This pivotal Mission Ocean and Waters event gathered experts across sectors to spark dynamic discussions and create a roadmap, shaping the future of the blue economy in the North Sea.
Held in Amsterdam on 26-27 November, the 3rd Mission Arena of BlueMissionBANOS, the coordination hub for Mission Ocean and Water's actions across the Baltic and North Sea, was a remarkable success. This key Mission event drew over 300 participants from diverse sectors, including business, research, policymaking, education and NGOs, to focus on advancing the blue circular economy in the North Sea region, spanning the Netherlands, Belgium, western Germany, western Denmark and northern France.
It featured 24 interactive workshops organised by regional stakeholders, creating a dynamic environment for cooperation and innovation in the blue economy. It was held in collaboration with the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, which hosted a North Sea regional workshop on the second day.
The event was closely aligned with Mission Ocean and Water’s objectives of fostering a carbon-neutral, circular blue economy, restoring marine ecosystems and preventing pollution. The workshops explored solutions to advance zero-carbon aquaculture, support low-carbon, multi-purpose use of marine spaces and achieve net-zero maritime emissions.
Grounding goals in concrete context
Discussions focused on addressing governance challenges for the North Sea as it strives to become Europe’s Green Powerplant, and on reconciling offshore wind and biodiversity targets. These conversations aligned with the EU's strategy on offshore renewable energy, aiming to meet the ambitious energy and climate goals set for 2030 and 2050 in the European Green Deal and the European Climate Law.
Valuable multi-stakeholder discussions reflected the EU's strategy for a sustainable blue economy. Topics included scaling up ocean multi-use solutions like MariParks, exploring viable business models that engage the public sector and large enterprises, and improving licensing and regulatory frameworks in the North Sea to strengthen aquaculture governance.
Efforts to protect the marine ecosystem and biodiversity in the region, in line with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, were highlighted during workshops focused on key issues such as identifying and mitigating risks in the implementation of Nature-Based Solutions and fostering synergies between projects supporting EU Marine Protected Areas in the North Sea region.
The regional workshop ‘Blue Economy for the North Sea,’ organised by the Horizon Europe co-funded Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, which complements the efforts of Mission Ocean and Waters, focused on aligning a strategic agenda for the region’s research and innovation needs to address the concrete challenges of building a sustainable blue economy in the North Sea basin.
On the right track: a roadmap for the North Sea's future
In addition to fostering stakeholder connections, the event centered on collectively defining and advancing action points to tackle governance fragmentation, support evidence-based decision-making, and promote citizen engagement across the region. Over the two days, participants engaged in in-depth discussions to refine priorities and, ultimately, finalised and voted on a roadmap that will guide the next phase of Mission Ocean and Waters in the North Sea.
In the offshore wind and multi-use sector, they stressed the need for simplified regulatory frameworks and a strong multi-use approach in policy and new tenders. They also called for increased funding for marine protection, the integration of research into policy, and incentives for sustainable industry practices. To engage citizens, the group proposed integrating ocean literacy into education, creating blue economy hubs, and attracting young people to the sector.
In governance, participants highlighted the need for better coordination across North Sea countries, the establishment of clearer governance structures and the creation of flexible regulations and financing instruments to support innovation. They also discussed harmonising Life Cycle Assessments by developing standards for blue bioresources, enhancing the ecosystem approach in Marine Spatial Planning and incentivising zero-waste practices.
Business support was a priority, with calls to simplify permitting, develop flexible funding instruments and provide legal support and mentoring for startups. Additionally, enhancing data collection and sharing and implementing real-time surveillance for infrastructure were seen as crucial for the region’s security and safety.
For further details, the opening and closing sessions are available to view on YouTube. Summaries of each workshop, event presentations, and the regional roadmap will soon be available on the BlueMissionBANOS website.
Discover upcoming Mission Ocean and Waters events by visiting our service portal and signing up for our newsletter. To explore other successful Mission initiatives, read our latest news.