5th WestMED National Event of Mauritania: Towards a national strategy for the blue economy

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As part of the WestMED initiative, the WestMED National Hub Mauritania, in close coordination with the Ministry of Fisheries, Maritime and Port Infrastructures, the Mauritanian Maritime Cluster and the CALLMEBLUE Project, organised the 5th national event for the promotion of the blue economy in Mauritania on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 January at the Nouakchott Hotel.

This important event was chaired by Mr El Vadil Sidaty, Minister of Fisheries, Maritime and Port Infrastructures, and attended by Mr Sidi Ali Sidi Boubacar, Secretary General of the MPIMP, Mr Hamadi Baba Hamadi, President of the Mauritanian Maritime Cluster, Mr Ezzedine Kacem, President of the Tunisian Maritime Cluster and Mr Matteo Bocci, Representative of the WestMED Initiative.

The event was organised in hybrid mode and attracted a high level of participation with a total of 92 participants.

Next to WestMED’s Mauritanian national hub and the Mauritanian Maritime Cluster, representatives from the main national institutions, the private sector, socio-professional organisations,  civil society, national  scientific research institutions, former fisheries ministers, the Tunisian Maritime Cluster, the northern Mediterranean clusters, members of the Alliance of Mediterranean Maritime Clusters, the CALLMEBLUE project team and the Technical and Financial Partners (EU, GIZ and Japanese Cooperation) were amongst the participants.

stakeholders at the national WestMED event in mauritania (jan) 2025

 

Objectives
The specific objectives of this 5th national event were to present the WestMed Initiative and its Technical Assistance Mechanism, the progress made especially in terms of identification and support for Blue Economy projects; present the status of progress in the creation of the Mauritanian Maritime Cluster and the main projects being carried out under the WestMED initiative (with a focus on CallMeBLUE), support cooperation and dialogue between the actors of the Mauritanian Blue Economy and other experts from the north and south of the Mediterranean, identify ideas for national and regional projects in order to define the broad lines of the national strategy of Blue Economy.

Opening
In his opening speech, the Minister pointed out that the promotion of the blue economy is one of the priorities of the President of the Republic, Mr Mohamed Ould Cheikh Al Ghazwani, who has launched an initiative along these lines, which has been officially adopted by the member countries of the Arab League. He also emphasised the MPIMP’s (Ministère de la Pêche et des Infrastructures Maritimes et Portuaires) commitment to drawing up a strategy in the very near future.

After the official opening session, the participants followed presentations by eminent national researchers on the diagnosis of the main sectors of the blue economy in Mauritania (fishing, aquaculture, tourism, MSP), in addition to a presentation of the WestMED initiative, its priorities and current projects, by Mr Matteo Bocci. Following these presentations, a rich debate was opened between the participants.

CallmeBLUE workshop
The Andalusian Maritime and Marine Cluster (CMMA) also organised a workshop dedicated to the the CallmeBLUE project titled ‘Exploring the future of maritime clusters: cooperation and regional potential.’

After an introduction by WestMED’s central team member Matteo Bocci, the Director of International Projects of CMMA, Elizabeth Chapman, took the floor and explained the objectives of CallmeBLUE. This was followed by the Project Manager of the BIG (Blue Italian Growth) Cluster, Sara Tedesco. She focused on analysing the different cluster initiatives, the most promising blue sectors, the main challenges, obstacles and actions to promote existing initiatives, boost business opportunities and activities for the exchange of ideas and knowledge.

After these introductions 2 expert panels followed. Panel I (Exploring the future of maritime clusters: Cooperation and regional potential), consisted of the president of the Mauritanian Maritime Cluster, Hamadi Baba Hamadi, the president of the Tunisian Maritime Cluster, Captain Ezzedine Kacem, the president of CMMA, Javier Noriega and, finally, Sara Tedesco as representative of the BIG (Blue Italian Growth) Cluster. Each of these panellists  presented their cluster, reviewing the services they offer and the projects they have in their portfolio, as well as sharing their best practices and alliances, emphasising the fundamental role they play in the advancement of the Blue Economy.

