Cleaner Seas Begin on Land Webinar
2026-03-26 12:00 - 13:00 (Europe/Helsinki)
Upcoming Webinar: Cleaner Seas Begin on Land
26 March 2026 | 12:00 CET | Online
The PHAROS Citizen Litter Entrepreneur Programme, in partnership with Impact Hub Athens, announces the fourth instalment of the “Meet the Oceanpreneur” webinar series. This session shifts focus from ocean cleanup to land-based prevention, exploring how upstream solutions can stop marine litter before it reaches our seas.
Event Details
Title: Cleaner Seas Begin on Land: Prevention, Zero Waste & Community Action
Date: Thursday, 26 March 2026
Time: 12:00 – 12:50 CET (50 minutes)
Format: Online via Zoom
Host: Impact Hub Athens
Register on Zoom
Why Prevention Matters
Marine plastic pollution doesn’t start in the ocean. It begins on land, in our communities, businesses, and consumption patterns. This webinar tackles the problem at its source by showcasing innovative approaches that prevent waste from entering marine ecosystems in the first place.
Participants will discover how zero-waste business models, circular product design, community-led collection schemes, and policy-driven prevention strategies are creating real impact across coastal regions. The session highlights practical solutions that combine environmental protection with inclusive economic opportunities for local communities.
What to Expect
The 50-minute session follows an interactive format designed to maximise learning and exchange:

Two speaker spotlights (≈10 minutes each) featuring practitioners and innovators sharing real-world prevention initiatives
Moderated dialogue (≈20 minutes) exploring challenges, successes, and scalable approaches
Audience Q&A (≈10 minutes) for direct engagement with speakers and participants

The discussion will examine how sustainable consumption, responsible production, and local engagement can significantly reduce waste flows before they reach rivers and seas, whilst creating resilient circular economies at the local level.
Session Objectives
This webinar aims to:
Shift the focus from cleanup at sea to prevention on land through sustainable consumption and responsible production.
Explore practical strategies including zero-waste approaches, circular product design, and local collection schemes that reduce, redesign, and eliminate plastic waste flows.
Highlight the role of communities, municipalities, and entrepreneurs in driving prevention-first approaches to marine litter.
Encourage cross-sector collaboration between citizens, businesses, public authorities, and researchers to build strong zero-waste ecosystems.
Inspire replication of scalable, upstream solutions aligned with Mission Ocean goals for cleaner, plastic-free coasts.
More information: https://pharosproject.eu/webinars/upcoming-webinar-cleaner-seas-begin-on-land-prevention-zero-waste-community-action/

Marine Data for Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP)
2026-03-31 09:00 - 18:00 | Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
Mercator Ocean International, implementer of the Copernicus Marine Service, is organising a workshop entitled “Marine Data for Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP)” on 31 March as a full-day event at Hotel Amigo in Brussels, Belgium.
The workshop will demonstrate how the Copernicus Marine Service supports Maritime Spatial Planning by providing free, reliable, and science-based ocean data.
It will highlight the use of key indicators such as multi-decadal trends in sea water temperature, sea level rise, ocean acidification, marine heatwave monitoring, and biogeochemical changes to support evidence-based decision-making.
Framed within the European Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD), the workshop will address the growing challenges of managing increasingly busy marine spaces, including shipping, fisheries, renewable energy, and marine conservation, particularly in the context of climate change.
The morning session will focus on policymakers and national authorities responsible for MSP, while the afternoon session will target technical users and practitioners interested in the operational use of Copernicus Marine data.
In person attendance is by inviation only. This event will be live-streamed online as well (register here)

Pharos Plastic Fantastic Hackathon Ideation Workshop
2026-04-15 17:00 - 18:00
The Plastic Fantastic Hackathon is an online innovation challenge where teams come together to design actionable solutions for the detection, collection, prevention, and valorisation of marine litter.

Do you need help to prepare your submission?
Join our info and ideation workshop on April 15, 2026 at 17:00

Where: Online
Time: April 15, 2026 at 17:00-18:00

Key dates for the Plastic Fantastic Hackathon series:
· Ideation Workshop: April 15
· Bootcamp: 11-13 May
· Hackathon: 18-19 May

The Hackathon is part of the PHAROS, an EU-funded project which aims to provide nature-based solutions for restoring ecosystems and biodiversity while addressing climate change and human impacts in the Atlantic and Arctic maritime regions.

