Voluntary Sector Support Fund 2027-30 - Small Grants Fund

Cadogan Community Grant is sponsored by Cadogan (via The Kensington + Chelsea Foundation). Grants for organisations based and/or delivering in the Chelsea area that address local community issues, with a focus on increasing people's sense of community and belonging, environmental improvements, health and wellbeing activities, arts and culture, and ongoing help for loc…

By fishers, for fishers: co-management of marine and freshwaters ecosystems and resources is sponsored by European Commission — Horizon Europe. Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes: Measurable improvements in the status of critical marine and/or freshwaters habitats (including blue carbon sequestration capacities) and of species through active and passive conservation and restoration measures; Increased sustainability of fishing practices and tools and enhanced implementation of eco-system-based approaches as outlined in the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP); Measurable socio-economic benefits for local communities, skill development and job creation; Enhanced governance in the co-management of ecosystems and resources at local and basin level and overall strengthened Mission governance framework; Improved cross-border coordination in fish movement data collection and exchange. Scope: The Communication of the Commission on “A vision for agriculture and food sectors - Shaping together an attractive EU farming and food sector for future generations” [1] highlights the strategic importance of fisheries for the Union and the role fishers play, as custodians of nature , for the protection and resilience of our ocean, waters, and biodiversity. Equally important are the objectives and actions set out in the European Ocean Pact [2] and the EU Action Plan: Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries [3] . Proposals under this topic are expected to show how activities and results will contribute to achieve both Mission objective 1 – Protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, and Mission objective 3 – Sustainable, carbon-neutral and circular blue economy. The goal is to further develop adaptive co-management approaches to reconcile fisheries with the environmental sustainability, ensuring the long-term viability of both marine and/or freshwater ecosystems and local livelihoods. This approach promotes a harmonious relationship between fishers and coastal communities, fostering a more sustainable and inclusive management of marine resources. Co-management approaches should incorporate long-term participatory ecological monitoring, engaging fishers directly in data collection and contributing to a continuous assessment of ecosystem health and fisheries sustainability. Proposals should address all following issues: focus on empowering fishers, including small-scale and recreational fishers, towards a transition to sustainable fisheries by engaging and involving them in co-management of the marine and freshwaters ecosystems and resources, in particular in protected areas and reserves where fishing is allowed; show active involvement of fishers since the start of the project; test and demonstrate on the ground sustainable and inclusive science-based approaches and solutions for the co-management of marine and freshwaters resources. Active engagement of fishers in habitat protection and restoration could include e.g.: regenerative practices; ecosystem management approaches; measures for prevention and control of invasive species; fish stock recovery plans; sustainable low-impact fishing operations, technologies and tools; multipurpose use of marine space as well as citizen science actions to raise fishers’ awareness and involve them in all steps from data collection to their assessment and use. Projects are encouraged to undertake actions to enhance carbon sequestration capacities of marine and coastal ecosystems, including mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrass habitats. These actions should align with the QU.A.L.ITY criteria (Quantification, Additionality, Long-term storage, and Sustainability) set out in the Regulation (EU) 2024/3012, which establishes a voluntary Union certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming, and carbon storage in products and engage with recognised certification bodies/schemes to provide evidence of carbon sequestration capacities. Each proposal should identify explicitly the basin being addressed, i.e.: 1. Atlantic and Programme areas: Horizon Europe (HORIZON), Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, Seas, Oceans and Inland Waters Keywords: Earth and related environmental sciences, End-users, Innovation management, Ocean, Common Fisheries Policies, Fisheries, Freshwater ecosystems, Marine Action Plan, Marine biodiversity, Marine ecosystems, Mission Ocean and Waters, Sustainability, freshwaters, marine restoration