

This workshop and the ensuing discussions aligned with the many interesting and well received dynamic thematic side-event sessions that were held throughout this conference.

For more information mail thanos.smanis@westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu

Orlando Costa | Portuguese directorate for maritime policy (DGPM)

Manolis Annetis presenting at WestMED-OurOcean Conference 2024 ConferenceManolis Annetsis | Greenmed

Amal Muntaser presenting at WestMED-OurOcean Conference 2024 Conference

Amal Muntaser | WeMED NATOUR and ECO-Cruising FU TOUR

Ioannis Argyriou presenting at WestMED-OurOcean Conference 2024

Ioannis Argyriou | Blue Ports

 

Group picture of Management Committee members RethinkBlue - 2024 Zadar

Malta represented at International Conference on Blue Economy

On 23-24 April 2024, the first RethinkBlue international conference was organized by EU COST Action CA22122 – Rethinking the Blue Economy: Socio-Ecological Impacts and Opportunities, with the support of COST – European Cooperation in Science and Technology, the University of Zadar, and the Croatian Science Foundation.

During the conference, scholars and other experts discussed and presented research on issues related to social, environmental and economic aspects of the Blue Economy. This included maritime occupations; food security; sustainable blue consumption; port cities; coastal communities; fisheries governance; marine tourism; emergent activities; climate change; and natural hazards.

The RethinkBlue conference was opened by the Chairperson of RethinkBlue, Dr Dražen Cepić and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Zadar Prof Zvjezdan Penezić.

Malta was represented by RethinkBlue Management Committee members Prof Michael Briguglio and Matthew Laspina. Prof Briguglio and Prof Godfrey Baldacchino also presented their respective research during the conference.

Download the book of abstracts

Photo: Management Committee members RethinkBlue

 

Group of people discussion in Mahon Menorca during WestMED national event on 17 april 2024

Decarbonizing ports, fishing and recreational vessels. Expert proposals at participative WestMED Spain workshop in Mahón, Menorca

Haga clic aquí para el español


On April 17, 2024, the workshop ‘Prototypes for the decarbonization of Ports, Fishing and Recreational Vessels‘ took place in Mahon, Menorca (see agenda).

This Spanish National Event was organized by the Spanish National Hub of the WestMED Initiative Assistance Mechanism of the  in collaboration with the Maritime and Logistics Cluster of the Balearic Islands. It was attended by 46 national and international experts on the decarbonization of ports, fishing vessels and recreational vessels.

The event targeted all Spanish-speaking Mediterranean and/or Atlantic stakeholders in the port, fishing and yachting sectors, as well as representatives from national and regional administrations. People came from a wide range of organisations including clusters, GALPs, associations, marine recreation, marinas, fishing ports, technology providers, port infrastructure developers, researchers, energy sector, shipyards (see list of attendees).

This workshop was selected by the European Commission as an official ‘EMD in My Country‘ event, as part of a larger EU-wide campaign consisting of many other events across the Union, designed to raise awareness about the importance of the oceans and seas.

Background
As with other economic activities in the EU, there is a growing need for our maritime fleets to transition and move away from fossil fuels as soon as possible. This is not only a contribution to the objectives of the European Green Deal, including the reduction of GHG emissions, but also to the profitability, sustainability and resilience of the sector (EU Commission, 2023). The challenges faced by fleets in undertaking an energy transition range from regulatory to technological.

The objective of this workshop was to discuss the challenges that decarbonization poses for recreational and fishing ports and vessels. It provided an opportunity to harnass the participants’ perspectives on fishing vessels and recreational vessels as well as their ports and facilities focused on this challenge.

By using the principles of  ‘design thinking,’ participants identified and discussed possible prototypes, energy sources, technological solutions, regulatory frameworks, general opportunities and challenges to move towards decarbonization.

Setting the stage
The stage was set by several leading experts and policy makers, outlining the context and sharing the latest developments.

