Webinar EU Sea Basin Strategies in Action: Innovation and Investment for Ocean Resilience
On 15 July 2025, more than 50 stakeholders committed to advancing sustainable practices in the blue economy, joined online for the webinar “EU Sea Basin Strategies in Action: Innovation and Investment for Ocean Resilience.”
This webinar was organised by Forum Oceano and DGPM, in coordination with the Atlantic Maritime Strategy, WestMED initiative and Atlantic Strategy Pillar IV Coordinator (INESC-TEC).
Insights:
The Portuguese Directorate General for Maritime Policy (DGPM), as key co-organizer, was highlighted for its pivotal role in fostering collaboration among various maritime stakeholders. Sandra Cruz, Deputy Director General for Maritime Policy, emphasized that the ocean is part of Portugal’s identity, reflected in its third National Ocean Strategy 2021-2030, that sets strategic goals for the decade, assuring continuity and a greater alignment of policies and initiatives, within the EU and other major global trends. It guarantees Portugal’s commitment towards the ocean and sets ground for a stronger cooperation with neighbor countries and partners, aiming a more coherent approach to maritime issues and strengthening synergies between Member-States and sea basins.
Ruben Eiras, Secretary General of Forum Oceano (the Portuguese Blue Economy Cluster and National Hub for the WestMED Initiative and Atlantic Maritime Strategy), the co-organizer of this event, provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing coastal regions. He underscored the significance of these areas as transition zones where land meets the ocean, noting that they are increasingly under pressure due to rising human populations and intensified economic activities. He articulated the critical need for effective management of coastal ecosystems, which are often the first to bear the brunt of environmental degradation.
The importance of engaging various stakeholders was echoed by several speakers, who highlighted that sustainable solutions must be rooted in the realities and needs of the communities directly affected by environmental challenges. This grassroots approach is essential for developing effective strategies that not only address immediate concerns but also promote long-term sustainability.
Session 1. Enabling Innovation: BlueInvest as a Catalyst
In the first thematic session “Enabling Innovation: BlueInvest as a Catalyst”, the focus shifted to innovative projects and initiatives that exemplify the principles of the blue economy.
The BlueInvest initiative was highlighted as a flagship program by the European Commission, designed to support entrepreneurs and startups in the blue economy.
Daniela Cedola from PwC Luxembourg discussed the growing number of funds targeting sustainable projects, indicating a positive trend in private investment in the blue economy. This is particularly encouraging, as it suggests a shift in the investment landscape towards more sustainable practices.
Matteo Bocci from ECORYS, representing the EU Sea Basin Strategies Assistance Mechanism (Atlantic, WestMED and Black Sea) further elaborated on the challenges faced by local innovation ecosystems, particularly the financing gap for small-scale projects that address coastal community needs. He stressed the importance of patient investment, which allows for the development of solutions that may not yield immediate financial returns but have significant long-term environmental and social benefits.
Speakers from YUM Algae (Christiana Nunes) and AQUAPONICS Iberia (João Cotter) pitched their projects and indicated how BlueInvest supported their initiatives.
Session 2. Healthy Ocean: From Policy to Practice
During the second thematic session “Healthy Ocean: From Policy to Practice,” moderated by Professor Eduardo Silva – Researcher and Coordinator at INESC TEC and Pilar IV Coordinator in Atlantic Strategy, the focus shifted to regional cooperation and project-based actions aimed at tackling pressing challenges such as marine pollution and biodiversity loss. This was illustrated by five projects, respectively presented by Marisa Fernández (Free LitterAT), Marisa Almeida (NetTagplus), Alessandro Colombo (BlueMissionAA), Pedro Brasil (SIMEC) and Filipe Brandão (ESA Blue Economy).
This session highlighted the critical importance of integrating local knowledge and community engagement into policy frameworks. It was emphasized that effective coastal resilience cannot be achieved without the active participation of local communities, researchers, and various stakeholders.
The discussions underscored the need for a dual approach that combines top-down policies with bottom-up initiatives, ensuring that local voices are heard and their unique challenges addressed.
The emphasis on practical, project-based solutions reinforced the idea that collective efforts and innovative approaches are vital for achieving a healthy ocean and promoting resilience in coastal ecosystems. Overall, these sessions illustrated the interconnectedness of policy, community action, and innovative practices.
Conclusion
Pedro Gonçalves, Director of Strategy of DGPM, concluded by highlighting that this webinar illustrated the interconnectedness of policy, community action, and innovative practices – and that by showcasing relevant projects and funding possibilities, the potential of new ideas, new opportunities and new partnerships can be stimulated.
He also pointed to two major upcoming events and invited participants to check the information online: The Macro Regional and Sea Basin Strategies Days on September 24-25 in Brussels and WestMED’s 5th Stakeholder Conference with Best Project Awards on November 28 in Tunisia.
All presentation-slides (pdf-18 mb)
For a full overview of all presentations, discussions and conclusions – watch the recording of this webinar below
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