Minimising climate impact on fisheries: mitigation and adaptation solutions for future climate regimes — Horizon Europe

🔬 Scientific Alignment

🚀

Suggested TRL Range

TRL 4 → 8

Based on programme defaults

Scope Activities (5)

SC1

Investigate the impacts of climate change on biological and ecological processes such as shifts in stocks distribution, abundance and density, fish health, stock productivity, habitats, regime shifts in ecosystems, and altered growth and reproduction rates.

SC2

Explore and test innovative measures to mitigate climate change, including new designs of fishing gears, new fishing strategies that do not resuspend carbon from the seabed, and strategies improving energy use efficiency or strengthening circularity aspects.

SC3

Develop adaptive solutions such as valorisation of new catches or building resilience actions for fisheries.

SC4

Include studies representing the whole spectrum of European fisheries, including small-scale fisheries, and the related biotic, abiotic, social, and economic conditions.

SC5

Follow an interdisciplinary approach covering both scientific and socioeconomic aspects, building on previous projects and initiatives.

Expected Outcomes (5)

EO1

Contribution to sustainable fisheries for fair, healthy, climate-resilient, and environment-friendly food systems with low impact on aquatic ecosystems, supporting the EU common fisheries policy, the European Green Deal, and the EU biodiversity and farm to fork strategies.

EO2

Transformation of fisheries to make a significant contribution to climate-neutrality.

EO3

More precise, technologically advanced data collection (e.g., using AI, sensors, and robotics) encompassing the natural and social ecosystem context.

EO4

Understanding of the resilience potential to climate change of exploited resources and building adaptive capacity for fisheries management.

EO5

Preparation of the seafood sector to seize opportunities to harvest shifting stocks in the most sustainable manner, considering environmental, social, and economic factors.

🌍 Impact Strategy

Target SDG Topics

Select the SDG targets (topics) that your future project proposal will actively address to align with EU Policy Impacts.

Expected Impacts (4)

EI1

Provide consumers with affordable, safe, healthy, and sustainable food (dEI1 from reference_expected_impacts).

EI2

Enhance climate mitigation and circularity in food systems (dEI2 from reference_expected_impacts).

EI3

Enable sustainable fisheries that provide consumers with affordable, safe, healthy, and sustainable food, increase ecosystem services, restore biodiversity, minimize pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, foster plant, animal, and public health, improve animal welfare, and generate fair economic returns for fishers.

EI4

Support fair, healthy, climate-resilient, and environment-friendly food systems from primary production to consumption.

EU Policy Alignment

EU Common Fisheries Policy

The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) aims to ensure sustainable fisheries and aquaculture by managing fish stocks at maximum sustainable yield, minimizing environmental impacts, and supporting the economic viability of the sector. It also promotes the integration of climate considerations into fisheries management.

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Evaluator focus:Evaluators will expect proposals to demonstrate how their solutions align with CFP objectives, particularly in terms of sustainable stock management, reducing environmental impacts, and supporting small-scale fisheries. Proposals should also show how they will contribute to the CFP's climate adaptation and mitigation goals.

European Green Deal

The European Green Deal is a comprehensive strategy to make the EU's economy sustainable by turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities. It includes targets for climate neutrality by 2050, biodiversity preservation, and sustainable food systems.

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Evaluator focus:Proposals must clearly articulate how they contribute to the Green Deal's climate neutrality and biodiversity goals. Evaluators will look for innovative solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance circularity, and promote sustainable food systems from primary production to consumption.

EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030

The EU Biodiversity Strategy aims to protect and restore biodiversity by addressing the main drivers of biodiversity loss, including climate change, overfishing, and pollution. It sets targets for protecting marine ecosystems and restoring degraded habitats.

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Evaluator focus:Evaluators will prioritize proposals that demonstrate a strong focus on preserving marine biodiversity, restoring ecosystems, and reducing the impacts of fisheries on marine habitats. Proposals should align with the strategy's targets for protected areas and ecosystem restoration.