Workshops: Energy Transition in Fisheries and Aquaculture
2026-04-16 09:30 - 18:00 | Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
The Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) for EU fisheries and aquaculture is hosting its next stakeholder workshops on 16 April 2026 in Brussels, bringing together sector representatives, policymakers, researchers, innovators, and financiers to advance the path toward climate neutrality in the sector by 2050.
This new round of ETP workshops, one dedicated to the fisheries sector in the morning and one dedicated to the aquaculture sector in the afternoon, will be anchored in the findings of two major new studies, one already published: “GHG Emission Reduction Costs, Scenarios and Pathways for EU fisheries and aquaculture to achieve Net Zero by 2050” commissioned by DG MARE.
The studies develop possible pathways towards climate-neutrality in the EU fisheries and aquaculture sectors. They focus on cost-effective and technologically feasible strategies to achieve significant Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reductions, with solutions projected for 2030, 2040, and 2050, while considering sector specific context and recent developments. The study will inform the European Commission’s preparation of the forthcoming roadmap for energy transition in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
These workshops will provide an opportunity to discuss and consolidate stakeholder input on the energy transition.
The events will be held in hybrid format, allowing participants to join either in person in Brussels or online, ensuring broad and inclusive participation from across the EU and beyond. Live interpretation will be available in selected languages (French, Spanish, Italian). Additionally, automatic transcription will be provided online in all 24 EU languages.
Please note that in person participation will be limited to 35 participants to ensure a focused and productive experience early registration is recommended to secure your place.
Whether you are a fisher, an aquaculture operator, an academic, researcher, a national/regional administration, NGO, or policy maker, this workshop is your opportunity to shape the future of a sustainable, climate-neutral European fisheries and aquaculture sector.
Register here: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/696d20e9-3798-a3fb-d8d2-97153c78a6ac

PHAROS Plastic Fantastic Hackathon: Bootcamp
2026-05-11 17:00 - 2026-05-13 19:30
The Plastic Fantastic Hackathon Bootcamp (11-13 May 2026) is an online innovation challenge where teams come together to design actionable solutions for the detection, collection, prevention, and valorisation of marine litter.
The Hackathon is part of PHAROS, an EU-funded project that aims to provide nature-based solutions for restoring ecosystems and biodiversity while addressing climate change and human impacts in the Atlantic and Arctic maritime regions.
The Challenge
Let’s design and develop solutions to pollution.
The contamination of oceans, seas, and coastal ecosystems by plastics, chemicals, waste, and other human-derived debris is threatening ecosystems and biodiversity, human health, and the sustainability of marine resources. PHAROS is seeking solutions that address this challenge through:
Detection and monitoring
Methods and tools to identify, track, and assess marine litter sources, distribution, and impacts.
Collection and valorisation
Efficient systems to remove marine litter and transform recovered materials into valuable resources through reuse, recycling, or upcycling.
Reduction and prevention
Strategies, products, and policies that prevent marine litter at its source and reduce its generation across value chains.

Who Can Participate?
Everyone with ideas, motivation, or projects to protect our oceans is welcome! Citizens, students, startups, young professionals, associations, NGOs, and early-stage companies are all invited to join.
Two different tracks:
Track A – Idea Stage
For individuals or teams with early-stage concepts who want to refine, develop, and structure their solution.
Track B – Emerging Organisations*
For recently established companies or small non-profit organisations looking to strengthen, scale, or further develop their existing solution.
*Only for-profit organisations with fewer than 5 years in operation and non-profit organisations with fewer than 5 FTEs are eligible to participate.

Bootcamp Agenda
Day 1 – 11 May

17:00–17:30 CET – Welcome and presentation
Welcome and introduction to the PHAROS project, the Plastic Fantastic Hackathon, and participant projects.

17:30–19:00 CET – Business modelling masterclass
#Learn
Two parallel sessions for participants:

Track A: Social Business Model Canvas

Track B: Your Business Model in 10 Slides

19:00–19:30 CET – Closure

Day 2 – 12 May

17:00–17:30 CET – Welcome and icebreaker

17:30–19:00 CET – Pitching masterclass
#Learn
How to create a pitch that makes an impact and engages your audience.

