News Archives - WestMED

Call for workshops for the European Maritime Days 2024

13 November 2023/in News /by Communication team

The Call for workshops for the EMD 2024 in Svendborg Denmark, is now open!

The European Maritime Day (EMD) is the annual two-day event during which Europe’s maritime community meet to network, discuss and outline joint action on maritime affairs and sustainable blue economy.

Stakeholder workshops are at the core of the conference. Each workshop lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Workshop organisers design and manage their own workshop.

For the EMD 2024, 18 high-quality workshops will be selected (with several workshops running in parallel).

All that is necessary is to fill in this form and submit your online application before 8 December 2023 at 17:00 CET.

The EMD is the place where ‘Ocean Leaders Meet’. It provides an engaging and completely interactive experience to catch up on the current state of play on a broad range of issues concerning the blue economy and the marine environment and to discuss ways of moving forward. It features a large number of inspirational speakers, thematic sessions, stakeholder workshops and pitch sessions organised by stakeholders and the European Commission. The EMD targets professionals from businesses, governments, public institutions, NGOs and academia as well as EU citizens interested in the sea.

European Maritime Day 2024 will take place in Svendborg, Denmark on 30 and 31 May 2024.

For more information, visit the EMD event website

Commission proposes fishing opportunities for 2024 in the Mediterranean and Black Seas

9 November 2023/in News /by Communication team

Today, the Commission adopted its proposal for fishing opportunities for 2024 for the Mediterranean and the Black Seas. The proposal promotes the sustainable management of fish stocks in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas and delivers on the political commitments made in the MedFish4Ever and Sofia Declarations.

The Commission proposes to use the same tools that were introduced in the 2022 and 2023 fishing opportunities, based on the latest available scientific advice. These tools include fishing effort for trawlers and longliners as well as catch limits for deep-water shrimps. These measures were established under the Western Mediterranean multiannual management plan (MAP) for demersal stocks, with the aim of reaching by 1 January 2025 at the latest the maximum sustainable yield (MSY), i.e., the maximum amount of fish that fishers can take out of the sea without compromising the regeneration and future productivity of the stock.

Most fishing opportunities will be proposed at a later stage, based on the results of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) annual session (6-10 November 2023) and the scientific advice for demersal stocks covered by the Western Mediterranean Multiannual Management Plan (MAP), which is expected towards the end of October.

In the Mediterranean Sea, the proposal keeps unchanged measures for red coral. For blackspot seabream and deep-water shrimps this year’s proposal continues a gradual reduction in catches for both species, in line with the newly agreed GFCM management plans from 2022. The proposal for common dolphinfish and other stocks with GFCM transitional measures that expire at the end of 2023 will be updated after the 2023 GFCM annual session.

Read the full press release on the EC website with additional information

Mediterranean fisheries and aquaculture: outcomes of GFCM high-level conference on MedFish4Ever initiatives

8 November 2023/in News /by Communication team

This week, the European Commission and 20 EU and Mediterranean states renewed their commitments to deliver on their sustainability pledges made in the MedFish4Ever Declaration.

The 2017 MedFish4Ever Declaration has been a cornerstone in regional fisheries governance, catalysing action to build a regulatory framework for sustainable management and development.

Six years down the road, Mediterranean states met again in Malta to review progress and renew their commitment to live up to the promises of the Declaration, while looking into the future challenges that this region is facing in pursuing sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.

Special adviser to Commissioner for Environment, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Karmenu Vella, speaking on behalf of Commissioner Sinkevičius, set the tone:

“Halfway through the 10-year roadmap, we can say with confidence that MedFish4Ever has changed the way we manage our fisheries in the Mediterranean! Forever and for the better!”

Renewed commitments on key priorities

The parties confirmed their renewed commitments to reinforce efforts in reaching these objectives:

protecting marine resources
combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing
strengthening the viability of coastal communities through the support to the small-scale fisheries prevailing in the region
ensuring decent working conditions and social protection of fishers
making fisheries more attractive to the young generation and giving equal recognition of the work of women
building sustainable aquaculture and strengthening the value chain.

Special adviser to Commissioner for Environment, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Karmenu Vella, speaking on behalf of Commissioner Sinkevičius, reiterated the commitment of the EU to the goals of MedFish4Ever Declaration:

“Today, the GFCM stands stronger than ever. We have built a robust framework with the 2030 Strategy and its action plan. Now we need to continue showing political will to fully implement our commitments.The EU’s commitment to deliver on MedFish4Ever and the GFCM 2030 Strategy remains unabated, now and for the future!