Farm to Fork Strategy

The Farm to Fork Strategy is a key component of the European Green Deal, aiming to make food systems fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly. It includes targets for reducing the environmental footprint of food production, improving animal welfare, and ensuring food security.

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Evaluator focus:Proposals should show how they will contribute to the Farm to Fork Strategy's goals, particularly in terms of sustainable fisheries, reducing pollution, and ensuring safe and healthy seafood for consumers. Evaluators will look for solutions that enhance the resilience and sustainability of food systems.

Fit for 55 Package

The Fit for 55 Package is a set of legislative proposals to align EU climate, energy, and transport policies with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. It includes measures to decarbonize the economy and promote renewable energy.

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Evaluator focus:Proposals must demonstrate how their solutions will contribute to the Fit for 55 targets, particularly in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fisheries operations. Evaluators will look for innovative technologies and strategies that improve energy efficiency and promote circularity.

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The SDGs provide a global framework for addressing challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable food systems. Relevant SDGs for this call include SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).

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Evaluator focus:Evaluators will expect proposals to explicitly link their objectives and impacts to relevant SDGs, particularly SDG 13, SDG 14, and SDG 2. Proposals should demonstrate how they will contribute to these global goals through their activities and outcomes.

📋 Additional Guidance

⚖ Eligibility rules

Minimum partners3

Minimum countries3

Maximum budget€9.0M

🎯 Call process & Evaluation criteria (Pre-award)

Evaluators will prioritize proposals that demonstrate a clear understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of the call, integrating biological, ecological, social, and economic dimensions. They will look for innovative, actionable solutions that address both mitigation and adaptation, with a strong focus on practical implementation (TRL 6-7). Proposals must show how they will contribute to the EU's climate neutrality goals, biodiversity preservation, and sustainable food systems. Evidence of stakeholder engagement, especially with small-scale fisheries, and alignment with underlying EU policies will be critical. Additionally, evaluators will assess the potential for measurable impacts, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved circularity, and enhanced resilience of fisheries to climate change.

🤝 Possible collaborations

European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Projects funded under HORIZON-CL6-2023-BIODIV-01-5 and HORIZON-CL6-2022-CLIMATE-01-02
OECD Committee for Fisheries

📊 Coverage

Everything the call asks for, seen from the call's point of view. Each line shows what answers it, and which partner carries it.

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Scope activities5requirements

Expected outcomes5requirements

Other requirements0requirements

Expected impacts4requirements

Underlying policies0requirements

Requirements matrix

Coverage of the call requirements
Requirement	Covered by	Carried	Status
Scope activities
SC1Investigate the impacts of climate change on biological and ecological processes such as shifts in stocks distribution, abundance and density, fish health, stock productivity, habitats, regime shifts in ecosystems, and altered growth and reproduction rates.	·	·	Sign up to track
SC2Explore and test innovative measures to mitigate climate change, including new designs of fishing gears, new fishing strategies that do not resuspend carbon from the seabed, and strategies improving energy use efficiency or strengthening circularity aspects.	·	·	Sign up to track
SC3Develop adaptive solutions such as valorisation of new catches or building resilience actions for fisheries.	·	·	Sign up to track
SC4Include studies representing the whole spectrum of European fisheries, including small-scale fisheries, and the related biotic, abiotic, social, and economic conditions.	·	·	Sign up to track
SC5Follow an interdisciplinary approach covering both scientific and socioeconomic aspects, building on previous projects and initiatives.	·	·	Sign up to track
Expected outcomes
EO1Contribution to sustainable fisheries for fair, healthy, climate-resilient, and environment-friendly food systems with low impact on aquatic ecosystems, supporting the EU common fisheries policy, the European Green Deal, and the EU biodiversity and farm to fork strategies.	·	·	Sign up to track
EO2Transformation of fisheries to make a significant contribution to climate-neutrality.	·	·	Sign up to track
EO3More precise, technologically advanced data collection (e.g., using AI, sensors, and robotics) encompassing the natural and social ecosystem context.	·	·	Sign up to track
EO4Understanding of the resilience potential to climate change of exploited resources and building adaptive capacity for fisheries management.	·	·	Sign up to track
EO5Preparation of the seafood sector to seize opportunities to harvest shifting stocks in the most sustainable manner, considering environmental, social, and economic factors.	·	·	Sign up to track
Other requirements
No other requirements in this call.
Expected impacts
EI1Provide consumers with affordable, safe, healthy, and sustainable food (dEI1 from reference_expected_impacts).	·	·	Sign up to track
EI2Enhance climate mitigation and circularity in food systems (dEI2 from reference_expected_impacts).	·	·	Sign up to track
EI3Enable sustainable fisheries that provide consumers with affordable, safe, healthy, and sustainable food, increase ecosystem services, restore biodiversity, minimize pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, foster plant, animal, and public health, improve animal welfare, and generate fair economic returns for fishers.	·	·	Sign up to track
EI4Support fair, healthy, climate-resilient, and environment-friendly food systems from primary production to consumption.	·	·	Sign up to track
Underlying policies
No underlying policies in this call.

