C-FAARER Wins Atlantic Project Award 2024 for Healthy Oceans and Resilient Coasts

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Dec 4

The Atlantic Stakeholder Platform Conference 2024, held on November 21-22 in the beautiful city of Bordeaux, France, was a gathering of visionaries and changemakers united by a shared goal: creating a sustainable and cooperative blue future. This prestigious event brought together representatives from the European Commission, regional policymakers, blue economy leaders, and research innovators to explore transformative strategies for the Atlantic region.

For the C-FAARER team, the conference became an unforgettable milestone. We were honored to receive the Atlantic Project Award 2024 in the category of Healthy Oceans and Resilient Coasts, recognizing our work in advancing community-driven regenerative ocean farming. This accolade underscores the vital contributions of small-scale projects like ours in shaping a sustainable blue economy.

Day One: Setting the Stage for Collaboration

The conference opened with a call to action, emphasizing bold ambitions for the blue economy and the importance of collaboration across sectors and regions.

Inclusivity and Bottom-Up Engagement
One of the standout sessions focused on strengthening the inclusivity of the Atlantic Action Plan 2.0. Speakers like Pauline Caumont and Mathieu Berge highlighted the gap between policymakers and citizens, advocating for bottom-up engagement to bring real change. This sentiment resonated deeply with C-FAARER’s mission of supporting small ocean farmers and fostering grassroots involvement in sustainable initiatives.

Challenges in Hackathon Integration
The hackathon session aimed to bridge Pillar I (Ports as Gateways and Hubs for the Blue Economy) and Pillar IV (Healthy Oceans and Resilient Coasts), but the forced integration left much to be desired. In our view, each pillar deserved its own dedicated focus to ensure impactful outcomes.

Day Two: Innovation and Inspiration

The second day was rich with insights, showcasing the latest research and innovation driving the blue economy forward.

Spotlight on Large-Scale Initiatives
Sessions introduced impactful projects like the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AOORIA), the OKEANO project, and BlueMissionAA. We were inspired by the collaborative potential these initiatives offer, particularly in supporting small-scale projects like C-FAARER.

Celebrating Regional Cooperation
Discussions on the Greater North Sea Basin Initiative (GNSBI) underscored the importance of spatial planning, renewable energy, and sustainable logistics. Additionally, the European Ocean Coalition (EU4Ocean) provided a refreshing perspective, emphasizing education and youth participation for a bottom-up approach to sustainability.

A Special Moment for C-FAARER: Receiving the Atlantic Project Award

The highlight of the conference was the Atlantic Project Awards ceremony, where C-FAARER was recognized for our commitment to Healthy Oceans and Resilient Coasts. This recognition was particularly meaningful given our focus on supporting small-scale ocean farmers who work tirelessly under challenging conditions.

In our acceptance speech, we emphasized the importance of empowering these farmers, who already face significant ecological and economic challenges. They don’t need convincing to adopt sustainable practices—they need resources, support, and a stronger voice in policymaking. This award serves as a testament to the power of community-driven initiatives and our mission to inspire a broader movement for regenerative ocean farming.

Looking Ahead: A Call to Action

With Ireland taking over the Atlantic Strategy Committee, we are hopeful that Pillar IV—Healthy Oceans and Resilient Coasts—will gain renewed focus and funding. As we move forward, C-FAARER remains committed to catalyzing interest and action in regenerative ocean farming, ensuring that the voices of small ocean farmers are heard and their contributions to sustainability are amplified.