19:00–19:30 CET – Meet the changemakers
#Inspire
Presentation of successfully established initiatives.

Day 3 – 13 May

17:00–17:30 CET – Welcome and inspirational talk
#Inspire
The Future of Our Seas: Introduction to Marine Environmental Challenges

17:30–19:00 CET – Pitching session
Pitching competition for a spot in the Hackathon Days

19:00–19:30 CET – Closure

Key Dates for the Plastic Fantastic Hackathon Series

Ideation Workshop: 15 April

Bootcamp: 11–13 May

Hackathon: 18–19 May

PHAROS Plastic Fantastic Hackathon Days (18–19 May 2026)
2026-05-18 - 2026-05-19
The Plastic Fantastic Hackathon Days is an online innovation challenge where teams come together to design actionable solutions for the detection, collection, prevention, and valorisation of marine litter.
Let’s design and develop solutions to pollution.
The contamination of oceans, seas, and coastal ecosystems by plastics, chemicals, waste, and other human-derived debris is threatening ecosystems and biodiversity, human health, and the sustainability of marine resources.
PHAROS is seeking solutions that address this challenge through:
Detection and monitoring
Methods and tools to identify, track, and assess marine litter sources, distribution, and impacts.
Collection and valorisation
Efficient systems to remove marine litter and transform recovered materials into valuable resources through reuse, recycling, or upcycling.
Reduction and prevention
Strategies, products, and policies that prevent marine litter at its source and reduce its generation across value chains.

Agenda
Day 1 – 18 May 2026

10:00–10:30 CET – Welcome and presentation
Welcome and introduction to the day’s agenda and the experts.

10:30–11:00 CET – Ecosystem mapping
#Connect
Workshop to map stakeholders in the blue economy ecosystem.

11:00–13:00 CET – Meet the experts: 1:1 coaching sessions
#Learn
Two one-hour sessions with business and sustainability experts who will coach you to refine and improve the technical aspects and viability of your project.

13:00–14:15 CET – Lunch break

14:15–15:15 CET – Panel discussion: Funding the Blue Economy
#Inspire
Panel discussion with representatives from public, private, and non-profit institutions on different funding strategies and opportunities for blue economy projects.

15:15–17:00 CET – Supported free working time
Free time to work on your project with support from the Impact Hub Athens facilitation team.

Day 2 – 19 May 2026

17:00–17:30 CET – Welcome and keynote speech (DG MARE)
Welcome, presentation of the jury members, and keynote speech by the European Commission (DG MARE) on the EU’s Ocean Mission and the role of social entrepreneurs.

17:30–18:50 CET – Pitching competition

18:50–19:00 CET – Announcement of winners

The Hackathon is part of PHAROS, an EU-funded project that aims to provide nature-based solutions for restoring ecosystems and biodiversity while addressing climate change and human impacts in the Atlantic and Arctic maritime regions.
More information: https://pharosproject.eu/hackathon/

Blue Transition Policy
2026-05-19 13:00 - 17:00 | Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
Brussels will host the Blue Transition event, bringing together policymakers, experts, and practitioners to explore innovative water solutions for a climate‑resilient North Sea region.
Organised by the Flanders Environment Agency and the Interreg North Sea Programme, the event marks the culmination of 3.5 years of project work and more than a decade of collaboration on sustainable water management.
The programme will spotlight practical approaches to safeguarding water resources while supporting agriculture, restoring peatlands and wetlands, improving soil health, and strengthening regional climate adaptation.
Key themes include groundwater management, water storage, water abstraction, SaveWater strategies, and resilience planning.
Participants will gain insights into tested solutions and recommendations that can guide future policy and investment across the North Sea region. The event also offers opportunities for exchange with partners working at the forefront of water and climate challenges.
Further details, including agenda and registration, will be shared through the Interreg North Sea communication channels.