Scope activities

SC1Sign up

SC2Sign up

SC3Sign up

Develop adaptive solutions such as valorisation of new catches or building resilience actions for fisheries.

SC4Sign up

Include studies representing the whole spectrum of European fisheries, including small-scale fisheries, and the related biotic, abiotic, social, and economic conditions.

SC5Sign up

Follow an interdisciplinary approach covering both scientific and socioeconomic aspects, building on previous projects and initiatives.

Expected outcomes

EO1Sign up

EO2Sign up

Transformation of fisheries to make a significant contribution to climate-neutrality.

EO3Sign up

More precise, technologically advanced data collection (e.g., using AI, sensors, and robotics) encompassing the natural and social ecosystem context.

EO4Sign up

Understanding of the resilience potential to climate change of exploited resources and building adaptive capacity for fisheries management.

EO5Sign up

Preparation of the seafood sector to seize opportunities to harvest shifting stocks in the most sustainable manner, considering environmental, social, and economic factors.

Other requirementsNo other requirements in this call.

Expected impacts

EI1Sign up

Provide consumers with affordable, safe, healthy, and sustainable food (dEI1 from reference_expected_impacts).

EI2Sign up

Enhance climate mitigation and circularity in food systems (dEI2 from reference_expected_impacts).

EI3Sign up

EI4Sign up

Support fair, healthy, climate-resilient, and environment-friendly food systems from primary production to consumption.

Underlying policiesNo underlying policies in this call.

✅ Eligibility

The binding rules of this call. Items marked auto are verified by GrantForge from the call and the template. The others are yours to confirm.

Minimum 3 partners

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Minimum 3 countries

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Project budget range

max €9.0M

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🧭 Strategy

🏷 Keywords

climate change adaptationclimate change mitigationsustainable fisheriesmarine biodiversityfish stock resiliencecircular economy in fisheriesenergy efficiency in fisheriessmall-scale fisheriesclimate-neutral fisheriesAI in fisheries managementsensors and robotics in marine monitoringsocioeconomic impacts of climate changevalorization of new catchesfisheries policyEuropean Green DealCommon Fisheries PolicyFarm to Fork Strategybiodiversity preservationgreenhouse gas emissions reductionclimate-resilient food systemsinterdisciplinary research

🧩 Project backbone

0%Concept coverage

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Step 1 of 2 · Build your concept

Problems & target groups

The problems this call frames, and who they affect. Your concept and plan address them.

✨ Problems to be solved

Climate-induced shifts in fish stock distribution and abundance

Rising ocean temperatures and changing currents are causing fish stocks to migrate to new areas, disrupting traditional fishing grounds and reducing catch predictability for fishers.

