Marine Biodiversity Restoration

in the Atlantic & Arctic Ocean
Close
Enter your
text here
PHAROS is an EU-funded project, led by the Canary Islands Ocean Platform (PLOCAN), and implemented by a consortium of 24 organisations from September 2024 to August 2029, which aims to provide nature-based solutions for restoring ecosystems and biodiversity while tackling climate change and human impacts in the Atlantic and Arctic maritime regions.

The European Union is taking significant steps towards protecting and restoring our ocean’s health with the PHAROS project, a crucial part of the EU’s ambitious Ocean Mission. Aiming to achieve three key objectives by 2030: restoring marine ecosystems and biodiversity, eliminating ocean pollution, and creating a sustainable blue economy, PHAROS is set to bridge the development phase (ending in 2025) and the deployment phase (2026-2030).

Restoration

PHAROS will conduct three demonstrations in the Atlantic, utilising a mix of newly developed Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), specifically tailored to the local environment. These efforts will lead to significant biodiversity and ecosystem restoration benefits during the initial phase of the mission.

Invasive Species Reduction

PHAROS will collaborate with the H2020 ECOTIP project to enhance and expand its efforts in a demonstration aimed at reducing invasive species in Iceland through the use of eDNA monitoring. This initiative will span both the first and second phases of the mission.

LEARN MORE

Mission Integration

PHAROS will advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and implement leading Mission projects across the Atlantic and Arctic (AA) basin. This includes initiatives such as the Prep4Blue MPA platform and network, Nettagplus, Remedies Fisher Guardian, Citizen Litter Entrepreneur programs, and the Probleu EU Blue School Network platform for education, bridging into phase 2 of the mission.

LATEST NEWS
Bantry Marine Bay Station, part of PHAROS Project
Estonian fishermen get first‑hand look at Bantry Bay’s seaweed and lumpfish research
 Estonian fishermen get first‑hand look at Bantry Bay’s seaweed and lumpfish research 900 416 PHAROS Project

Estonian fishers visited Bantry Marine Research Station to see PHAROS research on IMTA, lumpfish hatchery work and seaweed trials.

PHAROS Roundtable Pushes Permitting Debate Forward for Blue Economy Projects
 PHAROS Roundtable Pushes Permitting Debate Forward for Blue Economy Projects 900 900 PHAROS Project

PHAROS roundtable explores permitting barriers for blue economy projects and key solutions to speed up innovation.

How Deltares Is Helping PHAROS Bring Science to the Sea
 How Deltares Is Helping PHAROS Bring Science to the Sea 940 430 PHAROS Project

Read more about Deltares.nl and how the consortium partner helps bring science to the sea with PHAROS.

Blue Growth, Green Balance Sustainable Aquaculture & Biodiversity featured image
PHAROS Hosts Webinar: Blue Growth, Green Balance: Sustainable Aquaculture & Biodiversity Webinar
 PHAROS Hosts Webinar: Blue Growth, Green Balance: Sustainable Aquaculture & Biodiversity Webinar 1024 576 PHAROS Project

On 8 June…

PHAROS shares nature-based restoration work at North Sea Advisory Council meeting
 PHAROS shares nature-based restoration work at North Sea Advisory Council meeting 1024 400 PHAROS Project

PHAROS presented its nature-based solutions at the NSAC Ecosystem Working Group meeting.

PHAROS Future- Blue Skills session report: Ireland’s Blue Economy
 PHAROS Future- Blue Skills session report: Ireland’s Blue Economy 1024 423 PHAROS Project

Blue Skills session at Munster Technological University (MTU) brought together leading researchers, industry voices and innovators to tackle a pressing question: who will crew Ireland’s growing blue economy, and what skills will they need?

Blue Schools workshop held at MTU Kerry as part of PHAROS Irish Living Lab event 
 Blue Schools workshop held at MTU Kerry as part of PHAROS Irish Living Lab event  1024 771 PHAROS Project

The first Blue Schools…

Irish Living Lab Day 3: Bantry Marine Research Station
 Irish Living Lab Day 3: Bantry Marine Research Station 1024 576 PHAROS Project

Can strategically farmed seaweed, placed just 200 metres from a commercial salmon farm, actually restore marine habitats? The PHAROS project’s first full season of data from Bantry Bay, where winged and sugar kelp are cultivated, has delivered unexpected answers. The control site (no salmon) grew more kelp, but the Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) site hosted far more tiny marine life, revealing a complex, surprising trade-off between biomass and biodiversity.

Effective MPA Management: More than 60 people in person and online gathered at the Irish Living Lab Event
 Effective MPA Management: More than 60 people in person and online gathered at the Irish Living Lab Event 1024 707 PHAROS Project

A gathering of marine scientists, policymakers, and coastal stakeholders gathered at Munster Technological University’s (MTU) new STEM building tackled one of the most pressing questions facing the island nation: how to protect 30 percent of its vast maritime area by 2030 without alienating the communities that depend on it.

Ireland Living Lab Day 2: Blue Economy Innovation & Skills Forum gets under way at MTU Tralee
 Ireland Living Lab Day 2: Blue Economy Innovation & Skills Forum gets under way at MTU Tralee 1024 423 PHAROS Project

Blue Economy Innovation & Skills Forum kicks off at MTU Tralee, with parallel online workshop for EU Blue Schools

Industry leaders, entrepreneurs and students have gathered at MTU’s North Campus in Tralee this morning for the Blue Economy Innovation & Skills Forum, exploring the future of Ireland’s ocean industries and the talent needed to power them. Keynote speaker Wayne Murphy (Hatch Blue) delivers a global perspective on aquaculture and blue economy innovation, alongside interactive workshops on fisheries, seaweed and coastal tourism.

READ MORE NEWS

Privacy Preferences

When you visit our website, it may store information through your browser from specific services, usually in the form of cookies. Our Privacy Policy can be read here.

Here you can change your Privacy preferences. It is worth noting that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our website and the services we are able to offer.

Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking code.
Click to enable/disable Google Fonts.
Click to enable/disable Google Maps.
Click to enable/disable video embeds.
Our website uses cookies, mainly from 3rd party services. Define your Privacy Preferences and/or agree to our use of cookies.