GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

The proposals should focus on the job maintenance and job creation for local communities, on reskilling needs and development of future business opportunities that will both create added value while regenerating marine ecosystems.

Selected projects should carry out to the maximum extent possible the indicative (not exhaustive) activities listed below:

• Collect quantitative and qualitative data, guidelines, good practice on past and ongoing experiences of regenerative ocean farming in the Baltic Sea Region and in other EU countries to provide evidence of their social, economic, and environmental benefits;
• Develop practical guidelines, training and dissemination materials (including videos and IT tools) to support new seaweed and shellfish farmers, and other interested stakeholders, in the reorientation towards setting and operating regenerative ocean farming;
• Demonstrate and test-base innovative methods for regenerative ocean farming, of either local seaweed species or seaweed in combination with shellfish to prove viability of future business cases while generating positive environmental impacts;
• Set-up local/regional networks by engaging with local communities, in particular with fishers (to examine their willingness and experience) and local authorities, to share knowledge and co-create ad-hoc technical solutions and business models to support a fast deployment of regenerative ocean farming;
• Identify enabling and/or preventing legislative frameworks by discussing with local authorities and maritime spatial planners how to facilitate and remove barriers (e.g. licensing of farms, access to space) to the setting up and operation of regenerative ocean farming without affecting other aspects of ecosystems conservation/restoration;
• Assess the potential of expanding marine protected areas by exploring the full regenerative potential of innovative regenerative ocean farming by testing their viability in connection with marine protected areas;
• Raise awareness campaigns and increase social acceptance among local communities by sharing experience and evidence of the likely positive impacts of regenerative ocean farming.