By TWW News Editorial Desk August 29, 2025
In a sweeping move to combat marine degradation and accelerate climate resilience, the European Union has announced a €116 million investment across 13 pioneering projects aimed at restoring ocean and freshwater ecosystems throughout the continent.
🔍 What’s at Stake
From the Danube River to the Arctic coastlines, these projects span critical sea basins including the Black Sea, Baltic and North Seas, Mediterranean, and Atlantic-Arctic regions. The initiative is part of the EU’s Horizon Europe programme and its flagship Mission: Restore Our Ocean and Waters, which targets full ecological recovery by 2030.
🚀 Highlights from the Funded Projects
- SEAMPHONI: Uses advanced tech and creative storytelling to monitor offshore biodiversity.
- DanubeLifelines & SWIM: Reconnect migratory fish routes and restore habitats in the Danube and Black Sea.
- ECO-CATCH & MarineGuardian: Innovate fishing gear to reduce bycatch and protect marine species.
- CS-MACH1 & INSPIRI: Mobilize citizen scientists and blend art with science to inspire public action.
- EDITO2: Enhances the European Digital Twin Ocean for real-time marine data modeling.
🧠 Why It Matters
These projects go beyond conservation—they’re designed to empower local communities, advance marine tech, and foster citizen engagement. The EU’s approach treats oceans and waters as a single interconnected system, vital for achieving climate neutrality and restoring biodiversity.