Mr. Héctor Pons Riudavets, Mayor of Mahon, opened the event and stated that « we need prototypes and public-private technologies adapted to the current reality to achieve our decarbonization goals ». Next, Mr. Antonio Ginard Lopez, Director General of the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands, highlighted that the Balearic Islands are already addressing the challenge of decarbonizing their ports with several activities and work axes.

Ms. Iolanda Piedra, president of the Maritime Maritime and Logistics Cluster of the Balearic Islands, stressed that Spain wants and needs to be a European and global reference in marine decarbonization.

Mr. Omar Collado, national coordinator of the WestMED Initiative on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, indicated: « All maritime sectors need to collaborate to achieve a sustainable Blue Economy. We need concrete, realistic and truly sustainable projects and technologies to move towards the energy transition that the EU needs ».

Mr. Francisco Manuel Fernández, from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, stressed that the ideas that will be developed through the participatory workshop are essential to advance the decarbonization of the fisheries sector. He emphasized that most Mediterranean fisheries in Spain are artisanal fleets and that providing decarbonization solutions to these fleets is a challenge we need to address.

Roundtables
After a short break, participants were split and divided over three thematic roundtables according to predifined preferences.

TABLE 1: Decarbonization prototypes for fishing and recreational ports
TABLE 2: Decarbonization prototypes for fishing vessels
TABLE 3: Decarbonization Prototypesfor recreational vessels

Each table was then asked to:
1: Identify of challenges/barriers/strengths
2: Prioritise the top 3 challenges
3: Identify a roadmap for these 3 prioritized challenges

Results
A brief summary:

Table 1: Proposals for ports to become energy generators
Three proposals were selected: a mobile platform that allows energy generation (eco-deck), a turbine farm that harnesses the power of waves to generate electricity and a project to generate green hydrogen in ports based on the example of the port of Vigo.

Table 2: Projects for the decarbonization of the fishing vessels
Prototypes were proposed for the digitalization and analysis of the energy needs of each type of fishing gear (data platform). A project for testing a hybrid solution (electric and diesel) on a 10-meter vessel was also proposed.

Table 3: New models of green energy powered vessels
Different projects were selected, such as the adaptation of catamarans to a hybrid model (biodiesel and electricity), the development of an application to monitor the autonomy of ships, the electrification of passenger ships or the construction of a ship powered by biodiesel and hydrogen.

Each table then shared and discussed their findings with the full group of participants.

The day was concluded by summarising key take-home points and outlining next steps.

Next Steps
The full results will be compiled in a document entitled « National Event from WestMED Initiative in Spain: Prototypes for the decarbonization of Ports, Fishing and Recreational Vessels » which will be delivered to the EU Energy Transition Partnership so that they can take them into account when developing their roadmap for 2024.

This document can be requested, free of charge, by contacting the WestMED National Hub Spain.


Media coverage
This event was widely covered by the press: on television (IB3/ Noticies) and in online media

Online articles
Pressreader Spain
Menorca.info
Xunta de Galicia 1 | Xunta de Galicia 2
Galicia Press
CostaOeste
NoticiasVigo
Govclipping
La Voz de Galicia
Cluster Marítimo Español

 

WestMED logo for AquaWest

WestMED’s Aquaculture Technical Group AquaWest intensifies cooperation with the EU Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism and FAO/ GFCM

On 29 April 2024 WestMED’s Aquaculture Technical Group AquaWest organised a meeting with the EU Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism and the FAO/GFCM with the aim of identifying synergies and intensifying cooperation to drive progress and achieve shared goals

The meeting generated valuable insights, discussions, and opportunities to further advance sustainable aquaculture practices across the WestMED Region. The importance of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the integration of innovative technologies, such as GIS, in identifying allocated zones for aquaculture was widely shared.

Joint projects, knowledge-sharing activities, and participation in relevant and eachothers workshops/ conferences were highlighted as a means to further develop.

As a start, in terms of knowledge sharing and promotion there will be a mutual link on the websites of WestMED’s AquaWest and EU Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism.