It is up to us to create a resilient future for our local communities, to restore and to protect the stocks and marine ecosystems, and to create a sustainable and a dignified working environment for generations to come – the future they all deserve.”

Financing a sustainable future

All these commitments will require additional resources, as well as keeping up the exemplary cooperation and partnership among all the countries and among all the stakeholders in the region.

The European Union, as main donor for the implementation of the MedFish4Ever Declaration, reconfirmed its financial support through the dedicated GFCM Grant of €8 million, calling upon new donors to join.

Rewarding innovative practices in fisheries and aquaculture

6 projects were awarded for their work:

Innovation in fishing technology category:

Reinforced seine as a mitigation measure against depredation by bottlenose dolphins by the National Institute for Fisheries Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, Morocco
Assessment of the carbon footprint of the fishing fleet and application of decarbonization measures by the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, Croatia

Innovative practices in aquaculture research category:

Larvae counting system by AquaDeep, Tunisia
Innovative salt water aquaponic system by the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology, Spain

Innovative practices in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing category:

Use of remote electronic monitoring, including closed-circuit television technology, as a control and monitoring tool by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, Cyprus
Remote sensing data shedding light on the Mediterranean fishing footprint, by the Global Fishing Watch

Read the full press release on the EC website with additional information

Blue Strategy Proposal for the Valencian Community in Spain

23 October 2023/in News /by National Hub Spain

Press release: Cátedra de Economía Azul,

On October 20, 2023, the presentation of the Blue Strategy Proposal of the Valencian Community took place, at The Ocean Race Museum in the Port of Alicante, organized by the Càtedra Interuniversitària d’Economia Blava-UA- UMH-Generalitat Valenciana.

The event has had the notable presence of numerous authorities, including the Hon. Mayor of Alicante, Luís Barcala; the Magnificent Rector of the University of Alicante, Amparo Navarro; the General Director of Economy, José Vicente Todolí; the General Director of Coasts, Ports and Airports, Vicente Martínez Mus; and the Autonomous Secretary of Innovation, Jerónimo Mora, among other distinguished positions.

At the opening of the event, the Hon. Mayor of Alicante shared his vision of the maritime vocation of the city and its port, highlighting them as essential elements of Alicante. Furthermore, he committed to collaborating with all sectors with the aim of promoting this maritime capital.

The Rector of the University of Alicante highlighted the preparation of the UA in areas such as marine sciences, biology, geography and tourism, among other degrees and postgraduate degrees. He highlighted the university’s commitment to the Chair of Blue Economy and its willingness to work together with the Public Administration to establish the research bodies necessary for the development of the Blue Economy in the Valencian Community, in collaboration with other universities, including the University Miguel Hernández (UMH).

Succesful blue strategies in the Mediterranean and the EU
Subsequently, Marta Pascual, head of the WestMed Spain Hub, urged the Valencian authorities to bet on the blue economy, in line with the projects and funds of the European Union. She highlighted that this is a crucial moment for the Valencian Community to develop a Blue Strategy, highlighting the successful results of blue strategies in the Mediterranean and the importance of the Valencian Community joining this dynamic.

For his part, the director of the Càtedra d’Economia Blava, Fernando de Rojas, emphasized that the Proposal presented is the first step towards a more detailed and specific strategy, being a basic document. This Strategy Proposal would place us one step away from the officialization of a Valencian Blue Strategy, from which we have grown so far. This document covers various sectors, such as nautical, fishing, aquaculture, coastal tourism, marine energy, blue biotechnology, ports, coasts, public works and maritime transport. De Rojas highlighted the current relevance of the Blue Economy in the Valencian Community and the importance of working on a transversal strategy that involves all sectors, putting the region at the same level as other autonomous communities and Europe. Furthermore, he expressed the commitment of universities to be centers of research, promotion and dialogue with the companies and sectors involved, making themselves available to the Generalitat Valenciana for this joint effort.

Valencian Blue economy webportal
In the context of this event, the launch of a comprehensive web portal dedicated to the blue economy of the Valencian Community was announced. This portal, which will be available soon, will serve as a central platform to explore and gain insight into the blue economy sector in the region.

Representatives of civil society were also present at the event, including the president of the Chamber of Commerce and various associations of sectors involved such as ANEN, UEN, National Federation of Fishermen’s Guilds, ACNCV, APROMAR, ATEIA-OLTRA Alicante and the Association of Containers Port Alicante. Likewise, there was a notable presence from the academic sector and key companies in areas such as maritime public works, maritime transport, customs, as well as the Business Confederation of the Valencian Community (CEV), represented by its secretary, Ana Gosálvez.