In the second panel (Boosting blue sectors with potential through collaboration), the Blue Project Manager of Forum Ocean, Lorella Ciuti, the general delegate of ANIMA, Emmanuel Noutary, and the director of the Europe Service of Pôle Mer Méditerranée, Colin Ruel, took the floor to explore the concrete paths of cooperation between European and African clusters, promoting a sustainable and equitable Blue Economy in Mauritania and in the Mediterranean.

Day 2
On the second day of the event, participants were divided into four technical groups: i) Fisheries and Aquaculture, ii) Green Hydrogen, Renewable Energies and Desalination, iii) Sustainable Tourism and MSP and iv) Maritime Transport, Ports and Shipbuilding. The technical groups worked for a day on analysing the challenges and opportunities of the main sectors of the blue economy in Mauritania and identifying ideas for national and regional projects and the broad outlines of the future national strategy for promoting the blue economy in Mauritania.

The 2nd day was also marked by the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Tunisian and Mauritanian clusters in the context of CallMeBlue and the WestMED Clusters Alliance.

WestMED National event Mauritania January 2025. Signing cooperation agreement between Tunisian and Mauritanian cluster

Media coverage
The meeting received extensive media coverage, with all the official national press (Agence Mauritanienne d’Information, Télévision Nationale Al Mauritaniya, Radio de Mauritanie), private television channels and Internet press platforms present. The event was featured as one of the main news items on the official and private channels in French, Arabic and the national languages, broadcast on the evening of 20/01/2025. Extracts from the discussions were also broadcast live on Facebook.

 

 

5è manifestation de l’Initiative de la Méditerranée Occidentale pour la promotion de l’économie bleue – Agence mauritanienne d’information

 

About CallMeBlue

The CallmeBLUE-Cluster ALLiance MEd BLUE project is a regional initiative co-funded by the European Union, dedicated to strengthen existing cluster alliances in the Mediterranean area and to accelerate regional North-South cooperation towards the emergence of strategic maritime clusters. Focused on innovation, collaboration and sustainable development, CallmeBLUE aims to drive positive change in the blue economy landscape.

CallmeBLUE started on 1 October 2023 and will end on 30 September 2025. The consortium partners represent a diverse coalition of organisations from Italy (Formare; Federazione del Mare, and Technology Cluster Blue Italian Growth); Portugal (Fórum Oceano); Spain (Andalusia Maritime-Maritime Cluster); Algeria (Leanovator); Tunisia (Cluster Maritime Tunisien); Greece (Strategis-Maritime Center of Excellence); and France (Pôle Mer Méditerranée, and ANIMA).

Poster image with mockup of implementation report

WestMED Implementation report 2023-2024

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Welcome to the 2023 Implementation Report of the WestMED Sustainable Blue Economy Initiative

In 2024, the WestMED Initiative completed six years of implementation and it’s time to take stock of the achievements made so far regarding its objectives, namely to help achieve a safer and more secure maritime space, create a smarter and more resilient Blue Economy and improve the maritime governance for the western Mediterranean. This with a focus on 2023 and 2024.

Next to the objectives and progress made in general, it will give an overview of the co-presidencies, the new ministerial declaration (established in Malta), the activities of the five thematic/ technical stakeholder groups, cooperation with key partners such as the World Ocean Council, Ascame and Interreg, synergies across seabasins with the Atlantic and the Black Sea and a list of projects supported during this time-frame

DOWNLOAD THIS IMPLEMENTATION REPORT and read all the achievements of 2023 and 2024.

You can also download the infographic factsheets 2023 and 2024 to see the achievements for each of these years in a nutshell or the brochure ‘Maritime Cooperation in the Western Mediterranean. Six years on‘

 

 

call for evidence announcement poster

Help the European Commission in shaping the European Oceans Pact!

