Living Labs

IMTA for Ecosystem Restoration and High-Value Aquaculture

PHAROS will showcase an advanced Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system that uses polyculture macroalgae to restore nutrient-rich ecosystems. This will be combined with the intensive production of valuable abalone. The IMTA will be collocated with an aquaculture fish farm, where sea cucumbers will be used for nutrient-rich waste absorption. The new purpose-built structure will be storm-proof and permanent for future research, encompassing all three PHAROS pillars: innovative technology, valorisation of solutions, and public engagement.

Artificial Reef Restoration

UGI will employ its leading innovative technology, including Smart Enhanced Reefs (SER®) artificial structures, designed using specific protocols based on parametric intelligence (reefhopper®). These structures, made from a mix of calcium carbonate, biomaterials, and cement, will enhance interaction with sea currents, retain organic particles, and improve light distribution and organic matter availability.This technology enables human intervention through active gardening plans, with algorithms designed to be iterative and self-learning, allowing the system to adapt to the ecosystem’s behaviour. This multi-layered reflexive system accommodates programmatic requirements at both simple and complex levels.

eDNA for Detecting Invasive Species

DTU will employ quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), a laboratory technique used to amplify and quantify DNA, and Metabarcoding eDNA (environmental DNA), a method used to analyse and identify multiple species within an environmental sample, on a robotic buoy for real-time, extensive analysis of invasive species. This effort will be backed by specialised eDNA laboratories, skilled personnel, and advanced bioinformatics expertise.  eDNA is a cost-effective technology that, within the PHAROS project, will demonstrate optimised species-specific eDNA-based detection protocols. eDNA-based monitoring will be less time-consuming and less influenced by patchy distributions of invasive species, proving to be a more reliable tool for future large-scale surveys.

DTO for Gran Canaria and Iceland Demo Locations

PHAROS partner BO will develop the Digital Twin Ocean (DTO) using a unique multi-layered approach integrated with the HiSea platform. This comprehensive system will feature in-situ sensors, real-time data streaming via the Internet of Things (IoT), and both equation-based and data-based surrogate models. The DTO will also utilise AI for model self-learning and high-performance computing for processing data, models, and AI outputs. Visualisations, scenario-making, and a decision-making platform will enhance its functionality. Additionally, real-time data will be streamed from submarine acoustic hydrophones, as well as underwater and surface cameras.

Blueprint MPA Platform Enhancement

The enhanced Blue4All Blueprint Platform will empower Marine Protected Area (MPA) managers to swiftly identify, categorise, and address emerging issues, thereby reducing potential ecological harm and ensuring proactive conservation and climate change adaptation. MPA managers will benefit from a comprehensive strategic framework that promotes adaptive management practices responsive to environmental changes and uncertainties. The platform’s integrated governance tools will facilitate collaborative decision-making among stakeholders, while the ecological corridor management module will support resilient marine ecosystems by enabling conservation efforts across different MPAs and promoting species movement and genetic diversity. The Blueprint platform’s interface with the Digital Twin Ocean (DTO) will further enhance MPA managers’ decision-making capabilities.

The PHAROS project aims to transform the Blueprint Platform into a cutting-edge, all-encompassing toolset, empowering MPA managers to efficiently tackle challenges, implement adaptive strategies, engage stakeholders, and ensure the long-term sustainability of MPAs through effective co-management practices.

Fisher Guardians Program

PHAROS partner CIIMAR, along with PLOCAN and GW, will expand the NETTAGplus project within PHAROS. This initiative aims to shift the fisheries industry’s role from being a ‘polluter’ to becoming ‘guardians and cleaners’ of the ocean. The project will implement various actions, including sharing best practices, rewarding strategies, and improving infrastructure.

NETTAGplus will equip the fisheries industry with a package of three smart and environmentally friendly solutions designed to reduce abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) and minimize the negative impacts of fishing gear on the environment.

Citizen Litter Entrepreneurs

PHAROS and partner IHA will develop and extend the REMEDIES (Mediterranean Sea Lighthouse project) innovative citizen litter entrepreneur program. This program will provide guidance for becoming plastic entrepreneurs, offering training and tools to start businesses by valorizing collected plastic litter and providing zero-waste solutions to all actors. There will be four innovations per pillar (monitoring, collection, prevention).

Stakeholder Engagement, Citizen, and School Science

The CSIC MINKA platform is a citizen science tool for collecting biodiversity and environmental data. It combines ICT cloud services with stakeholder engagement methods to create long-term communities of practice, ensuring the sustainability of local projects beyond the PHAROS timeline. Using the RESTFUL interoperable MINKA protocol, citizen science projects can connect and exchange data with other ongoing initiatives, such as EU and Arctic education and conservation projects. These initiatives include the Explorers Education Programme (Ireland), the European Ocean Literacy Coalition (EU4Ocean), the All-Atlantic Ocean Youth Ambassadors, the UNESCO Ocean Literacy Portal, and DeepDive.

PHAROS aims to become a Lighthouse hub for the Atlantic, EU AOM islands, and the Arctic, supporting the development and deployment of transformative innovative solutions to ensure fast, systematic progress towards achieving Mission Ocean objectives. The project will bridge Phase 1, ‘development and piloting,’ and Phase 2, ‘deployment and upscaling,’ from 2026-2030.

PHAROS will implement a combination of new innovative Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in four demonstrations in the Atlantic and Arctic (AA basin) for subsequent replication, contributing to Phase 1. It will also extend (Technology Readiness Level advancement) and roll out leading past H2020 projects and current Mission projects across the AA basin, bridging to Phase 2. PHAROS will cover most EU AOM islands, featuring two demonstrations and extensive replication efforts. The EU AOM islands, situated in several of the 25 global biodiversity hotspots, represent 80% of European biodiversity and are among the most ecologically vulnerable territories.