Finally, the significant weight of maritime transport in the Valencian Community and the driving companies in the sector, such as Balearia, JSV, Boluda, among others, were highlighted, emphasizing the importance of taking advantage of this vital impulse not only for the region, but also for all Europe.

group photo of people celebrating launch of EMFAF projects 2023

New EMFAF Regional flagship projects just kicked off their work!

16 October 2023/in News /by Communication team

Source: CINEA website

The EMFAF Regional flagships call, with a budget of EUR 7.6 million, focused on EU sea basins cooperation; in particular the Atlantic, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, the Baltic Sea Region and the EU Outermost Regions. Ten new projects just kicked off.

Four projects are related to the Mediterranean: Green Marine Med, POWER4ME, CALLMEBLUE and the GreenMED. The first three projects received active assistance from the WestMED Assistance Mechanism in the application process.

GREEN MARINE MED – Mediterranean Green Shipping Network: Linking Ports, Industries, Investment and Innovation for Monitoring and Technology Foresight on Green Shipping in the Mediterranean

GREEN MARINE MED will bring together, engage and mobilise the comprehensive Mediterranean Green Shipping stakeholder community, representing the full value chain including actors from the full vessel community, ports and marinas, fuel and energy, as well as finance, investment, innovation and other stakeholders. The comprehensive Network will create the foundation to enable the most broadly supported and useful Monitoring and Technology Foresight on Mediterranean Green Shipping.

Duration: 24 months – EU contribution: EUR 932 469.91

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. The GreenMED’s ambition is to contribute directly and actively to the emission targets established by the EU under the 2030 and 2050 milestones. This goal´s realization relies on the comprehension and integration of innovative technologies, taking into consideration the regional ship energy demands, the fuel supply chains in both shores of the Mediterranean Sea, and the variety of emerging green shipping technologies, leading to the establishment of a decarbonisation hub: the Mediterranean Sustainable Shipping Observatory (MSSO).

Duration : 24 months – EU contribution: EUR 740 868

POWER4MED – local emPOWERment of fuel transition FOR a green MEDiterranean

Transition toward carbon neutrality in maritime transport requires short & medium-term solutions, the former based on transition fuels (LNG), the latter on not yet fully available alternative fuels (green hydrogen, methanol, electricity & wind). Dealing with such complexity is difficult for the operators of smaller ships and POWER4MED has the ambition to support them by developing the POWER4MED Supporting Structure, a “Supporting Team” of multidisciplinary experts and a set of toolkits facilitating the path toward carbon neutrality of the 3 sectors targeted by the project: fishing boats, commercial vessels and marinas.

Duration: 18 months – EU contribution: EUR 638 435

CALLMEBLUE – Cluster ALLiance MEd BLUE

CALLMEBLUE aims to strengthen existing maritime clusters alliances in the Mediterranean area in order to accelerate north-south regional cooperation processes towards the emerging of strategic maritime clusters in North Africa area (south-south cooperation). The project will aim to create a strategic vision and transferable models of interregional cooperation, by implementing concrete actions at both local and regional level in order to raise awareness on the relevance of Maritime clusters as key actors for sustainable blue economy policies such as promoting exchange of best practices and knowledge transfer between north and southern area.

Duration: 24 months – EU contribution: EUR 780 987.86

Read the full article with the other projects on the CINEA website

people on stage during WestMED desalination event 2023 at the BluePlanet expoforum

WestMED National Hub Italy organises succesful desalination event at the BluePlanet Economy Forum 2023

12 October 2023/in News /by National Hub Italy

On 11 October 2023 WestMED’s Italian National Hub organised a highly succesful event on desalination together with BIG (Blue Italian Growth) and Federazione del Mare at the BluePlanet Economy Forum 2023 in Rome.

The focus was on the urgency and importance of desalination in the Mediterranean with a specific focus on the Italian supply chain.

Leonardo was interviewed at the event by the television station Teleambiente. You can watch the recording below (YouTube) – starting at 2:05

Download the agenda for the desalination workshop

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Joint Italian-Maltese WestMED national event in Catania boosts blue opportunities in the Mediterranean

12 October 2023/in News /by National Hub Italy

For the first time since the launch of the WestMED Initiative and the set-up of the Westmed Technical Assistance Mechanism, a joint national event was coordinated by the Italian and Maltese National Hubs, in Catania on Oct 4-6 2023.

Substantial support
This event was also made possible through the support by the respective National Coordinators, the decisive contribution of the Region Sicily-Dept of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fishery, the Italian national clusters Federazione del Mare and CTN BIG.

With Malta and Italy both centrally located in the Mediterranean, these countries play a pivotal role in strengthening exchanges as well as synergies across the seabasin, particularly towards the Southern Shore countries.