European Maritime Day, Limassol 21-22 May 2026
2026-05-21 09:00 - 2026-05-22 18:00 | Limassol, Cyprus, Cyprus
European Maritime Day 2026 will take place in Limassol, Cyprus on the 21-22 May 2026 as an in-person event with plenary sessions live streamed.
The EMD is the occasion to pay tribute to “maritime Europe” and put all maritime sectors and activities in the spotlight to help European citizens realise the real outreach and variety of sea-related activities going on in Europe and provoke reflection on the crucial role the seas play in our everyday life.
It is the annual event during which Europe’s maritime community meet to network, discuss and outline joint action on maritime affairs and sustainable blue economy.
The EMD is also the place where ‘Ocean Leaders Meet’. It provides an engaging and interactive experience to catch up on the current state of play on a broad range of issues concerning the blue economy and the marine environment and to discuss ways of moving forward. It features inspirational speakers, thematic sessions, stakeholder workshops, exhibition and lots of networking opportunities. The EMD targets professionals from businesses, governments, public institutions, NGOs and academia as well as EU citizens interested in the sea.
The EMD2026 is organised by the European Commission, the Shipping Deputy Ministry of the Republic of Cyprus and the Limassol Municipality.

Pharos MarCoLab Ireland Mega Event
2026-05-26 - 2026-05-28
Living Lab in Kerry & Cork, 26–28 May 2026
MarCoLab Ireland invites you to the second PHAROS Mega Event, an exciting three-day event from 26 to 28 May 2026 in South-West Ireland (Kerry and West Cork).
Join the Atlantic and Arctic Lighthouse community to promote marine restoration, ocean literacy, and the blue economy in Ireland.
Participants will gather from 26–28 May in Kerry and Cork for the Mega Event Ireland, uniting government, researchers, innovators, educators, businesses, investors, and local communities to launch two Living Labs. Together, we’ll tackle marine restoration challenges through citizen engagement, school programmes, and innovative demonstrations. Highlights include the MINKA Living Lab launch, “Waste to Worth” 3D printing, fisher-led initiatives, a Blue Schools webinar, a STEM building tour, an art exhibition, and a visit to Bantry Marine Research Station’s kelp farm.
MarCoLab Ireland is a blue economy innovation space whose name sums up its mission: Mar as the ocean, Co as collaboration, cooperation, and co-creation, and Lab as a living lab. The word MarCo within its name explicitly refers to a framework—a shared structure where, through the quadruple helix, innovation and awareness around nature-based solutions are fostered to balance the economy and environmental protection.

Agenda
Tuesday, 26 May 2026
The first day kicks off at MTU Kerry’s new STEM Building with registration, the Opening Ceremony, and a PHAROS project overview. Key sessions include “Waste to Worth” showcasing 3D printing from marine waste, and “Fisher Guardians” on transforming fishing gear.
After a tour of the €20 million facility, we transfer to Maharees to launch the MINKA Living Lab with local conservation volunteers. The day concludes with “Pint of Science” and a Local Seafood Demo, where marine science meets culinary delight.
Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Day 2 opens with a marine art exhibition and Living Lab video launch, followed by a panel discussion on enhancing the Living Lab. Local schools share their conservation work and seek expert advice. After lunch, the PHAROS Futures networking event connects partners to maximise project impact.
In the afternoon, join an optional visit to Fenit’s native oyster beds—Europe’s last—by Greenway cycle or bus. The day ends with a social dinner and traditional Irish music session. A perfect blend of culture, community, and collaboration.
Thursday, 28 May 2026
The final day takes us to scenic Bantry Bay, County Cork, hosted at the Bantry Marine Research Station. Led by Dr Julie Maguire, we’ll tour the PHAROS demo site featuring an innovative kelp farm cultivating winged and sugar kelp. Learn how this nature-based solution monitors ecosystem restoration alongside a nearby salmon farm.
It’s a hands-on look at cutting-edge aquaculture research in one of Ireland’s most stunning coastal settings—a fitting close to three days of collaboration and discovery.
Link: https://pharosproject.eu/pharos-news/pharos-marcolab-ireland-mega-event-living-lab-in-kerry-cork-26-28-may-2026/

European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) 2026
2026-06-09 09:30 - 2026-06-11 19:30 | Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
The 20th edition of European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) will take place on 9-11 June 2026 in Brussels and online, under the overarching theme of ‘A clean, secure and competitive Energy Union’.
The European Sustainable Energy Week is the biggest annual event dedicated to renewables and efficient energy use in Europe, and it features a 3-day Policy Conference, the EUSEW Awards ceremony, as well as networking opportunities at the Energy Fair, celebrating the people, projects, and initiatives advancing Europe’s transition to clean and sustainable energy.  During the conference, youth voices are put forward through the Young Energy Ambassadors and the European Youth Energy Day. Last but not least, the Sustainable Energy Days give visibility to and foster clean energy solutions in the EU and around the world, from March to June 2026.

