GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

Proposals are expected to address one of the following issues:

• Circular aspects: design cost-effective and sustainable fishing gears applying a life-cycle approach, using environmentally-friendly materials (e.g. recycled, recyclable, biodegradable, durable, upgradable) and including recycling and reusing opportunities of end-of-life gears and recovered ghost gears;
• Environmental impacts: reducing harmful impacts of fishing gears on marine fauna, habitats and seabed: e.g. minimizing pollution including from hazardous chemicals and microplastics; reducing negative effects on sensitive and endangered species by reducing bycatches and ghost fishing and through improving mapping, tracking and recovery of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gears. All proposals should also take into account selectivity requirements of the fishing gears. In addition, all proposals should address emission reduction objectives, including energy efficiency and resources consumption in gear manufacturing process and in fishing operations.

SMEs, early-stage business and scale-ups involved in Mission projects entailing innovative, scalable and sustainable business ventures from traditional and emerging blue economy sectors are invited to join the BlueInvest community and benefit from the BlueInvest Fund.