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The European Commission has launched a call for evidence to shape the European Oceans Pact, a political initiative that aims to promote sustainable ocean management and ensure the health, resilience, and productivity of the oceans and thus the prosperity of the EU’s coastal communities. The pact was announced by President von der Leyen in her political guidelines for the next European Commission (2024-2029).

The call for evidence will run until 17 February 2025, with the Commission expecting to receive a wide range of contributions from stakeholders, experts, and citizens. The feedback collected will be used to shape the European Oceans Pact, which the Commission aims to present in time for the 3rd UN Ocean Conference in June 2025.

Visit the EC website for more information

Ali Shagrune meeting the miister of Tourism and traditional industries Nasreddine Milad Al-Fazzani, January 22, 2025

The libyan Minister of Tourism and Traditional Industries Meets with the Head of the Libyan Maritime Cluster/ WestMED’s national coordinator to Promote the Blue Economy

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The Minister of Tourism and Traditional Industries, Nasreddine Milad Al-Fazzani, held a meeting today, Wednesday, January 22, 2025, with the Head of the Libyan Maritime Cluster and WestMED’s National Coordinator, Eng. Ali Shagrune, to discuss enhancing the direction toward the blue economy. The meeting was attended by the Minister’s Advisor, Eng. Khaled Mohamed, and the Director of the Industries Department, Najib Al-Habshi.

During the meeting, discussions focused on intensifying efforts to promote the blue economy, considering the Ministry of Tourism and Traditional Industries as one of the key sectors in this field. The Minister emphasized that tourism is one of the primary sources for supporting the national economy and transitioning from a rent-based economy to a diversified economy that contributes to sustainable development for current and future generations. His Excellency stressed the importance of supporting blue economy-related projects, describing them as the optimal pathway for economic development in Libya, following the example of other nations. The meeting also  addressed the mechanism for establishing the Maghreb Maritime Cluster , encompassing all Maghreb countries, to facilitate the exchange of expertise among these nations.

Eng. Ali Shagrune highlighted the significance of establishing the Libyan Maritime Cluster as a platform aimed at developing the economy and encouraging investment in various tourism sectors, such as coastal tourism, marine excursions, and the construction and development of recreational ports. He also emphasized the importance of training and development to create a skilled workforce in the tourism field. The Libyan Maritime Cluster is expected to serve as a central platform for coordinating policies, attracting investment, and supporting sustainable growth in the blue economy, ultimately positioning Libya as a leading tourism hub in the Mediterranean region.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Minister expressed his gratitude to the Head of the Maritime Cluster for his dedication and interest in the Libyan Maritime Cluster platform and the blue economy project. He reaffirmed his unlimited support for the success of such programs and meetings aimed at advancing the blue economy in Libya and fostering a diversified and sustainable economy.

 

Text/ photo: based on facebook post: Ministry of Tourism and Traditional Industries – Libya

 

white blue city sidibou-said,tunisia with blue sea in the background

Tunisia assumes co-presidency of the WestMED Initiative

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The Republic of Tunisia, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians abroad and the Secretariat General for Sea Affairs is assuming the co-presidency of the WestMED Initiative for a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Western Mediterranean from January 2025 until December 2026.

Taking into consideration its strong commitment to the principles and values of peaceful coexistance and sustainable development among the peoples of the region, Tunisia will co-preside the initiative with Portugal during 2025 then with Spain in 2026, fully in line with the Initiative’s rotating co-chairmanship. Tunisia has taken over this responsibility from Mauritania who has held this role for the past two years.

Tunisia’s co-chairmanship will be an opportunity to reflect the concerns and expectations of the southern state members of the Initiative through cooperative strategies and policies in favour of a sustainable blue economy with the aim to harmonize the development between the two shores of the western mediterranean region, particularly in the fields of green transport, blue skills, sustainable tourism, sustainable fishing and aquaculture, as well as the preservation and the empowerment of the coastal areas and communities.