Screenshot cover page report with aerial view of clear blue-green sea with rocky coast

Report: The Parliamentarian’s guide to protecting the Mediterranean Sea and coast

Source: UN Environment website

Members of parliaments play a pivotal role in transposing Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) into enforceable national law.

The Barcelona Convention and its Protocols are a case in point: how can a newly elected parliamentarian be expected to instantly find their way through a myriad of legally binding provisions, including Regional Action Plans, addressing everything from chemical pollution to green shipping and sustainable consumption and production?

The Parliamentarian’s guide to protecting the Mediterranean Sea and coast (the Guide) is aimed at parliamentarians serving in the Mediterranean region and in the European Parliament—the EU being a Contracting Party— and at staff supporting them in discharging their duties.

The Guide offers practical entry points to the UNEP/MAP-Barcelona Convention system and includes non-prescriptive recommendations on how to leverage the core functions of parliament, notably representation, lawmaking, and oversight (IPU and UNDP 2017), and associated mechanisms to bridge gaps in compliance.

The outcome sought through this publication is a higher level of compliance and enforcement at the national level around the Mediterranean Sea.

Download the Guide

Poster announcing EU sea basins strategies presence at EMD 2024

EU Sea Basins Strategies featured at the European Maritime Day 2024

Set against the picturesque backdrop of Svendborg, Denmark, this annual event, hosted at the International Maritime Academy (SIMAC), promises to be enlighting for the maritime world.

On May 30-31, EMD 2024 will attract Ocean Leaders from across Europe to converge, deliberate, and establish collaborations focused on addressing pressing challenges and promising opportunities within the blue economy and marine ecosystem.

Kickstarting the festivities on May 30, the High-Level event on the main stage will feature prominent policymakers, including Charlina Vitcheva, Director General at DG MARE, along with representatives from Denmark, France, Portugal, and Moldova. This session, scheduled from 10:30 to 11:45, will spotlight the remarkable success of the EU Sea Basin Strategies as pivotal drivers of the Blue Economy, offering valuable insights into fostering sustainable maritime growth.

Later that day, from 15:00 to 16:15, a workshop led by the Sea Basins Assistance Mechanism (that includes the WestMED, Atlantic and Black Sea) will disclose synergies amongst EU « blue » initiatives. Expert speakers from EU4OCEAN, Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, and the Energy Transition Partnership for EU fisheries and aquaculture will shed light on collaborative pathways for sustainable marine development.

EMD 2024 serves as an interactive in-person conference and exhibition. A place where businesses, governments, NGOs, academia, and EU citizens connect and discover. Through engaging discussions, workshops, and pitch sessions, stakeholders actively help shape the maritime agenda, tackle current challenges, and chart a course for future opportunities.

 

EU Sea Basin Synergies Workshop info and registration  (Registration for the conference required)

EMD2024 info and registration

success story announcement poster with a blue crab

WestMED Success Story. Tackling invasive species: a successful Italian-Tunisian approach with Bleu Adapt and ARIBiotech

Tackling invasive species is one of the main lines of action by the European Commission (EC) on protection of marine ecosystems and its biodiversity, and it and is especially applicable to the Mediterranean Basin.

The introduction of these organisms into ports, coastal areas, and watersheds is damaging aquatic ecosystems worldwide, with estimated direct costs in the millions of dollars.

Invasive species are primarily spread by human activities. Maritime traffic is considered one of the main causes. Ships can carry aquatic organisms in their ballast water and biofouling on vessel hulls.

Invasive species can easily move between different geographic areas, especially in regions like the Mediterranean region with significant maritime connections.

EU policies
At European level, several regulatory frameworks tackle the challenge of invasive species.

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is the primary European tool for maintaining clean, healthy, productive, and resilient marine ecosystems. The Directive requires Member States to develop national marine strategies to achieve or maintain a “good environmental status” and more sustainable use of marine resources. The Descriptor 2 of the MSFD address non-indigenous species, which expand their typical geographical distribution and become ‘invasive’ when they can threaten marine biodiversity.

