Advancing basic knowledge and developing tools for sustainable management of key migratory fish species

The grant opportunity under Horizon Europe is identified as HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-08, focusing on "Advancing basic knowledge and developing tools for sustainable management of key migratory fish species." This funding initiative has a total budget of €14 million, with an expectation to award two projects at €7 million each. The initiative supports research and innovation actions directed at enhancing understanding and sustainability concerning migratory and diadromous fish species within European waters.

Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations involved in research and innovation, such as universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, public bodies, NGOs, and other legal entities from EU member states and associated countries, with specifics on participation from non-EU countries under certain arrangements.

The funding is categorized as HORIZON-RIA (Research and Innovation Actions), providing grants based on submitted project budgets for eligible costs incurred. The application process is a single-stage submission without a requirement for co-funding, although applicants may voluntarily contribute resources to enhance competitiveness.

The deadline for proposal submission is set for April 14, 2026, after the application period opens on January 14, 2026. Projects are expected to last between 24 to 36 months and must focus on research into the ecology, biology, and conservation methods for migratory fish species, additionally considering the impacts of climate change and human activities.

Key objectives for the proposals include developing tools and methodologies for effective conservation and management, generating new knowledge regarding fish population dynamics and pressures, and assessing ecosystem services provided by these species. The initiative seeks interdisciplinary approaches, involving social sciences and community input, to address the multi-faceted challenges facing migratory fish populations.

Proposals must adhere to the guidelines and requirements detailed in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, and successful projects will contribute to relevant EU environmental policies, including the Common Fisheries Policy and the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030. The overall goal is to empower authorities and stakeholders to protect and rehabilitate migratory fish populations and their habitats, ensuring sustainable management in light of ongoing environmental changes.

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal presents a Horizon Europe call, specifically HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-08, focused on "Advancing basic knowledge and developing tools for sustainable management of key migratory fish species." This is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (RIA) with a budget of 14,000,000 EUR for the year 2026. The call adopts a single-stage submission process, with the submission system planned to open on January 14, 2026, and a deadline for submissions on April 14, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. The indicative number of grants is 2.

The expected outcomes of projects funded under this topic include: improved understanding of the life history parameters of key migratory fish species through basic and applied research; better knowledge of anthropogenic impacts on these species within a changing climate; and enhanced capacity for authorities and stakeholders to develop effective tools for protection, restoration, and resource management, including adaptive management strategies.

The scope of the call emphasizes the decline of migratory species and the increasing extinction risk due to climate change and habitat deterioration. Migratory marine fish stocks are crucial for ecosystem functioning and food security, while diadromous fish species play a vital role in land-sea interactions. Proposals should address the need for a holistic and coordinated approach to protect these species, integrating local knowledge, policies, and conservation measures.

Specific actions that proposals should consider include: developing methods to assess the effectiveness of conservation measures; creating tools to reduce anthropogenic mortality factors; generating knowledge on the interplay between climatic and non-climatic pressures; assessing the ecosystem services provided by migratory species; strengthening data collection systems; and incorporating relevant stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle. The scope includes migratory marine and diadromous species of commercial interest, with a focus on endangered species and local populations. Considerations related to farming of migratory species are also relevant.

Proposals should involve social sciences and humanities disciplines and encourage citizen science. Projects are expected to contribute to various EU policies and directives, including the Common Fisheries Policy, the European Ocean Pact, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Habitats Directives, the Water Framework Directive, the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, and the Nature Restoration Regulation.

General conditions for admissibility, eligibility, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, evaluation, award, and legal and financial setup are described in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions are detailed in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms, as well as the model grant agreement (MGA), are available in the Submission System. Additional documents include the Horizon Europe Main Work Programme 2026-2027, the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, the Horizon Europe Framework Programme, the EU Financial Regulation, and guidelines for legal entity validation and financial capacity assessment.

The budget overview lists several topics under Call 02, including climate-related actions (CLIMATE-01 and CLIMATE-02), community-related actions (COMMUNITIES-01), and various Farm to Fork-related actions (FARM2FORK-01 through FARM2FORK-14). These topics cover a range of activities, including research and innovation actions (RIA), innovation actions (IA), and coordination and support actions (CSA), with budgets ranging from 2,000,000 EUR to 14,000,000 EUR.

Partner search announcements are available for those seeking collaboration, and the submission system will open on the date stated in the topic header. Various support resources are listed, including the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points, Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, and CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to fund research and innovation projects that advance the knowledge and sustainable management of key migratory fish species, addressing the challenges posed by climate change and anthropogenic impacts. It encourages a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach, involving stakeholders and contributing to various EU environmental and fisheries policies. The call provides a budget of 14,000,000 EUR and is structured as a single-stage submission process with a deadline in April 2026.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the Horizon Europe program, eligible applicants can include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, NGOs, and other types of organizations involved in research and innovation. The mention of LEAR (Legal Entity Appointed Representative) also suggests that any legal entity validated by the EU can apply.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG], provided through HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA).

Consortium Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, the encouragement of partner searches and the nature of the research topics suggest that consortia are likely preferred, if not required, to cover the breadth of expertise needed.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. This indicates that the primary geographic eligibility is for EU and associated countries, with potential exceptions for non-EU countries that have specific funding arrangements with Horizon Europe.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: agriculture/food (specifically, sustainable management of migratory fish species), climate (impact of climate change on migratory species), and environment (conservation and restoration of habitats). It also touches on fisheries and aquaculture.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions EU countries and non-EU associated countries. It also refers to non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have specific provisions for funding.

Project Stage: The project stage targets research, development, and innovation, with an emphasis on developing and implementing effective tools for protection, restoration, and resource management. This suggests projects should be at the research, development, validation, and potentially demonstration stages.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary by topic, ranging from €2,000,000 to €14,000,000. For the specific topic "Advancing basic knowledge and developing tools for sustainable management of key migratory fish species (HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-08)", the budget is €14,000,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant to support their research and innovation activities.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe program, specifically focusing on the "Advancing basic knowledge and developing tools for sustainable management of key migratory fish species" topic under the FARM2FORK strategy. It aims to fund research and innovation actions that contribute to a better understanding and sustainable management of migratory fish species, which are vital for ecosystem functioning and food security. The projects should address the impact of climate change and anthropogenic factors on these species, develop effective conservation measures, and strengthen data collection systems.

The funding is provided through HORIZON-RIA grants, with a budget of €14,000,000 allocated to this specific topic. The call is a single-stage open call, with a planned opening date of January 14, 2026, and a deadline of April 14, 2026. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations involved in research and innovation from EU and associated countries, with potential exceptions for non-EU countries with specific funding arrangements.

Projects should focus on:

Developing methods and methodologies to assess the effectiveness of conservation and management measures.
Creating tools and practices to reduce anthropogenic mortality factors.
Generating new knowledge on the interplay between climatic and non-climatic pressures.
Assessing the impact of emerging pressures on migratory species.
Evaluating ecosystem services and societal benefits provided by these species.
Strengthening data collection systems and monitoring coordination.
Incorporating relevant stakeholders and end-users in the project lifecycle.

The overall goal is to enhance the capacity of authorities and stakeholders to protect, restore, and sustainably manage key migratory fish species and their habitats, contributing to the EU Common Fisheries Policy, the European Ocean Pact, and other relevant EU strategies and regulations. Citizen science and the involvement of social sciences and humanities disciplines are encouraged.