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underwater ray of light

Survey for Nautical Companies to Understand Potential of Innovative Marine Robotics

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Blue Roses is an EU funded project, developed by a consortium of research institutions and companies (Navigo and Aninver – IMC Worldwide among them), to use state-of-the-art marine robotics to develop innovative and sustainable underwater services for marinas and leisure boats.

The aim of the project is to facilitate access to the underwater environment through the use of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and associated ICT. This ‘new dimension’ will help marinas attract and grow interest from diversified users. The robots can be used in a variety of functions, including yacht hull monitoring, remote access to underwater sites, monitoring of sea beds and many other applications.
The three scenarios considered by the project, in which we seek to identify and analyze innovative services and business models, are:
1. Remote access to naturalistic and/or cultural underwater sites (Pilot 1)
2. Robotic-based waters and seabed monitoring inside marinas (Pilot 2)
3. Robotic-based monitoring of yacht hulls for security and support to refit and dismantling

This survey is part of the research to understand the potential of innovative marine robotics services and business models. Your collaboration is highly appreciated. Your personal data will only be used for statistical purposes and none of the consortium members will store or further use this information.

Take me to the survey here

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Salem Miladi (WestMED National Hub Tunisia) talks about the Blue Economy on National Radio IFM

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On Saturday April 16, 2022 Salem Miladi from the WestMED National Hub in Tunisia was invited by Radio IFM; a popular national commercial radio station in Tunisia. In the program L’univers Marin,’ hosted by Wael Beji,  he was interviewed for 50 minutes  about the blue economy, the WestMED initiative and the situation in Tunisia with its main opportunities and challenges for blue growth.

There was a lot of response after the show – including high viewership of the recording on YouTube.  It was also referenced to in a follow-up meeting with  Secretary of State for the Sea, Asma S’hiri Laabidi who agreed to open the Tunisian WestMED National Event on June 2 by announcing the Tunisian government’s commitment to promote the blue economy and present the first elements of the Blue Economy Strategy

You can watch the full recording here  (in Arabic)

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The WestMED Maritime Cluster Alliance helps pave the way for establishing a Mauritanian Maritime Cluster

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In the framework of the activities of the WestMED Maritime Clusters Alliance, and thanks to the organization of the WestMED Mauritanian National Coordinator and National Hub, the first event aimed at the establishment of a Maritime Cluster in Mauritania, has shown the importance of such a process in the growth and consolidation of local ecosystems for the Blue Economy and beyond.

Taking inspiration from the good practices from Tunisia, with its CMT (Cluster Maritime Tunisien), the participation of the Secretary General of the Union of Arab Maghreb and the President of the Central African Francophone Maritime Cluster (together with the main European networks of maritime clusters – ENMC, ECA), well represents the significance of a joint undertaking of the same challenge at regional level.

Countries where this process is at its early stage, find a strong support in this common effort and the requests expressed by the Mauritanian actors, during the networking session, have clearly underlined the need for support: institutional anchoring, sustainable model for clusters establishment and development, financial resources to encourage research &i nnovation, progressive inclusion of local ecosystems in European supply chains (towards Euro-Mediterranean ones).

The WestMED Maritime Clusters Alliance, through its inclusive activities, is going to ensure and facilitate suitable answers to this capacity building demand, within South-South and also North-South through actions/partnerships/projects.

The next event related to this topic, during event during the SEAFUTURE 2021, will mark another step of this ongoing process, in the same direction.

More information
Contact the National Hub Italy for more information

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Pour une unification des stratégies sectorielles dans plusieurs secteurs du domaine maritime

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Source: webmangercenter.com

La secrétaire générale chargée des Affaires maritimes, Asma Shiri, a indiqué, mercredi 9 juin 2021, qu’elle souhaite achever le diagnostic de l’espace maritime en Tunisie avant la fin de l’année 2021.

Lors d’une visite effectuée dans le gouvernorat de Mahdia, elle a ajouté qu’un comité de pilotage, comprenant des représentants de tous les ministères concernés, œuvre à finaliser ce diagnostic, dans l’objectif de concevoir une stratégie nationale dédiée au domaine maritime.

En lire plus sur le site webmanagercenter

 

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Les start-up et les transfers de technologie, nouveau souffle pour les clusters méditerranéens

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Source: Econostrum

Arrivés voici une vingtaine d’années dans les pays méditerranéens, avec comme pionniers les incubateurs d’El Ghazala (Tunisie), Berytech (Liban) et Casablanca Technopark (Maroc), les écosystèmes d’innovation se sont rapidement développés dans ces régions. Les parcs technologiques (souvent baptisés technoparks) ou clusters (grappe d’entreprises en français), spécialisés dans des secteurs précis, sont venus compléter le maillage en mutualisant les compétences entre entreprises du même secteur d’activité ou de la même filière.

En lire plus

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Effective Project Proposal Development for EU Funding | 29 june 2021 | Online

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This pilot training session is aimed at Blue Economy stakeholders in the Southern Mediterranean who are interested in acquiring basic knowledge and skills for EU project proposal development.

The training will include sessions on the logical framework approach, do’s and don’ts in the preparation of these type of projects, consortium building, as well as concrete examples of on-going blue economy related projects counting with a presence of Southern Mediterranean partners.