The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 on Invasive Alien Species identifies invasive alien species as one of the five main direct factors in biodiversity loss. All of these regulatory frameworks directly contribute to the European Commission’s Green Deal Strategy.

More than 1000 non-indigenous species have been identified in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Over half have established permanent populations and are spreading, causing concern about the threat they pose to marine ecosystems and local fishing communities.

Cross-border cooperation

Species move without any geographical limitation and thus, a national or local approach is often insufficient to counter these threats across the Mediterranean. Instead, a transnational, more regional approach is recommended to fight a coommon threat. Primarily because:

  • Implementing measures at regional level are more cost-effective.  Economies of scale allow for sharing resources and costs among multiple ports and regional actors.
  • Sharing knowledge and experiences facilitates the mutual learning.
  • Coordinating strategies and policies lead to better management with comprehensive approaches

Italy-Tunisia cooperation

An example of such a transnational cooperation is the Interreg NEXT Italy-Tunisia funding programme.

This programme spans the territories located on both sides of the maritime route connecting Sicily and Tunisia

The general objective is to exploit the unused growth potential of the territories involved, to achieve an economic, environmental and social rebalancing of the cooperation area, supported by inclusive growth, sustainable development and good governance.

This €36 Million programme has enabled multiple blue projects. Two notable projects that address invasive species are Bleu Adapt and Aribiotech

 

Logo bleu-adapt

BLEU ADAPT: Fighting the “blue crab” invasion in the Mediterranean

The blue crab is an invasive species introduced into the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.

The crab threatens the artisanal fishing along the Tunisian and Sicilian coastline. It damages the nets, eats all the other fish, has few predators and reproduces quickly.

Initiatives have been undertaken in this region to support the fishing community to adapt by learning how to make use of the situation through acknowledging the economic and nutritional value of the blue crab and changing the ways of fishing and commercialisation

‘BLEU-ADAPT – Marine biological invasion and fisheries: study, mitigation of damage and adaptation in the context of climate change’, is a comprehensive EU-funded project that was set up in 2019 and implemented by Tunisia’s Ministry of Agriculture.

The aim of BLEU ADAPT was to provide a rapid response to the blue crab invasion and develop a common strategy to cope with this new problem. Given the commercial potential of the blue crab, project partners have been conducting a series of studies (mapping and risk analysis) and pilot actions – like training and coaching artisanal fisherfolk and organising a blue crab festival – to introduce and promote the blue crab in local and international markets.

Next to the great nutritional and culinary value, the shell powder offers many valuable applications  from a biotechological point of view, for animal feeds, cosmetics, nutraceutics and industrial use.

Bleu Adapt has considerably built and consolidated the Tunisian supply chain and transformed a huge environmental challenge into an opportunity of economic development.

Today the country has more than 50 companies processing and transforming the blue crab, including its shell, and a fast growing industry with its main export markets in Indonesia (38%), South-Korea (26%) and Vietnam (18%).

Other regions in Italy have shown interest to understand the dynamics of such a «joint partnership» approach like the one used with Bleu-Adapt as a way to properly respond to this emergency along its 8000 km coastline.

Rafik Nouaili, project coordinator of Bleu-Adapt

“The BLEU-ADAPT project had certain social and environmental impacts and also contributed to improving the economic situation of small fishermen and their families. The blue crab was previously considered a harmful species and has become a boon for many Tunisian fishermen, particularly on the island of Kerkennah. Its protection is essential! The key factors in the success of the BLEU-ADAPT project and the national strategy aimed at encouraging fishing, marketing and valorization of blue crab deserve to be explored and shared with all Mediterranean countries.”

This project also underscores the significant benefits that ENI CT Italie-Tunisie (now INTERREG NEXT Italie-Tunisie) transmits as an example to Mediterranean policies as a whole, for a resilient and sustainable Blue Economy.