Therefore Sicily, home of the Managing Authority of INTERREG Italy-Malta and INTERREG NEXT Italie-Tunisie, and Catania in particular (with its rich ecosystem of high tech companies, university and research centers) was the natural place to exploit the potential of a North-South event with representatives attending from Italy, Malta, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania and Tunisia.

Istituto Nazionale Fisica Nucleare– Laboratori Nazionali del Sud
The event took place at Istituto Nazionale Fisica Nucleare – Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, which is a branch of the largest Italian research institution, located in Catania. The Institute has sought to valorise the opportunity offered by the WestMED in terms of networking and hosted the event on its premises. The Institute, strongly reaffirms the importance of internationalization and networking, with the national director general and INFN-LNS’s warmly welcoming all participants to the event.

The event also served to highlight the deep-sea research project currently being undertaken by the Institute (KM3NeT) and the application of this research to maritime fields. Participants also benefited from a guided tour of the INFN-LNS premises and visitor center.

Thematic sessions
Apart from the Opening Session on the 4^th October, which was reserved for institutions and speakers, the following days of the event were dedicated to thematic sessions, building upon the outcomes of the technical and working groups of the WestMED, as well as the rising challenges experiences in this area of the Mediterranean. These thematic areas focused on:

Network of Ports and Infrastructures
Marine Renewables and Desalination,
Sustainable Fishery and related Biotech Supply Chains,
Oceanography-Geology-Marine Biology and Ecology
2023 edition of MEDBLEUE was also discussed which included participation by CTN BIG, Maritime Tunisien and the Malta Maritime Forum.

Furthermore, the availability of EU funds, particularly the INTERREG ones, were discussed, with the Managing Authorities of Italy, Malta and Tunisia present. Presentations were delivered on the respective programmes from the Managing Authorities of EU Funding Programmes and from the Italian Agency for Cooperation Development AICS.

Many project ideas
The event also gave the opportunity to experienced entrepreneurs and researchers to present their project ideas to potential project partners.

Worth noting is the identification of project ideas stemming from Transport Malta, Port Authority of Northern Tyrrenean, INSTM Tunisia, Mauritanian Marine Cluster, SWAP-TOX project, DuWo srl and Le Vie dei Tesori, Signo Motus who are actively seeking partners and funding opportunities for their project proposals.

Forty participants took part in-person on October 4, 50 on October 5 and 30 on October 6. Between 15 to 30 participants joined remotely online each day.

Finally, the event marked the interest of INFN-LNS to join WestMED activities with the support of the WestMED’s Italian National Hub.

More information
Leonardo Mazari, National Hub Italy | Stephanie Vella, National Hub Malta

Press articles: La Sicilia and Catania Metropolitana

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WestMED's Samir Bachouche presenting at the University of Chlef aquaculture workshop

Samir Bachouche (WestMED National Hub) presenting ‘the development of aquaculture in Algeria’ at the University of Chlef

9 October 2023/in News /by National Hub Algeria

On September 25, 2023, Samir Bachouche was a keynote speaker at the University of Chlef event ‘Aquaculture in Algeria: investment opportunities and challenges.’

Samir Bachouche is an expert in the field of Aquaculture and fisheries. Next to his involvement as WestMED’s National Hub, he is also a marine scientist at the National Centre for Research and Development of Fisheries and Aquaculture (CNRDPA) in Algeria.

This is an excerpt of his presentation on the’ development of aquaculture in Algeria between challenges and opportunities’

Aquaculture in Algeria has seen steady growth over the past few decades but still faces many challenges to realize its full potential. Aquaculture production increased from 7,500 tonnes in 2000 to 18,000 in 2020. The main species farmed are seabream, seabass, oysters, mussels, and shrimp. While Algeria has favorable conditions for aquaculture development, including a long coastline and abundant water resources, the sector still needs to be developed compared to its regional counterparts.

The Algerian government has identified aquaculture as a priority economic diversification and growth sector. However, several constraints have hindered the expansion of aquaculture in Algeria. These include lack of financing and investment, limited technical capacity, inadequate infrastructure, and difficulties accessing land and water resources. Stringent regulations and bureaucracy have also impeded the growth of the sector.

At the same time, rising seafood demand coupled with declining wild catches represents a significant opportunity for the growth of Algerian aquaculture. Adopting innovative technologies and production methods could boost yields and competitiveness. There is also potential to expand aquaculture into inland and desert areas using recirculating aquaculture systems and integrating aquaculture with agriculture.

