Aza4ice

09/09/2025

at the 11th Mediterranean Diet Fair in Tavira! 🌊

On September 6th, our partner IPMA - Delegação Regional dos Açores participated in the annual Mediterranean Diet Fair, organized by Tavira Municipality.

This vibrant event celebrates Mediterranean culture and gastronomy, while promoting sustainability, environmental education, and community engagement. 💡✨

At the fair, IPMA showcased ongoing research and presented activities developed under the AZA4ICE project — raising awareness of the ecological and socio-economic importance of the Ria Formosa and its role in fostering sustainable aquaculture. 🐟🌱

👉 A great opportunity to connect with the public, share knowledge, and strengthen the link between tradition, innovation, and the future of the .



Πανεπιστήμιο Πατρών University of Patras Interreg Euro-MED Programme Dynamic Vision PC. Ifapa Fondazione IMC Centro Marino Internazionale Adria Innovation Harbour Institute of Fish Resources - Varna Razvojna Agencija Šibensko-kninske županije

03/09/2025

🌊 2nd Meeting of Responsible Research and Innovation Ecosystems (LiRRIEs) at Šibenik, Croatia 🇭🇷

📅 September 8th, 2025 | 🕚 11:00
📍 Narodnog preporoda 4, Šibenik (ABC Center, Ground Floor Conference Room)

Following the successful launch of the LiRRIE Network in Croatia, the Public Institution Development Agency of Šibenik-Knin County is hosting the 2nd LiRRIE Meeting!

This gathering will bring together stakeholders from the public sector, fisheries entrepreneurs, shellfish farmers, researchers, and experts to:
✅ Share progress in testing and monitoring within the pilot area
✅ Explore opportunities for innovation in sustainable aquaculture
✅ Discover Bluefasma, a self-assessment tool for circularity

As part of the project, this workshop strengthens collaboration and supports the transition toward a circular economy in aquaculture across the Euro-Mediterranean region. 🌱🐟

💬 Join the exchange and be part of shaping the future of !
📎Register here:
https://aza4ice.interreg-euro-med.eu/events/2nd-lirrie-meeting-in-sibenik-croatia/



Πανεπιστήμιο Πατρών University of Patras Interreg Euro-MED Programme Dynamic Vision PC. Ifapa Fondazione IMC Centro Marino Internazionale Adria Innovation Harbour Institute of Fish Resources - Varna Razvojna Agencija Šibensko-kninske županije

8 September 2025 - 8 October 2025 @ 11h00 - 2nd Meeting of the LiRRIE Network in Šibenik, Croatia Following the successful launch of the LiRRIE Network in Croatia and its inaugural meeting, the Public Institution Development Agency of Šibenik-Knin County is proud to host the 2nd Meeting of the LiR...

26/08/2025

What happens when a small island community decides to take its future into its own hands?
On Amorgos, the local fishermen themselves came together and asked for a fishing ban—five whole years of protection: three coastal areas closed to fishing all year round, and the entire zone up to 1.5 nautical miles from the island’s shores closed during April and May, the critical spawning season.

This is not a top-down regulation imposed from above, but a bold bottom-up initiative, born from the very people who depend on the sea the most. It shows what real stewardship looks like when tradition, science, and community align.

A lighthouse of hope from the Aegean, reminding us that sustainable change often starts at the grassroots. 🌊✨

You can read more about it in Greek here:

https://www.kathimerini.gr/society/reportaz/563771167/i-amorgos-vazei-freno-sto-psarema-gia-pente-chronia/

Πανεπιστήμιο Πατρών University of Patras Interreg Euro-MED Programme Dynamic Vision PC. Ifapa Fondazione IMC Centro Marino Internazionale Adria Innovation Harbour Institute of Fish Resources - Varna Razvojna Agencija Šibensko-kninske županije

Η πρωτοβουλία ανήκει στους αλιείς του νησιού, οι οποίοι επιθυμούν να τεθούν περιορισμοί για να ανακάμψουν οι πληθυσμοί των ψαριών – Κρίσιμη η περιφρούρηση.