Bleu Adapt was winner of the 2023 WestMED award in the category ‘Biodiversity, Marine Habitat Conservation and Response to Marine Pollution.’ You can watch their project pitch here

More info about Bleu Adapt
Budget Total: €1.136.660EU contribution: €1,022,994 (INTERREG IT-TN)
Partners Directorate-General for Fisheries and Aquaculture Tunisia  (Tunisia)

University of Palermo – UNIPA  (Italy)

Distretto della Pesca e Crescita Blu – COSVAP (Italy)

Higher Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Bizerte (Tunisia)

National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia – ISP(Tunisia)

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Duration 31 December 2019 – 31 October 2023

 

Logo aribiotech
ARIBiotech is another project dealing with invasive species and co-financed by the European Union under the ENI CT Italy-Tunisia Programme

ARIBiotech is an Alliance for Research and Innovation in Blue Biotechnology that focuses on the valorization of marine waste. It operates at the intersection of research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, with a specific emphasis on marine biotechnology.

Fishing ports are vital components of the regional economies, serving as active hubs that support the fishing industry, facilitate seafood distribution, and boost local economies. However, these dynamic environments are not without their challenges, as various forms of waste accumulate due to fishing and processing activities. This waste includes offcuts from fish processing, packaging materials, plastic debris, and dredged sediments.

Recognizing the pressing need for waste management and sustainable practices in marine ecosystems, the project addresses these issues head-on. It aims to explore innovative solutions for treating and utilizing marine waste, particularly focusing on the blue crab, to mitigate environmental impacts and promote sustainability in the fishing industry.

The port of Sfax, which faces significant pollution from blue crab waste, was selected as a focal point for action. Here, a startup called ‘Flavor for Med Fish’ has been established to produce hydrolysate and chitin extracted from blue crab waste. These products find applications in various sectors, including aquaculture feed, highlighting the potential for transforming waste into valuable resources and fostering sustainable practices in fishing port communities.

As part of this process they created a cross-border alliance for the exchange of knowledge and skills through internships and study visists.

ARIBIOTECH has allowed its partners to develop a network of laboratories which develop products from waste and by-produces, enriching the already consistent ecosystem of companies engaged in transformation, valorization in Tunisia and Sicily.

This network whose legal status is being defined (as a consortium or similar in the next months) is therefore to undertake common actions towards valorization and diversification, from traditional use of these produces and their derivates.

Considering the historical and robust interaction between Sicilian and Tunisian fishery ecosystems, this contributes to let these become closer and closer towards a unique joint ecosystem.

Saloua Sadok, 2021 WestMED award winner with Biovecq, and Aribiotech project leader:

“We are committed to advancing marine science and technology through innovative research. Our focus on blue biotechnology and aquatic bio-products aims to create sustainable solutions for waste valorization in Tunisian-Sicilian fishing ports. By synergizing research and entrepreneurship, we strive to address environmental challenges and promote economic growth.”

More info about ARIBiotech
Budget Total: €1,424,058EU contribution: €1,281,652 (INTERREG IT-TN)
Partners Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer – INSTM (Tunisia)

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia (Italy)

Agence des Ports et des Installations de Pêche (Tunisia)

Istituto per lo studio degli impatti antropici e sostenibilità in ambiente marino- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – CNR-IAS (Italy)

Biotechpôle Sidi Thabet (Tunisia)

Direction Générale de la Recherche Scientifique – DGRS (Tunisia)

Consorzio Universitario della Provincia di Trapani (Italy)

Région sicilienne – Dipartimento della Pesca Regione Siciliana (Italy)

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Duration 7 June 2022 – 31 December 2023

 

Further reading:
Preview of BLEU-ADAPT scienfific publication on ScienceDirect: Invasive blue crabs and small-scale fisheries in the Mediterranean sea: Local ecological knowledge, impacts and future management
FAO article: From invasive species to prized export
GFCM article: Research programme on blue crabs
Mongabay article: Love ‘em and loathe ‘em: Mediterranean grapples with tasty, voracious invasive crabs

Preview of ARIBiotech scientific publications on ScienceDirect: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-021-18398-y | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889157524002035?via%3Dihub