The Interreg Euro-MED ARTEMIS project The Interreg Euro-MED ARTEMIS project has officially received recognition as a relevant action under the European Union's "Restore Our Ocean and Waters" mission. This prestigious recognition highlights the importance of the ARTEMIS project in achieving the mission's objectives, which aim to protect and restore Europe's marine and freshwater ecosystems by 2030. This commitment underscores how ARTEMIS leads innovative efforts in marine ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation, making a significant contribution to global efforts to restore our ocean and waters.
ARTEMIS: An Innovative Model for Marine Ecosystem Restoration
The ARTEMIS project stands out for its comprehensive approach and commitment to nature-based solutions for restoring key habitats, such as seagrass meadows of the Mediterranean endemic species Posidonia oceanicawhich are vital for the health of the Mediterranean. Through initiatives like the restoration of seagrass meadows of Posidonia oceanica meadows in pilot sites such as Atzikiari Bay in Crete, Cala Blanca in Menorca, and other Mediterranean locations, ARTEMIS is demonstrating how multidisciplinary cooperation and innovative solutions can transform the ecological restoration landscape.
One of ARTEMIS's most innovative aspects is the development of financial instruments for restoring marine ecosystems. This approach includes the creation of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) mechanisms and other tools that provide a pathway for the sustainable financing of seagrass restoration and other marine ecosystems. The initial results of these mechanisms highlight the potential of nature-based solutions to mobilize both private and public investments, aligning with the objectives of the EU Mission.
Alignment with the EU Mission "Restore Our Ocean and Waters Objectives"
The recognition of ARTEMIS by the EU Mission highlights its contribution to the three core pillars of the mission:
- Marine ecosystem restoration: ARTEMIS is actively engaged in the restoration of seagrass meadows, which are crucial for marine biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and coastal protection from erosion. Restoration actions in pilot sites such as Crete, Menorca, and Sardinia reflect the project's commitment to the mission's goal of restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems by 2030.
- Pollution prevention: The project also tackles the challenges of marine pollution, as demonstrated in the cleaning activities conducted in Atzikiari Bay, where plastic waste and other pollutants were removed before initiating restoration actions. ARTEMIS is committed to reducing the negative impacts of human activities on aquatic ecosystems.
- Boosting a regenerative blue economy: With the development of innovative regulatory frameworks and sustainable financing mechanisms, ARTEMIS is helping to establish a regenerative blue economy where marine ecosystem restoration becomes an engine of economic development, supporting the transition to a greener and fairer future.
Uniting Science, Innovation, and Policy for the Future of the Ocean
ARTEMIS's innovative approach not only focuses on ecological restoration but also on integrating public policies, citizen participation, and the creation of appropriate regulatory frameworks. From collaborating with local stakeholders in Crete to design an institutional framework for seagrass restoration, to its involvement in the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) to improve the measurement and tracking of nature-related risks and opportunities, ARTEMIS is paving the way for the creation of more effective public policies for marine conservation. This recognition by the EU Mission "Restore Our Ocean and Waters" not only highlights ARTEMIS's achievements to date but also reinforces the need for ongoing collaboration between science, the private sector, and public authorities to address the global challenges facing our ocean and waters.
This recognition by the EU Mission "Restore Our Ocean and Waters" not only highlights ARTEMIS's achievements to date but also reinforces the need for ongoing collaboration between science, the private sector, and public authorities to address the global challenges facing our ocean and waters.
About the EU Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters
With a 2030 target, the EU Mission "Restore Our Ocean and Waters" aims to protect and restore the health of our ocean and waters through research and innovation, citizen engagement, and blue investments. The Mission's new approach will address the ocean and waters as one and play a key role in achieving climate neutrality and restoring nature.
To ensure implementation across Europe and beyond, the Mission operates through "lighthouses" in key areas of major sea and river basins: Atlantic-Arctic, Mediterranean Sea, Baltic-North Sea, and Danube-Black Sea. These lighthouses are living labs for demonstrating, deploying, and scaling solutions.
A central part of the Mission is the Mission Charter , which invites Member States, regions, cities, and stakeholders to pledge concrete actions that support the Mission's objectives. Over 1,000 pledges have already contributed to the Mission, and a dedicated Mission Portal enables progress tracking, knowledge sharing, and access to funding and partnership opportunities.
Supporting the digital transition, the Mission is also developing a Digital Twin Ocean , an innovative virtual representation designed to integrate a vast array of data and simulate the effects of different actions on marine and freshwater ecosystems and predict future scenarios. This cutting-edge tool will enable real-time monitoring, predictive analysis, and better-informed decision-making for sustainable management of marine and freshwater ecosystems across Europe.
The Mission engages and empowers a wide range of stakeholders, public and private organizations, national, regional, and local actors, coastal, riparian, island communities, businesses, and citizens to actively participate in shaping the future of Europe's marine and freshwater ecosystems.
More information
Mission Implementation Platform (MIP): Access resources, data, and tools to support regions and local authorities in their journey.
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Funding and Tenders Portal: Explore funding opportunities and open calls related to the mission.
The Monitoring Dashboard: Check the progress of Mission implementation to date.