12/08/2025

🎥 New Video – AZA4ICE – Stakeholder Voices from France (Part 3) 🇫🇷

In this clip from the first French LiRRIE workshop, stakeholders explain how the SCOT (Territorial Coherence Plan) can help manage and develop aquaculture in the Étang de Thau. 🌊🐟

This discussion is part of the AZA4ICE mission to promote Allocated Zones for Circular Aquaculture and a more inclusive, sustainable blue economy.

📺 Watch the full Part 3 video on YouTube:
youtube.com/



Πανεπιστήμιο Πατρών University of Patras Interreg Euro-MED Programme Dynamic Vision PC. Ifapa Adria Innovation Harbour Fondazione IMC Centro Marino Internazionale Institute of Fish Resources - Varna Razvojna Agencija Šibensko-kninske županije

Allocated Zones for circular Aquaculture to trigger the transition to an Inclusive and Circular Economy in aquaculture sector fostering new business opportunities and eco-consciousness society

08/08/2025

🎬 NEW VIDEO IS OUT

We’re excited to share Part 2 of our stakeholder interviews from the first French LiRRIE workshop, part of the AZA4ICE project!

In this short clip, stakeholders reflect on key challenges in implementing Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) in France — a crucial step toward building a more circular and sustainable aquaculture sector. 🌊♻️

👉 Watch the full video on our YouTube channel:
📺 youtube.com/



Πανεπιστήμιο Πατρών University of Patras Interreg Euro-MED Programme Dynamic Vision PC. Ifapa Adria Innovation Harbour Fondazione IMC Centro Marino Internazionale Institute of Fish Resources - Varna Razvojna Agencija Šibensko-kninske županije

Allocated Zones for circular Aquaculture to trigger the transition to an Inclusive and Circular Economy in aquaculture sector fostering new business opportunities and eco-consciousness society

31/07/2025

🎥 New Video Out!

We’re excited to share our latest AZA4ICE YouTube video featuring interviews with key stakeholders from across the aquaculture sector! 🌊🐟

In this video, we discuss how Allocated Zones for circular Aquaculture (AZA) are helping drive the transition to a more inclusive, circular economy—creating sustainable business opportunities and fostering an eco-conscious society.

🔗 Watch the full video: https://www.youtube.com/



Πανεπιστήμιο Πατρών University of Patras Interreg Euro-MED Programme Dynamic Vision PC. Ifapa Adria Innovation Harbour Fondazione IMC Centro Marino Internazionale Institute of Fish Resources - Varna Razvojna Agencija Šibensko-kninske županije

Allocated Zones for circular Aquaculture to trigger the transition to an Inclusive and Circular Economy in aquaculture sector fostering new business opportunities and eco-consciousness society

29/07/2025

🎧 New Podcast Alert!

Title: The AZA4ICE Living Responsible Research and Innovation Ecosystems – or just LiRRIEs

📌 Listen now on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/1xYQQh1g35ks9mnGzMxFVt?si=f9a7d87ed8b041c3

In this episode, we dive into a fascinating part of the AZA4ICE project: the Living Responsible Research and Innovation Ecosystems—or LiRRIEs. These are dynamic, multi-stakeholder spaces built in each partner country, based on the quintuple helix model, which brings together voices from academia, industry, government, civil society, and even nature itself 🌱.

🎙 Speakers:
Mrs. Anita Štrkalj and Mr. Stipe Spanja from the Public Institution Development Agency of Šibenik-Knin County, Croatia – a partner of the AZA4ICE project.

Πανεπιστήμιο Πατρών University of Patras Interreg Euro-MED Programme Dynamic Vision PC. Fondazione IMC Centro Marino Internazionale Ifapa Adria Innovation Harbour Institute of Fish Resources - Varna Razvojna Agencija Šibensko-kninske županije

21/07/2025

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀-𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺❓ 🌊

On Portugal’s Culatra Island, coastal communities have always lived in rhythm with the sea. Fishers reused, repaired, and adapted — not as a trend, but as a way of life. Today, their children are doing the same, with the planet in mind.

