Via Pontica Foundation is proud to announce its participation in SEAGROW – Seaweed Ecosystem Aquaculture for GROWth and Sustainability, a forward-looking project funded by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).
SEAGROW unites research institutions, NGOs, and private partners from across Europe to demonstrate how Regenerative Ocean Farming (ROF) — large-scale cultivation of seaweed designed to restore ecosystems — can contribute to climate resilience, clean seas, and sustainable economic growth.
As the Black Sea representative, Via Pontica Foundation will lead the preparation of a regional feasibility study for a regenerative seaweed farming pilot. The study will analyse environmental and regulatory conditions, identify opportunities for sustainable aquaculture, and assess the potential for positive ecological and socio-economic impact in the Black Sea basin.
Via Pontica Foundation will:
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Contribute environmental data and regional expertise to Work Package 2: Regenerative Ocean Farming;
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Support Work Package 4: Business Case Development by analysing market drivers and regulatory barriers;
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Engage stakeholders, policy actors, and local communities through Work Package 5: Communication and Dissemination, including the organisation of a stakeholder workshop in Bulgaria.
Through SEAGROW, the Foundation will strengthen cooperation among European partners — including Óir Na Farraige, Trinity College Dublin, Sea Going Green, and AquaBioTech Group — to connect science, innovation, and community action.
This collaboration marks an important step in extending regenerative seaweed cultivation from the Atlantic to the Black Sea, advancing a shared vision for a sustainable and resilient Blue Economy.
This project has received funding from the European Union under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).