AIR Centre engages in key discussions at European Ocean Days

The second edition of the European Ocean Days took place in Brussels, between March 3 to 7, 2025. This initiative, organized by the European Commission, is a week-long event with a series of dynamic and interconnected sessions that offers a distinctive platform for exchanging ideas among diverse blue communities, addressing upcoming challenges, exploring innovative solutions, and fostering concrete actions to address interconnected ocean issues. This year, the EU Ocean Days played a pivotal role in shaping the European Ocean Pact, a foundational framework for all EU ocean-related policies. The AIR Centre participated in the event through several key projects: the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP), which focuses on restoring ocean health and enabling a sustainable blue economy; BlueMissionAA and A-AAGORA, focused on marine protection and ecosystems’ restoration,;  and OKEANO, which provides coordination and support to the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA). Over five days of an intensive agenda, a variety of ocean-focused activities, sessions, and workshops were held. Highlights include the 3rd Annual Forum of the Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters,” and Mission-related event such as the Side-Event: Connecting Mission Projects for Ocean, Seas, and Inland Waters (agenda); 4th EU Blue Parks Community Workshop and the Mission Ocean & Waters: Cross-basin Lessons and Insights from Coordination Support Actions (event dedicated to the Mission Ocean CSAs). The AIR Centre participated representing several Mission Ocean and related projects: BlueMissionAA, A-AAGORA, OCEANIDS, LABPLAS, Mission Atlantic and OKEANO. A unique opportunity for the AIR Centre to engage with Mission Ocean actions and initiatives and make new connections for future collaborations. Additional events included SBEP’s General Meeting of Contact Nodes, in which AIR Centre represented the Contact Node for the Atlantic Ocean. As the Atlantic Contact Node, the AIR Centre works to strengthen connections between the Partnership and our Atlantic stakeholders. Among many other topics, in this General Contact Nodes Meeting, it was discussed the organisation of the next SBEP Atlantic Workshop: ‘Blue Economy for the All Atlantic’, which will be held on May 21st  the frame of the European Maritime Days in Cork, Ireland. Lastly, but not the least, the Fisheries and Ocean Dialogues: Help Design the European Ocean Pact - a session held to provide an important platform for networking and discussions on sustainable ocean practices, and contribute to the development of the European Ocean Pact, a framework intended to guide all EU ocean-related policies. The AIR Centre has contributed to the Call for Evidence to help design the European Oceans Pact and, during this event, the discussion continued with a focus on some of the main AIR Centre's topics of interest: protecting biodiversity, boosting the EU’s sustainable blue economy and developing resilience and opportunities for coastal communities. From sustainable blue economy to marine ecosystem restoration, blue investments and fisheries, European Ocean Days continues to promote a dynamic opportunity for international experts, stakeholders, researchers and scientists to join dialogues and policy discussions, as well as fostering collaboration in sustainability and marine conservation. For further information, please visit the complete agenda.