Mission Ocean 2030

The European Union Mission «Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030», a new instrument under Horizon Europe, proposes a systemic approach to the protection and restoration of European oceans, seas and waters.

It aims to support the development and deployment of concrete and innovative solutions, backed by science, in order to (1) protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, (2) prevent and eliminate pollution of our oceans and waters, and (3) make the blue economy sustainable, carbon-neutral and circular.

To achieve these objectives, the Mission deploys a wide range of resources: international research projects, a website and documentary resources, exchange platforms and communities of practice, events*.

Among these resources, the Mission has equipped itself with a technical assistance programme tailor-made to practically support the most promising initiative-holders – islands, ports, fishermen, coastal populations – to strengthen the feasibility and deployment of their actions.

In this context, Within the consortium led by Technopolis Group, SML was involved in the entire support chain, from the initial evaluation of applications to the operational support of the selected projects. Our role was structured in two complementary phases:

• Project appraisal and selection SML assessed over thirty applications across the two phases of the programme, analysing their relevance, feasibility, and contribution to the Mission's objectives. Our recommendations helped to guide the final selection of projects to be supported.
• Specialised technical support We provided targeted support to 6 selected projects, in various forms depending on their needs: documentary analysis, participatory workshops, regulatory, territorial, economic or environmental diagnostics. Each assistance resulted in concrete recommendations to improve the viability of the actions and support their wider deployment.

SML is also involved in Ocean Mission Implementation Support Platform, within which we notably run the Blue Parks Community, a European network of marine protection stakeholders. En savoir plus

Among the projects supported by SML:

• Seagrass Blue (Scaling seagrass meadows for carbon removal and ocean biodiversity) This project aims to cultivate seagrassesPosidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosain semi-submerged artificial modules, beyond natural settlement areas, to sequester carbon and stimulate local marine biodiversity. SML was involved in the pre-selection of potential deployment sites in the French Mediterranean, the analysis of administrative authorisation options, and end-of-life scenarios – that is, the fate of the seagrass once cultivated.
• Micro-habitats and marinas (Basque Country, France) – Supported by the Communauté Open Lande Nouvelle-Aquitaine association, this project aims to encourage the installation of micro-habitats (i.e. artificial reefs) in the ports of the Basque Country to contribute to the restoration of marine biodiversity. The assistance covered the scientific and ecological evaluation of the project, the identification and assessment of technical service providers, cost analysis, the identification of funding streams, and the mobilisation of local stakeholders. The technical assistance notably highlighted a collective willingness among territorial actors and established concrete prospects for cooperation.
• Blue belt of the islands of Houat and Hoedic (Brittany, France) – SML assisted the two island municipalities in developing a marine protection project around the islands («Blue Belt»). The assistance included a review of comparable initiatives in France and Europe, an analysis of relevant regulatory and strategic frameworks, a feasibility study for a hatchery on Houat, and the establishment of a monitoring committee bringing together local public stakeholders and Natura 2000 managers.
• ESTeM (Zembra, Tunisia) This project aims to integrate artisanal fishers into the sustainable tourism value chain around Zembra Marine Protected Areas (Tunisia). Technical assistance included assessing the feasibility of the BlueSeeds incubator model for Tunisia, reviewing replication and scaling practices, developing specifications for a local sustainability label, and designing a monitoring system for the MPA incorporating socio-economic and environmental indicators.
• GATEWAY (Tenerife – Huelva) – This project aims to establish a green maritime corridor between the two ports, transitioning to low and zero-emission fuels. Technical assistance has included a comparative analysis of fuel options (bio-LNG, methanol, hydrogen, and ammonia), a SWOT analysis of onshore and onboard technologies, mapping of available European funding (CEF/AFIF, Innovation Fund), and advice on eligibility and phased investment logic.
• Build your own dam (Kysucké Nové Mesto, Slovakia) – This project aims to revitalise a watercourse in the Danube basin through water retention measures, particularly via the installation of small wooden dams to encourage fish restocking. Technical assistance focused on the development of a budget (CAPEX/OPEX), the review and prioritisation of available funding sources, and the mobilisation of local stakeholders for joint applications.