In this regard, Tunisia intends to work with its WestMED Initiative partners on issues aimed at:

  • Highlighting the need for stronger cooperation between the members of the initiative to achieve the objectives of decarbonization and the green maritime transport.
  • Creating synergies between northern and southern mediterranean countries to ensure a smooth energy transition of the commercial and fishing fleet.
  • Promoting sustainable fishing practices and mitigate the impacts of aquaculture on the marine environment
  • Addressing the disparities in port infrastructure development between the northern and the southern mediterranean countries.
  • Ensuring the transition to more sustainable practices in the tourism sector.
  • Developing blue skills training programs and facilitate cooperation between the two shores of the western mediterranean to share know-how and strengthen capacities and careers in the blue economy, particularly in terms of sustainability and decarbonization.
portuguese westmed-atlantic national event 2024 with people gathered in a conference room

WestMED-Atlantic national event 2024 | Digital Transformation and Sustainable Blue Economy: Strategic Cooperation for Innovation

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This Portuguese WestMED-Atlantic sea basin strategy national event took place on December 16, 2024 at the Hydrographic Institute – Lisbon, Portugal and online. It was attended by over 60 participants representing a wide range of stakeholders from public as well as private organisations.

Key aspects and conclusions:

The Sea Basins Event brought together experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore the transformative potential of digitalization and cooperation in advancing the blue economy. Held in a hybrid format at the Hydrographic Institute in Lisbon and online, the event focused on fostering innovation, promoting sustainability, and enhancing interregional collaboration across maritime sectors. This platform served as a crucial opportunity to share knowledge, best practices, and strategic initiatives aimed at addressing challenges and unlocking opportunities within the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions.

Panel I: Digitalization, Cooperation, and the Blue Economy

Carlos Pinho, Lead Manager of Portugal Blue Digital Hub, highlighted the transformative role of the Blue Economy Digital Innovation Hub in driving digital and environmental transitions. He emphasized the importance of fostering entrepreneurship and developing solutions based on Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Big Data. The initiative’s recognition by the European Commission underscores its significance in advancing sustainable innovation.

Siham Fellahi, Finance Inspector and Head of Mission at the Blue Economy PMU, presented an overview of Morocco’s Blue Economy development program. She elaborated on the ongoing strategy to integrate innovation, showcasing sustainable projects driven by digital solutions. Her presentation also emphasized the pivotal role of digitalization and interregional cooperation in boosting competitiveness and sustainability.

Sébastien Cann, Business Development Manager at Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique, focused on the strategic importance of digitalization in optimizing operations, fostering economic growth, and achieving environmental goals. He illustrated his points with examples from their strategic roadmap, innovation projects like the Blue Shuttle Interreg initiative, and efforts such as the Digital Twin of the Oceans.

Javier Hernandez Noriega, CEO and Founder of the Navy Marine Andalusian Cluster, showcased ongoing and completed projects that leverage digitalization to advance a sustainable blue economy. He highlighted the significance of Atlantic-wide cooperation frameworks in driving innovation and achieving breakthroughs in this sector.

Lucia Castro Diaz, Manager at DIH DATAlife, shared the potential of the EDIH Network in fostering cooperation and innovation. She detailed DIH DATAlife’s history, partnerships, and services, providing examples of successful digitalization projects in Galicia that contribute to regional and interregional growth.

Panel II: Recent Dynamics in the Maritime Basins and Initiatives for a Sustainable Blue Economy

Susana Grácio from Turismo de Portugal shared insights on the Blue Tourism Best Practices Guides and the Sustainable Tourism Plan 2023. She underlined the importance of achieving environmental, economic, and social sustainability, particularly for SMEs, through strategic guidelines and best practices.

Eduardo Silva, Professor at ISEP and Researcher at INESC TEC, highlighted the integration of smart technologies and digital systems to enhance environmental sustainability. As the Pilar IV Coordinator for the Atlantic Strategy, he shared measures aimed at improving data accessibility and digitalization initiatives that support sustainable ocean management under the “Healthy Oceans” pillar.

