PHAROS at European Ocean Days 2025: Advancing Marine Conservation and Innovation

• March 13, 2025

The European Ocean Days 2025 brought together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and conservationists to discuss the future of our oceans. As part of this significant event, PHAROS proudly participated in key discussions, contributing to the dialogue on sustainable blue economy, marine biodiversity protection, and the latest innovations in ocean research.

A Platform for Ocean Action

European Ocean Days serve as a crucial forum for shaping policies and fostering collaborations that drive marine restoration efforts. This year’s event featured the 3rd Annual Mission Forum, which assessed the progress of the ‘Restore Our Ocean and Waters’ Mission and its ambitious 2030 goals. The forum highlighted groundbreaking innovations, such as the Digital Twin of the Ocean, and showcased the impact of Horizon Europe’s €400 million investment in marine and freshwater ecosystem restoration projects.

PHAROS’s Role and Contributions

As a key player in marine research and conservation, PHAROS engaged with stakeholders across sectors to explore strategies for strengthening ocean governance and accelerating restoration efforts. Our discussions focused on climate resilience, pollution reduction, and sustainable marine resource management. We also had a great game with 5 other sister projects. The game is titled “MPA Game” and Players use real data from @pharos_eu, @BLUE4ALLproject, @BlueConnectEU, @MarinePlanEBMSP, @BioProtect, @MSP4BIO_Project to design MPAcorridors!

By participating in expert panels and networking sessions, PHAROS reinforced its commitment to advancing science-based policies and innovative solutions that address the pressing challenges facing our oceans.

Key Takeaways from the Forum

• Innovation in Ocean Conservation: Mission-funded projects are delivering real-world solutions, such as CLIMAREST’s oyster reef restoration and INSPIRE’s drone-powered plastic waste mapping.
• Policy Developments: The upcoming European Ocean Pact aims to unify efforts across EU policy areas, ensuring coherent strategies for ocean health and economic resilience.
• Scaling Up Efforts: The event emphasized the need for increased financial support and multi-sector partnerships to scale and deploy marine conservation solutions effectively.

Looking Ahead

The insights gained from European Ocean Days 2025 will shape PHAROS’s ongoing initiatives, reinforcing our role in driving sustainable ocean governance. As we move forward, PHAROS will continue to collaborate with policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to advance marine conservation efforts and support the transition to a climate-resilient blue economy.

Stay tuned for more updates on PHAROS’s initiatives and our continued efforts to protect and restore marine ecosystems.