By fishers, for fishers: co-management of marine and freshwaters ecosystems and resources

The HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-03 call is part of the EU's Horizon Europe initiative, focusing on restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems while actively involving fishers and coastal communities in the decision-making process. This grant opportunity is open to a diverse range of applicants, including research organizations, public bodies, SMEs, large enterprises, NGOs, and local authorities, thereby fostering a consortium-driven approach. Special emphasis is placed on including fishers as key stakeholders, enabling them to play a proactive role in ecosystem management and sustainable practices.

Funding under this program is structured as HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), primarily providing budget-based grants. The successful applicants must form a mandatory consortium that carries out demonstration activities across at least five sites in three different Member States or Associated Countries, situating their proposals within one of four specified sea or river basins: the Atlantic and Arctic marine basin, the Mediterranean Sea basin, the Baltic and North Sea basin, or the Danube River basin, including the Black Sea.

The call highlights a strong commitment to the conservation and restoration of ecosystems aimed at sustainable fisheries and a circular blue economy. Key thematic areas for projects include marine biodiversity protection, eco-friendly fishing practices, enhancement of freshwater ecosystems, effective implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy, marine spatial planning, and carbon sequestration methods in coastal environments.

Grants are substantial, ranging from €7,000,000 to €7,750,000 per project, with about four grants anticipated within a total budget of €31,000,000 for this initiative in 2026. The application process is a single-stage submission, beginning on February 4, 2026, and closing on September 23, 2026. The nature of support includes financial grants alongside additional technical assistance and networking opportunities. While exact success rates are not specified, historical data suggests they may be low due to the high level of competition.

Co-funding is generally required in Horizon Europe initiatives, encouraging applicants to leverage both EU and national funding sources. Each proposal must clearly articulate its basin context and display a commitment to engaging fishers directly in all phases of the project, from design to execution. The call encourages addressing environmental sustainability while ensuring the livelihoods of fishing communities. Expected outcomes include improved ecological status, increased sustainability of fishing practices, measurable socio-economic benefits, and enhanced governance of ecosystems.

The project scope highlights the need for adaptive co-management approaches that align fishing activities with environmental conservation, stressing the importance of partnerships among stakeholders. The initiative also emphasizes capacity-building through training and communication activities for fishers and local authorities, ensuring that projects incorporate a gender perspective and consideration of social science aspects.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to unite fishers with research and conservation efforts to implement sustainable fisheries and ecosystem management, contributing to the EU's goal of protecting biodiversity and fostering a carbon-neutral blue economy.

This is a Horizon Europe (HORIZON) call supporting the implementation of the Restore our Ocean and Waters Mission (HORIZON-MISS-2026-03). The call includes several topics, each with its own budget, type of action, and specific objectives. The type of MGA is HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]. The deadline model is single-stage, with a planned opening date of 04 February 2026 and a deadline date of 23 September 2026 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The call aims to contribute to Mission Objective 1, which is to protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, and Mission Objective 3, which is to achieve a sustainable, carbon-neutral, and circular blue economy. The focus is on developing adaptive co-management approaches that reconcile fisheries with environmental sustainability, ensuring the long-term viability of both marine and/or freshwater ecosystems and local livelihoods.

Specific topics within the call include:

HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-01: This is a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) with a budget of 31,000,000 EUR. The indicative number of grants is 4, with contributions ranging from 7,000,000 to 7,750,000 EUR.

HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-02: This is also a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) with a budget of 31,000,000 EUR. The indicative number of grants is 4, with contributions ranging from 7,000,000 to 7,750,000 EUR.

HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-03: This is another HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) with a budget of 31,000,000 EUR. The indicative number of grants is 4, with contributions ranging from 7,000,000 to 7,750,000 EUR. This topic is specifically titled "By fishers, for fishers: co-management of marine and freshwaters ecosystems and resources".

HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-04: This is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA) with a budget of 2,900,000 EUR. The indicative number of grants is 1, with contributions ranging from 2,500,000 to 2,900,000 EUR.

HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-05: This is a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) with a budget of 19,400,000 EUR. The indicative number of grants is 4, with contributions ranging from 4,000,000 to 4,850,000 EUR.

Expected outcomes across the topics include:

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.

The scope of the call emphasizes the importance of fisheries for the Union and the role fishers play in protecting and enhancing ocean, water, and biodiversity resilience. Proposals should 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 marine and freshwaters ecosystems and resources, particularly in protected areas and reserves where fishing is allowed. Active involvement of fishers since the start of the project is crucial.

Projects should 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 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, and citizen science actions.

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.

Each proposal should explicitly identify the basin being addressed: 1. Atlantic and Arctic sea basin, 2. Mediterranean Sea basin, 3. Baltic and North Sea basin, or 4. Danube River basin, including Black Sea. Only one basin per proposal should be addressed. The effectiveness and efficiency of the measures proposed must be demonstrated in at least 5 demonstration sites in three different Member States or Associated Countries per basin.

Training and communication activities addressing fishers and relevant stakeholders, including local/regional authorities, should be included to build capacity and promote sustainable developments and business opportunities at local level, including in relation to the impact of climate change on resource availability. The involvement of Social Science and Humanities (SSH) experts might be useful for these activities. Proposals should also consider the gender and intersectional dimension in the implementation of the activities.