More research, training, and public-private partnerships are needed to develop Algeria’s modern, sustainable aquaculture sector. Key focus areas include improving regulatory frameworks, access to financing, integration with global value chains, and developing hatcheries and feed mills to improve productivity and biosecurity. If challenges can be properly addressed, aquaculture has bright prospects to provide Algeria with food security, employment and economic opportunities.

For more information on this event, aquaculture or the Sustainable Blue Economy, contact Samir Bachouche (WestMED National Hub Algeria)

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group picture of advisory board sun&blue congress 2023

Marta Pascual, WestMED Spanish National Hub, appointed as member of the Sun&Blue Congress Advisory Board

8 October 2023/in News /by National Hub Spain

Marta Pascual, WestMED Spanish National Hub, has been appointed as member of the Advisory Board of the Sun&Blue Congress 2023. The Advisory board consists of representatives from the public and private sectors of the tourism industry, with the main objective to advise on the program of the Congres that takes place on 15-17 November 2023 in Almería, Spain.

Sun&Blue Congress is an annual event featuring prominent national and international speakers showcasing successful initiatives from destinations, unique examples of innovative Blue Tourism experiences and new opportunities that strenghten the blue economy.

On September 19, 2023 the Advisory Board met at the premisies of the Confederación Española de Organizaciones Empresariales (CEOE). They discussed the transition towards Blue Tourism, which combines sustainability and innovation. During the meeting, the scientific program of the first edition of the Sun&Blue Congress,, was discussed.

More information on the visit to the CEOE

More information on WestMED’s involvement during this congress including topics and timings

Link to the Sun&Blue congress website/ Marta-Pascual

Contact Marta Pascual (WestMED National Hub Spain)

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Interreg NEXT MED Programme announces upcoming first call for proposals : over €100 million in EU funding to tackle shared Mediterranean challenges

5 October 2023/in News /by Communication team

Source: ENI CBCMED/ Interreg NEXT MED

The Managing Authority of the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, in agreement with the representatives of the 15 participating countries, is pleased to announce the upcoming first call for proposals set to be launched by mid-November.

With a substantial budget of €103.6 million, this call represents a unique opportunity to fund transnational cooperation projects aimed at catalyzing positive transformations, nurturing collective progress, and encouraging sustainable and inclusive development throughout the Mediterranean area.

Following the broad ambition of making the region smarter and more competitive, greener and climate resilient, more social and inclusive, and better governed, the call focuses on pivotal themes for both shores of the Mediterranean: these encompass boosting research and innovation capacities, fostering SME growth, advancing renewable energy solutions, bolstering climate change adaptation measures, promoting educational opportunities, ensuring access to quality healthcare, and enhancing local governance processes, among others.

Geographical coverage of the call extends to over 90 territories from 7 EU and 8 partner countries, namely Cyprus, Greece, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain and Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia and Türkiye.

Recognizing the unique added value of working together beyond borders for the development of the Mediterranean area, each project has to be submitted by a partnership representing a minimum of 3 organizations from 3 different eligible countries, including at least one Mediterranean Partner Country. A diverse array of stakeholders, including national and regional public authorities, municipalities, non-profit/civil society organizations, universities, research organizations, private companies and other relevant entities may participate in the call (specific eligibility rules for organizations to be confirmed in the Guidelines for Applicants).

Depending on the type of projects foreseen for this call – thematic, youth-oriented and governance – the EU financial support will range from €500,000 to €2.5 million. The EU contribution cannot exceed 89% of the project total eligible costs and the project co-financing must be at least 11% of the total eligible costs.

The call is expected to be launched by mid-November 2023, provided that the first Financing Agreement with a partner country has been signed (necessary condition for partner countries to receive EU funding under Interreg NEXT MED).

The launching of the call will be supported by a series of information events and other activities dedicated to interested organizations to be organized across the cooperation area and online.

Potential Applicants are encouraged to carefully read the documents below in order to understand the main features of the call and start developing project ideas:

Interreg NEXT MED Programme Document, detailing the overall strategy, priorities, specific objectives and list of eligible territories (EN – FR);
General PPT presentation about the Interreg NEXT MED Programme (EN – AR);
Guide on project preparation with some tips and recommendations for drafting a competitive proposal, following the intervention logic set for Interreg NEXT MED Programme (EN – FR);
Performance Framework Methodology Paper, containing the indicators, type of interventions, list of potential activities and target values;
PPT presentation on the main features and rules of the call for proposals (EN – FR – AR).

Stay tuned on the website for further information and be ready to embark on an exciting collaborative journey toward mutual growth, sustainability, and prosperity throughout the Mediterranean region.

Learn more about Interreg NEXT MED