👤 Small-scale fishers and coastal communities👤 Industrial fisheries operators

Increased greenhouse gas emissions from fisheries operations

Current fishing practices, including energy-intensive operations and carbon resuspension from seabeds, contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change.

👤 Industrial fisheries operators👤 Fisheries policymakers and regulators

Lack of adaptive capacity in fisheries management

Fisheries management systems are not equipped to handle rapid climate-induced changes, leading to overfishing, ecosystem degradation, and economic losses for fishers.

👤 Fisheries policymakers and regulators👤 Small-scale fishers and coastal communities

Socioeconomic vulnerabilities of small-scale fisheries

Small-scale fishers and coastal communities face economic instability due to climate change, limited access to alternative livelihoods, and marginalization in policy decision-making.

👤 Small-scale fishers and coastal communities👤 Environmental NGOs and advocacy groups

Insufficient data and monitoring capabilities

Limited use of advanced technologies for data collection and monitoring hampers the ability to predict and respond to climate-induced changes in marine ecosystems.

👤 Marine and climate scientists👤 Fisheries policymakers and regulators

Market disruptions due to shifting fish stocks

Changes in fish stock availability and composition disrupt seafood supply chains, affecting processing industries, distributors, and consumers.

👤 Seafood processing and distribution industries👤 Consumers of seafood products

✨ Target Groups

Small-scale fishers and coastal communitiesDirect

Fishers and communities dependent on small-scale fisheries, who are highly vulnerable to climate-induced changes in fish stocks and ecosystem conditions.

Industrial fisheries operatorsDirect

Large-scale fisheries operators who contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and are key stakeholders in adopting mitigation and adaptation technologies.

Fisheries policymakers and regulatorsIndirect

National and EU-level policymakers responsible for designing and implementing fisheries management policies, including climate adaptation and mitigation measures.

Marine and climate scientistsIndirect

Researchers and academics focused on marine ecology, climate science, and fisheries management who will benefit from advanced data and insights generated by the project.

Seafood processing and distribution industriesDirect

Industries involved in processing, distributing, and marketing seafood, which must adapt to changes in catch composition and availability due to climate change.

Environmental NGOs and advocacy groupsIndirect

Organizations focused on marine conservation, climate action, and sustainable fisheries that will use project outcomes to advocate for policy changes.

Consumers of seafood productsDirect

End consumers who benefit from sustainable, safe, and affordable seafood products, as well as improved transparency in fisheries practices.

Step 2 of 2 · Build your concept

The change you want to make

The long-term impacts your project should drive — this shapes the objectives next.

I1Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from fisheries

Implementation of energy-efficient technologies and circular practices in fisheries operations will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate neutrality goals.

📏 Percentage reduction in CO2 emissions per ton of fish caught by participating fisheries within 5 years post-project.

EI2👤 Industrial fisheries operators👤 Fisheries policymakers and regulators👤 Consumers of seafood products

I2Enhanced resilience of fisheries to climate change

Development of adaptive management strategies and valorization of new catches will improve the resilience of fisheries, ensuring economic stability and food security for coastal communities.

📏 Number of fisheries adopting adaptive management practices within 3 years post-project.

EI4👤 Small-scale fishers and coastal communities👤 Fisheries policymakers and regulators

I3Improved preservation of marine biodiversity

Mitigation and adaptation solutions will reduce overfishing, habitat degradation, and carbon resuspension, leading to improved preservation of marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

📏 Percentage increase in biodiversity indices in project-targeted marine areas within 5 years post-project.

EI3👤 Marine and climate scientists👤 Environmental NGOs and advocacy groups

I4Increased access to sustainable and affordable seafood

Sustainable fisheries practices and adaptive solutions will ensure a stable supply of safe, healthy, and affordable seafood for consumers, supporting food security and public health.

📏 Percentage increase in availability of sustainably sourced seafood in EU markets within 5 years post-project.

EI1👤 Consumers of seafood products👤 Seafood processing and distribution industries