Telmo Geraldes Dias, Head of the Technical-Scientific Data Management Center Division at the Hydrographic Institute of the Portuguese Navy, presented the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC-PT). He explained its role in coordinating marine data stakeholders and promoting a unified oceanographic management system. His presentation highlighted the NODC’s contributions to climate variability detection, marine resource sustainability, and national security.

Conclusions:

The Sea Basins Event underscored the critical importance of digital transformation and collaboration in shaping the future of the blue economy. The discussions revealed that integrating smart technologies and fostering interregional cooperation are essential for achieving sustainable growth, enhancing operational efficiency, and addressing environmental challenges. Speakers demonstrated how innovation and digital tools can serve as catalysts for both economic progress and ecological preservation.

Moreover, the event emphasized the value of sharing best practices and successful initiatives across regions. By leveraging the expertise and experience of various stakeholders, it is possible to build a resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking maritime economy. The insights provided by the speakers highlighted actionable pathways to address current challenges while paving the way for long-term sustainability.

For more information about this event, contact Lorella Ciuti (WestMED National Hub Portugal)

desalination plant

AIDARA is born: the Italian association for desalination and reuse of water

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The Italian Association for Desalination and Reuse of Water (AIDARA) is born in Bari on 20 December 2024.

Thanks to the teamwork of 11 founding members and the Technical Assistance from WestMED Italy, Italy can finally equip itself with an aggregation of skills and operators in the field of desalination and reuse of purified water, two aspects almost inseparable for a careful and circular management of water resources.

AIDARA includes universities and the world of research & innovation, engineering and industry as well as utilities and public administrations – all focused on ecology and environmental sustainability, with the aim to act as:

– a reference for Italian administrations that evaluate and/or implement an investment for the desalination of water and/or for the recovery and reuse of purified water in their respective territories;

– an interlocutor of the Italian industrial system for interested foreign operators (public and private).

AIDARA is in the process of collecting expressions of interest from other potential new partners.

For more information contact Leonardo Manzari (WestMED Italy) or mail: associazioneaidara@gmail.com

Announcement poster EMD in my country 2024

Join the European ‘EMD in my country’ campaign with your blue event!

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Are you planning a blue event between 1 April and 31 October 2025? Join EU’s ‘European Maritime Day In My Country 2025′  campaign to boost its exposure. From beach clean-ups to educational tours or seafood fairs – all events promoting the sustainable Blue Ecomomy,  are welcome!

More than 500 events all over Europe joined this campaign last year – thus making real waves.

EU promotion for your event
As a token of appreciation for your dedication, you will receive promotional materials to share with event participants and you can label your event as part of this EU-wide inititive. Thus giving it more weight. All events will also be proudly featured on the dedicated website for extra promotion.

Seize this opportunity to bring ‘EMD In My Country 2025’ to your country. Complete the application form by 10 March 2025, and join this inspiring campaign. Don’t forget to indicate the number of expected participants in your application, you will receive the promotional material according to this information.

High profile attention. Will the new European Commissioner for Fisheries and Ocean visit your event?
This year the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Ocean, Costas Kadis, may attend a number of selected ‘EMD In My Country’ events, as part of his dialogue with stakeholders and coastal communities. Will your event be among the chosen ones to receive this high profile attention?

For more information visit the EMD in my country webpage

Register your event here!

 

More about the European Maritime Day 2025 in Cork, Ireland

EMD 2025 announcement poster

Call for workshops for the European Maritime Days 2025

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The Call for workshops for the EMD 2025 in Cork, Ireland,  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.

Stakeholders – businesses, science, government, NGOs – are involved in the EMD in many ways. Thematic workshops organised by maritime stakeholders are at the core of the conference. Workshop organisers design, organise and manage their own sessions. Each workshop lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Workshop organisers design and manage their own workshop.

