By fishers, for fishers: co-management of marine and freshwaters ecosystems and resources

Expected Outcome

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes:

• Measurable improvements in the status of critical marine and/or freshwaters habitats (including blue carbon sequestration capacities) and of species through active and passive conservation and restoration measures;
• Increased sustainability of fishing practices and tools and enhanced implementation of eco-system-based approaches as outlined in the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP);
• Measurable socio-economic benefits for local communities, skill development and job creation;
• Enhanced governance in the co-management of ecosystems and resources at local and basin level and overall strengthened Mission governance framework;
• Improved cross-border coordination in fish movement data collection and exchange.

Scope

The Communication of the Commission on “A vision for agriculture and food sectors - Shaping together an attractive EU farming and food sector for future generations”[1] highlights the strategic importance of fisheries for the Union and the role fishers play, as custodians of nature, for the protection and resilience of our ocean, waters, and biodiversity. Equally important are the objectives and actions set out in the European Ocean Pact[2] and the EU Action Plan: Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries[3].

Proposals under this topic are expected to show how activities and results will contribute to achieve both Mission objective 1 - Protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, and Mission objective 3 - Sustainable, carbon-neutral and circular blue economy.

The goal is to further develop adaptive co-management approaches to reconcile fisheries with the environmental sustainability, ensuring the long-term viability of both marine and/or freshwater ecosystems and local livelihoods. This approach promotes a harmonious relationship between fishers and coastal communities, fostering a more sustainable and inclusive management of marine resources. Co-management approaches should incorporate long-term participatory ecological monitoring, engaging fishers directly in data collection and contributing to a continuous assessment of ecosystem health and fisheries sustainability.

Proposals should address all following issues:

• focus on empowering fishers, including small-scale and recreational fishers, towards a transition to sustainable fisheries by engaging and involving them in co-management of the marine and freshwaters ecosystems and resources, in particular in protected areas and reserves where fishing is allowed;
• show active involvement of fishers since the start of the project;
• test and demonstrate on the ground sustainable and inclusive science-based approaches and solutions for the co-management of marine and freshwaters resources.

Active engagement of fishers in habitat protection and restoration could include e.g.: regenerative practices; ecosystem management approaches; measures for prevention and control of invasive species; fish stock recovery plans; sustainable low-impact fishing operations, technologies and tools; multipurpose use of marine space as well as citizen science actions to raise fishers’ awareness and involve them in all steps from data collection to their assessment and use. Projects are encouraged to undertake actions to enhance carbon sequestration capacities of marine and coastal ecosystems, including mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrass habitats. These actions should align with the QU.A.L.ITY criteria (Quantification, Additionality, Long-term storage, and Sustainability) set out in the Regulation (EU) 2024/3012, which establishes a voluntary Union certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming, and carbon storage in products and engage with recognised certification bodies/schemes to provide evidence of carbon sequestration capacities.

Each proposal should identify explicitly the basin being addressed, i.e.: 1. Atlantic and Arctic sea basin or 2. Mediterranean Sea basin or 3. Baltic and North Sea basin or 4. Danube River basin, including Black Sea. Only one basin per proposal should be addressed.

The effectiveness and efficiency of the measures proposed must be demonstrated in at least 5 demonstration sites in three different Member States or Associated Countries per basin.

The active involvement of fishers in the testing/demonstration activities is crucial to tailor the solutions to specific conditions and to ensure that their knowledge, needs and expectations are taken in due account.

Training and communication activities addressing fishers and relevant stakeholders, including local/regional authorities, should be also included to build capacity and promote sustainable developments and business opportunities at local level, including in relation to impact of climate change on resource availability. The involvement of Social Science and Humanities (SSH) experts might be useful for these activities. Proposals should also consider the gender and intersectional dimension in the implementation of the activities.

In addition, projects should ensure that fishers adopt ethical and sustainable practices and methods that prioritise animal welfare and prevent unnecessary harm to marine and freshwater species.

Activities are expected to contribute to data collection and data sharing through the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) and to support the Digital Twin Ocean.

Continuous monitoring and assessment of the activities implemented by the projects should be ensured to measure ecological and socio-economic impacts (e.g.: on employment, working conditions, income, well-being) and the contribution of the activities to achieve the Mission objectives and targets.

Projects are expected to show a significant replication potential by identifying a range of relevant stakeholders that could replicate the proposed solutions and approaches. Actions plans and roadmaps needed for the replication and up-scale of the solutions should be drawn up by the end of the projects.

Governance issues should be addressed in order to ensure effective implementation of the activities and foster multi-level governance across national, regional and local level and to facilitate exchanges and replication between different actors.

Proposals should establish operational links and cooperate with the relevant Lighthouse CSAs and the Mission Implementation Platform, notably to contribute to tracking progress towards the objectives of the Mission and coordination of all relevant implementation activities in the lighthouse basin.

Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-8 by the end of the project - see General Annex B.

[1] COM(2025) 75 final

[2] COM(2025)281

[3] COM(2023) 102 final