This event has passed.  If interested and you would like more information – please contact us

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Conférence Méditerranéenne sur l’implication de la science et du secteur socio-économique sur la problématique des déchets marin – 28 Avril 2021

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Le HN Tunisie a participé le 29 et 30 avril 2021 à une conférence virtuelle méditerranéenne sur les déchets marins dans la Mer Méditerranée : quels impacts et quelles solutions à l’Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, organisée par l’équipe du projet COMMON,  financé par l’Union Européenne dans cadre de programme ENI CBC MED et dans laquelle le HN a présenté le projet Westmed ainsi que ses objectifs et ses priorités.

88 personnes ont assisté à ce webinaire, représentant l’administration, les entreprises publiques et privées, les municipalités, la société civile, les instituts de recherche et l’université. 29 intervenants ont axé leurs communications sur les déchets marins qui sont rapidement devenus l‘une des principales sources de pollution de la mer méditerranée, avec des conséquences négatives pour les organismes marins vivants, les écosystèmes marins, la santé humaine et les activités côtières, y compris le tourisme et la pêche.

Le projet COMMON a pour objectif d’appliquer les principes de la Gestion Intégrée des Zones Côtières (GIZC) pour faire face au défi des déchets marins, en améliorant la connaissance du phénomène, ainsi que les performances environnementales de 5 zones côtières pilotes en Italie, en Tunisie et au Liban, tout en impliquant les parties prenantes locales dans la gestion des déchets marins.

Trois actions importantes ont été réalisées dans le cadre de ce projet, il s’agit de l’amélioration des connaissances sur des sources de déchets et de leur impact sur les écosystèmes des 5 zones pilotes, du renforcement des capacités institutionnelles dans la lutte contre les déchets marins à travers les principes de la GIZC et la création de forums permanents de parties prenante autours de la problématique des déchets marins.

Les réalisations du projet prévoient l’élaboration de 10 études scientifiques sur les liens entre les problèmes posés par les déchets marins et les activités humaines terrestres, la création d’une plateforme informatique pour le partage de méthodologies et de données sur les déchets marins et la formation de 250 personnes sur la gestion des déchets marins.

Ces ateliers de formation concernent notamment l’approche de l’économie circulaire pour lutter contre les déchets marins à la source, la gestion de la législation sur la pollution marine, la promotion de services maritimes écoresponsable, la promotion des activités de pêche et d’aquaculture respectueuses de l’environnement, la promotion d’un modèle d’école éco responsable, la gestion intégrée des zones côtières (GIZC) et les stratégies innovantes pour la gestion des déchets marins.

30 municipalités seront impliquées dans un réseau de villes côtières à travers la Méditerranée réunies pour lutter contre les déchets marins et 50 organisations de la société civile participent activement dans des campagnes de nettoyage des plages.

Liens utiles:

INSTM: www.instm.agrinet.tn

COMMON Project: www.enicbcmed.eu/fr/projets/common

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Take part in the Seabed 2030 survey – closes end of April 2021

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Source: NLA International on behalf of Seabed 2030

Last year NLA International Ltd working on behalf of Seabed 2030, launched an online survey to find out more about the status and potential of mapping the ocean floor. The survey collected views from across all interested sectors to help us better understand issues such as:

  • Why stakeholders feel it is important to map the seabed.
  • How interested parties are estimating the environmental, social and economic value of seabed mapping.
  • Where are the most urgent priorities for seabed mapping.

All of this will help us to corroborate – or challenge – existing thinking, and hopefully identify any areas of the seabed that may benefit from a more joined-up / collaborative approach.

We have been really delighted with the responses thus far – we have received nearly 470 detailed responses to date – and are currently hard at work analysing the initial findings.

However, it is not too late to have your say! We will be keeping the survey open until the end of April, and we would be very grateful if you could contribute your views.

To access the survey, please click here.

More information

Read the article: Marine Geospatial Data: the Cornerstone of the Blue Eonomy

Read more about the seabed 2030 Initiuative:  100% of Ocean Floor mapped by 2030

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A new agenda for the Mediterranean: the Council approves conclusions on a renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood

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Press release:  Council of the EU

The Council approved conclusions affirming the EU’s determination to renew and strengthen its strategic partnership with its Southern Neighbourhood. The objective is to address common challenges, take advantage of shared opportunities and unlock the region’s economic potential for the benefit of its people.

Spurring sustainable long-term socio-economic recovery and job creation in the Southern Neighbourhood is a key shared priority and the innovative cornerstone of the new Agenda for the Mediterranean. Working together, the EU and its Southern Neighbourhood partners can turn climate and environmental challenges, and digital transformation, into major opportunities for sustainable development, contributing to a just and inclusive green transition. The EU will use all its available instruments, including the NDICI-Global Europe and the European Fund for Sustainable Development plus (EFSD+), and engage with financial institutions to achieve this objective, paying particular attention to the human dimension and opportunities for young people.

Good governance, the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, democratic institutions and the rule of law are also considered to be essential for long-term stability, security and sustainable development in the region. The EU will step up its engagement on these issues, and renew its efforts on conflict prevention and resolution, as well as on cooperation on security, migration and the preparedness and response capacities of healthcare systems.

The EU intends to strengthen the political dialogue across the Mediterranean by setting up annual meetings of EU member states’ and Southern Neighbourhood partners’ foreign ministers to review progress in the implementation of the new Agenda for the Mediterranean.

Read more on the EU Councils press release webpage

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Report: The future of Mediterranean tourism in a (post) covid world

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Mediterranean tourism is now at a crossroad. Severely impacted by travel restrictions due to the COVID19, its future is now decided and faces a fundamental question: back to Mass Tourism or leapfrog towards Sustainability?

Download the report that has been prepared by the Eco-Union. This can also be found on a dedicated page of Eco-Union’s website.