At the EMD 2025, up to 20 high-quality workshops will be selected (with several workshops running in parallel) under the following themes:

  • Coastal communities (challenges and opportunities)
  • Maritime security and surveillance.
  • Blue energy (marine renewable energy, alternative fuels, energy transition, decarbonisation, desalination, port adaptation etc.)
  • Enablers (marine research, innovation, technology, observation, blue skills, MSP, digitalisation, investment etc.)
  • Maritime cooperation (regional, sea-basins, Civil Society, stakeholder relations etc.)
  • Food security (blue biotechnology, aquaculture, fisheries, algae, biodiversity etc.)

All that is necessary is to fill in this form and submit your online application before 30 December 2024 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 Cork, Ireland on 21 – 23 May 2025.

For more information, visit the EMD event website

Joint WestMED Maltese-Italian event on sustainable maritime development with BlueMissionMed and the Malta Maritime Forum

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On 15 November 2024, WestMED’s National Hubs from Italy and Malta, together with BlueMissionMed-National Hub Malta and the Malta Maritime Forum (MMF) organised a joint Maltese-Italian event titled: ‘Navigating the Future: Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Maritime Development in the Mediterranean.’ The event was hosted by Xjenza Malta and took place in Villa Bighi, Kalkara, Malta. This was the 2nd joint event between Italy and Malta after its first edition in 2023 that took place in Catania, Italy.

Objective
The objective of the event was to foster collaboration among stakeholders in the maritime sector, including policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers, to drive innovation, decarbonisation, and sustainability. It aimed to explore practical solutions, enhance governance, and promote public-private partnerships to address challenges being faced by the Mediterranean maritime industry to ensure resilience and competitiveness. For the second year in a row, Malta and Italy, collaborated forces towards the delivery of a joint event but also ensured that the event applied a more inclusive way towards the countries of the Southern shore through invitation of Southern shore panelists. Next to participants from Italy and Malta, the event also welcomed stakeholders from Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.

Decarbonization
A central theme of the event was the urgent need to decarbonize the maritime industry. This can be achieved through the adoption of alternative fuels, improving vessel efficiency, and leveraging digital technologies. Participants emphasised the importance of aligning efforts across stakeholders, with policy makers focusing on policy required to develop the market and private sector playing a leading role in operational advancements and the adoption of new technologies.

Public-private partnerships
One important outcome was the recognition of public-private partnerships as essential for driving innovation in the maritime sector. Collaborative hubs that bring together governments, private companies, and academia were highlighted as critical tools to address challenges such as decarbonization and digitalization. To sustain private sector engagement, attendees stressed the need for harmonized policies and financial incentives to encourage investment in sustainable technologies and operational improvements.

Authorities and research institutes
The discussions also explored the evolving roles of authorities and research institutes in overcoming knowledge gaps and aligning strategies to address sustainability challenges. Authorities were called upon to create an enabling environment through streamlined policies and targeted support for innovation. Research institutes were urged to focus on real-world challenges, ensuring their findings are actionable and well-integrated into policy-making and industry practices.

Maritime clusters
Maritime clusters were identified as vital enablers of innovation, providing platforms for collaboration among government bodies, private enterprises, academic institutions, and local communities. Clusters were indicated as ideal to address challenges like resource allocation, governance, and the adoption of new technologies. By fostering collaboration, clusters help stakeholders achieve shared goals such as sustainability, digital transformation, and competitiveness.

Regional cooperation
The event also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation among Mediterranean nations to tackle common challenges. Enhanced collaboration between regulatory authorities and research institutes was seen as essential to avoid duplicating efforts, optimize resources, and deliver impactful solutions. Engaging youth and promoting gender equality in maritime research were also highlighted as vital steps to bring fresh ideas and inclusive perspectives to the sector.

Moving forward
The event provided a valuable platform for networking, bringing together stakeholders from diverse sectors to foster collaboration, share innovative ideas, and align efforts toward sustainable maritime development and decarbonisation in the Mediterranean It also served to highlight the synergies across initiatives such as the Westmed and the BlueMissionMed. It also showcased funding opportunities available through Xjenza Malta.

Therefore, moving forward, the next step is to engage interested stakeholders by disseminating relevant information, facilitating access to resources, and supporting collaborative project proposals to drive actionable outcomes.