Protection and Restoration of Marine Ecosystems
COPESCA, aimed to establish a co-management committee for the harvesting of stalked barnacles (Pollicipes pollicipes) within the Berlengas Marine Protected Area, designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve.
ECOKELP, aims to assess the spatial distribution of kelp forests, determine their growth and estimate the biomass stock, as well as assessing the faunal biodiversity associated with these forests.
Circular and Sustainable Blue
ORCHESTRA, aims to develop alternative sustainable biological practices for intensive production of Rocha pear and Alcobaça apple, as well as for the conservation and distribution of these productions.
BEAP MAR, has a goal to increase our understanding of marine organisms, especially the ones that are not commonly used for commercial purposes, like new types of algae, marine fungi, and sponges.
CURE4AQUA, intends to (1) Improve diagnostics of fish pathogens and develop cost-effective vaccines to prevent diseases in farmed fish, (2) Identify epigenome, miRNA and microbiome markers with diagnostic capacity to be integrated to selective breeding programs to improve stress and disease management, (3) Develop new innovative, alternative treatments and new integrative analytics to help improve fish health and welfare at various life stages, (4) Prioritise fish welfare in aquaculture production by developing standards that consider different life stages, production systems and knowledge of welfare needs.
Sustainability and Food Safety
HEALTHY PASTA 4 ALL, aims to investigate and develop an innovative range of dry pasta, with the incorporation of marine resources in its formulation, in order to encourage an adequate food consumption and consequent improvement of the nutritional status of the citizens
PROREMAR, aimed the sustainable valorisation of marine food resources from the coast of Peniche, through the development of new food products from fish, mainly with low or without commercial value, and the addition of marine algae rich in bioactive compounds and minerals.
SEAFILM, aimed to develop of biodegradable edible films for frozen fish to replace plastics, in line with the European Union’s commitment to ban the use of single-use plastics.
Ocean Literacy and Blue Science Communication
MARE vai à ESCOLA, educational program that aims to promote increased ocean literacy through various activities to be carried out by MARE researchers with the school public, contributing to a participatory “Blue Society”;
BLUETIDE, aimed to implement a set of ocean literacy initiatives that aim at raising awareness of students and teachers of elementary schools for marine and maritime issues, in particular the importance and threats of rocky shores in intertidal areas.