Projects should ensure that fishers adopt ethical and sustainable practices and methods that prioritize animal welfare and prevent unnecessary harm to marine and freshwater species. Activities are expected to contribute to data collection and data sharing through the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) and to support the Digital Twin Ocean.

Continuous monitoring and assessment of the activities implemented by the projects should be ensured to measure ecological and socio-economic impacts (e.g.: on employment, working conditions, income, well-being) and the contribution of the activities to achieve the Mission objectives and targets. Projects are expected to show a significant replication potential by identifying a range of relevant stakeholders that could replicate the proposed solutions and approaches.

Governance issues should be addressed to ensure effective implementation of the activities and foster multi-level governance across national, regional, and local levels. Proposals should establish operational links and cooperate with the relevant Lighthouse CSAs and the Mission Implementation Platform.

General conditions for participation include admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout (described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form), eligible countries (described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries), and other eligibility conditions. If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.

Additional eligibility criteria include the requirement for consortia to carry out demonstration activities in at least 5 sites in 3 different Member States or Associated Countries of the basin addressed by the proposal and include, as beneficiaries, legal entities established in these respective countries.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

To ensure a balanced portfolio covering the 4 different Mission basins, grants will be awarded to applications not only in order of ranking but at least also to one proposal that is the highest ranked within each sea basin, provided that the applications attain all thresholds.

Evaluation and award criteria, submission and evaluation processes, and the indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement are described in Annexes D and F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

Beneficiaries will be subject to additional obligations regarding open science practices, including making in-situ data and marine observations openly available through EMODnet, based on the FAIR principles.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme. Application form templates are available in the Submission System, and standard evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations.

Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027, the HE Programme Guide, the HE Framework Programme 2021/695, the HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and various guidance documents related to legal entity validation, financial capacity assessment, and grant agreements.

There are 16 partner search announcements available. The submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call focuses on fostering sustainable fisheries and the co-management of marine and freshwater ecosystems by actively involving fishers in conservation and restoration efforts. It seeks to promote innovative, science-based solutions that enhance both ecological health and socio-economic benefits for local communities, while also improving governance and cross-border coordination. The call encourages projects that align with the EU's broader objectives of protecting biodiversity, achieving a carbon-neutral blue economy, and implementing the Common Fisheries Policy.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred to include a range of legal entities established in Member States or Associated Countries, including those relevant to fisheries, marine and freshwater ecosystems. This could include research institutions, universities, SMEs, NGOs, governmental bodies, and other organizations involved in fisheries and marine/freshwater ecosystem management. The call emphasizes the active involvement of fishers, suggesting that entities representing or working directly with fishers are particularly encouraged.

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

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium. The additional eligibility criteria specify that the consortium must carry out demonstration activities in at least 5 sites in 3 different Member States or Associated Countries of the basin addressed by the proposal. The consortium must include, as beneficiaries, legal entities established in these respective countries.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries. 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. The demonstration activities must be carried out in at least 3 different Member States or Associated Countries of the basin addressed by the proposal.

Target Sector: The program targets the fisheries and marine/freshwater ecosystems sectors. It focuses on sustainable fisheries, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity protection, and the blue economy. It also touches on agriculture and food sectors in the context of fisheries' strategic importance.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions the Atlantic and Arctic sea basin, the Mediterranean Sea basin, the Baltic and North Sea basin, and the Danube River basin, including the Black Sea. It also mentions Member States and Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The project stage is primarily demonstration. The call requires testing and demonstrating sustainable approaches and solutions for co-management of marine and freshwaters resources on the ground. The effectiveness and efficiency of the measures proposed must be demonstrated in at least 5 demonstration sites.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary by topic:
HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-01: €7,000,000 to €7,750,000
HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-02: €7,000,000 to €7,750,000
HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-03: €7,000,000 to €7,750,000
HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-04: €2,500,000 to €2,900,000
HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-05: €4,000,000 to €4,850,000

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

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants to support their projects.

Application Stages: The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly stated, but the indicative number of grants for each topic is provided, which allows for an estimation of the potential success rate based on the number of applications received.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly state a co-funding requirement.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call (HORIZON-MISS-2026-03) focuses on supporting the implementation of the Restore our Ocean and Waters Mission. It aims to fund projects that contribute to protecting and restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, promoting a sustainable blue economy, and developing adaptive co-management approaches for fisheries. The call is structured around several specific topics, each with a dedicated budget and expected outcomes. Projects should empower fishers, test sustainable solutions, and demonstrate the effectiveness of their measures in multiple sites across different sea basins (Atlantic and Arctic, Mediterranean, Baltic and North Sea, Danube River including Black Sea). A key requirement is the active involvement of fishers in the projects, from the initial design to the implementation and monitoring phases. The call encourages actions that enhance carbon sequestration, promote ethical fishing practices, and contribute to data collection and sharing through EMODnet. Applicants must form a consortium with partners from at least three different Member States or Associated Countries within the targeted sea basin. The application process is a single-stage open call, and successful projects will receive funding in the form of Horizon Action Grants. The overall goal is to reconcile fisheries with environmental sustainability, ensuring the long-term viability of both ecosystems and local livelihoods.