Bringing the Black Sea Closer: Biodiversity Carnival Connects Hundreds of Children with Marine Nature in Burgas Bay
On 29 May, more than 150 children from preschools and primary schools in Burgas took part in a colourful parade along the central streets of the city, dressed as jellyfish, seahorses, sharks, crabs, algae and dozens of other marine species, as well as lighthouses, boats, marine ecosystems, and even waves and sea foam.
Updates from the Belgian Demo Site: BLUE CONNECT’s Oyster Restoration Pilot Shines in the Lab and on the Stage
The Belgian demo site of the BLUE CONNECT project has had an eventful month, marking two significant milestones in oyster restoration at the Vlaamse Banken MPA. Partners and stakeholders gathered at Ghent University for an up-close look at the oyster spat cultivation facilities, before the latest results were presented to a wider audience at a national symposium in Ostend. Together, these events reflect the growing momentum and collaborative spirit driving marine biodiversity recovery in the North Sea.
BLUE CONNECT joins the UN Ocean Decade — twice!
BLUE CONNECT has recently been endorsed as an UN Ocean Decade Action under the SUPREME Programme — Sustainability, Predictability and Resilience of Marine Ecosystems. And this recognition comes not once, but twice: alongside the endorsement of the BLUE CONNECT project, one of its Demonstration Sites, Macaronesia, has also received an endorsement for its work on MPA connectivity.
MACARONESIA DEMO SITE Hosts Practical SeaSketch Workshop and Public Event on Ocean Planning and Conservation in the Azores
On May 26 and 27, The BLUE CONNECT – Macaronesia DEMO SITE Project organised a practical workshop dedicated to the SeaSketch platform at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of the Azores, in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island.
BLUE CONNECT volunteer activity in L’Albera helps recover detached Posidonia oceanica shoots
On Sunday 26 April, SUBMON organised a volunteer activity at Canyelles beach in Llançà as part of the European project BLUE CONNECT. The session focused on collecting detached Posidonia oceanica shoots that had been dislodged from the seabed by storms and were drifting close to the shore.
BLUE CONNECT Gathers in Conil de la Frontera for its 3rd General Assembly
From 14 to 16 April 2026, the BLUE CONNECT consortium gathered in Conil de la Frontera, Spain, for its 3rd General Assembly, hosted by SOLDECOCOS, the project’s new partner leading the Cabo Roche Demo Site. Around 45 partners from across Europe came together for three days of progress updates, discussions, and interactive sessions.
Macaronesia Demo Site Strengthens Collaboration in Cabo Verde through Training, Teaching and Knowledge Exchange
Between March and April, the Macaronesia Demo Site, represented by our partner University of the Azores (UAc), carried out a series of activities in Cabo Verde, reinforcing international collaboration, capacity building, and knowledge transfer in marine conservation and governance.
New Blue Connect report maps impact of key human pressures across demonstration sites
The new Blue Connect Deliverable 3.1 is a cross-basin assessment that identifies where human pressures mainly impact the ecosystem across seven demonstration sites. This report marks an important step in understanding what is hindering progress toward site-specific conservation goals.
Azores Wave Conference: Advancing Ocean Governance and Coastal Protection in the Azores
On 13 March, 2026, the Azores Wave Conference took place at the University of the Azores (UAc) in Ponta Delgada, bringing together researchers, policymakers, civil society organizations, ocean advocates and the general public to discuss the future of coastal protection and sustainable ocean use in the Azores. The event was co-organized by the BLUE CONNECT partner University of the Azores, in collaboration with the Surfrider Foundation, the Save the Waves Coalition, and the Azores Save the Waves initiative.
Tool Validation Workshop Series — Northern Adriatic
Monitoring Project Enters Key Phase as Stakeholders Align on Innovation and Governance