15th International Seaweed Conference EU
2026-06-16 - 2026-06-18 | Gothenburg, Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel Gothenburg Södra Hamngatan 59, 401 24 Göteborg, Sweden, Sweden
Seagriculture EU 2026 will gather top speakers, who will share their know-how within seaweed for feed, food, offshore cultivation, biorefinery of seaweed, and much more.
The Seagriculture conference has built up a solid reputation as the leading conference for the seaweed industry, the Seagriculture conference in Europe has been successfully organized since 2012. The 14th edition of this seaweed event took place in Rotterdam, The Netherlands with more than 200 delegates from 26 countries.
Why participate in the Seagriculture conferences?
Seaweed cultivation in Europe is showing promise in terms of growth, however challenges in regulations, cost, and market viability could affect the pace of this growth in the future.
The Seagriculture conferences focus on addressing those challenges in the seaweed industry, fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, and emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices, innovation, research, and regulatory adaptability for long-term success.
The demand for edible seaweeds (or marine algae) is increasing in Europe. Seaweed (macroalgae) grows in a variety of forms and colours in the ocean as well as in freshwater environments. Its biochemical composition and properties make seaweed a valuable material, and its range of applications is growing as current R&D technologies are refined and new discoveries are made. They include food products for humans, animal feed, cosmetics, bio-based chemicals for various industries, fertilisers, biofuel, and high-quality building insulation, among others.

EU Macro Regional & Sea Basin Strategies Days 2026
2026-07-01 09:00 - 2026-07-02 18:00 | Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
The Macro‑regional & Sea Basin Strategies Days 2026 will gather all eight EU macro‑regional and sea basin strategies, Alpine, Danube, Adriatic‑Ionian, Baltic Sea, Atlantic, Western Mediterranean, Black Sea and Greater North Sea for a two‑day high‑level event in Brussels.
Co‑organised by DG REGIO and DG MARE, the event serves as the annual strategic platform for cooperation across borders, governance levels and policy domains.
Strategic Context
The 2026 edition takes place at a pivotal moment for the EU, shaped by:

Early orientations of the new European Commission
Initial signals from negotiations on the post‑2027 Cohesion Policy and Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)
Heightened focus on security, resilience, competitiveness, enlargement, and place‑based delivery
Persistent geopolitical instability, climate pressures and socio‑economic transformation

Macro‑regional and sea basin strategies, flexible, multi‑sectoral and cooperative by design, are well positioned to respond to these evolving priorities
Key Themes for 2026
Building on the 2025 edition, the event will explore how the strategies can:

Strengthen their positioning in the post‑2027 landscape
Enhance governance, visibility and embedding into EU/national funding frameworks
Move from coordination toward collective delivery
Align with emerging EU policy directions and instruments
Support territories, citizens and stakeholders through cross‑border cooperation

The event provides space to take stock of ongoing developments and anticipate future opportunities.

Objectives
The 2026 Strategies Days aim to:

Reflect on the new Commission’s priorities and their implications
Clarify the strategies’ contribution to future EU delivery frameworks
Facilitate exchange among strategies, EU institutions, national/regional authorities, stakeholders and civil society
Build on practical recommendations from the 2025 edition, particularly on governance, visibility, embedding and joint action

Nor-Fishing Exhibition 2026
2026-08-18 - 2026-08-20 | Trondheim, Norway
Since 1960, Nor-Fishing has been an important national and international meeting place for the fisheries industry. Today it is one of the largest fisheries technology exhibitions in the world. In recent years, the exhibition has drawn around 15 000 visitors from more than 50 countries. Innovations of importance to all sectors of the industry are presented here.
The fisheries industry has developed tremendously over the past fifty years, and technology, processes and services related to fishing, processing, transport and marketing have undergone an incredible development. All the major fishing nations are present either as exhibitors, visitors or in official delegations.