With projects like Aza4ice and Interreg Atlantic Area, traditional practices are being reimagined:

🔁 Old nets become tools for ocean cleanup
🏠 Oyster shells are reused as sustainable building material
🏄 Surfing becomes a way to connect with — and protect — nature

This isn’t imported innovation. It’s homegrown, born from deep respect and local knowledge.

𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.

Discover how these communities are leading the way !


👉 Read more: https://interreg.eu/news-stories/hands-in-the-water-eyes-on-the-future/

EU REGIO Interreg

11/07/2025

🌊 On June 26th, IPMA organized the 2nd LiRRiES meeting of the AZA4ICE project in the city of Olhão, Portugal!

This important session brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from the 5-helix model—academia, industry, government, civil society, and the environmental sector—to strengthen collaborative work in the context of circular aquaculture in the Ria Formosa.

The meeting focused on advancing the AZA4ICE methodology for identifying suitable species and areas for circular aquaculture systems within Aquaculture Allocation Zones (AZAs), with special attention to practices such as Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

🌱 During the session, participants discussed:
✔️ Circular economy practices in aquaculture
✔️ Regulatory and licensing challenges for the sector in Portugal
✔️ The co-development of the AZA4ICE Action Plans, a key step for enabling circular transition in AZAs
✔️ A participatory exercise to define criteria and indicators contributing to the C-AZA Index, a comprehensive tool for sustainable aquaculture planning

The event was a true example of responsible innovation in action, strengthening connections between science, policy, industry, and society.

💡 A huge thank you to all who contributed to making this event a success.

Let’s keep working together for a more innovative, sustainable, and resilient aquaculture future! 🐟🤝

02/07/2025

🌊2nd LiRRIE event, online, in France!🐟

On June 17, 2025, Pôle Mer Méditerranée organised an online LiRRIE (Living Responsible Research and Innovation Ecosystems) on “Blue & green projects: doing business with aquatic life”

🎯 Objective of the webinar: give project leaders, startups and students access to key elements for setting up projects in the field of aquaculture and blue biotechnologies.

🔍 Highlights included :
✅ Presentation of the concepts, challenges, and prospects of restorative aquaculture
✅ Advice on good practices for project development and aquaculture farming facilities
✅ Presentation of organizations that support innovative projects
✅ Feedback from project leaders sharing their experiences

Project leaders were able to share their difficulties in setting up their projects and identify solutions. The event stimulated exchanges and interaction, encouraging entrepreneurship around aquatic life. 💡🌊

01/07/2025

🌊 2nd LiRRIEs in Varna, Bulgaria! 🐟
On June 26, 2025, the Institute of Fish Resources – Varna hosted the 2nd LiRRIEs (Living Responsible Research and Innovation Ecosystems) meeting at the Rosslyn Dimyat Hotel, bringing the community together on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast! 🇧🇬🌊

The event gathered voices from academia, industry, government, and civil society to explore the future of sustainable and circular aquaculture in the region. 🤝

🔍 Highlights included:
✅ Discussions on sustainable growth in marine aquaculture
✅ The role of innovation and circular practices in the sector
✅ Opportunities for collaboration across disciplines and sectors

This event marked a key moment in pushing forward a smarter, greener approach to aquaculture in the region. 💡🌊

This successful gathering marks another important milestone in co-designing a smarter, greener aquaculture system — aligned with the AZA4ICE mission for a more inclusive and circular . 🌍💡



Πανεπιστήμιο Πατρών University of PatrasInterreg Euro-MED Programme Dynamic Vision PC. Fondazione IMC Centro Marino Internazionale Ifapa Adria Innovation Harbour Institute of Fish Resources - Varna Razvojna Agencija Šibensko-kninske županije

30/06/2025

🌊 AZA4ICE:Towards a Circular Aquaculture in Andalusia!♻️🐠

📍 Puerto Real, Cádiz

On June 27th, innovators and experts gathered at the University of Cádiz to explore new ways to make aquaculture more sustainable and circular. From smart use of resources to recycling nutrients and embracing renewable energy, the event spotlighted bold ideas reshaping the sector.🌱

Discussions focused on key circular principles:
✅ Ecosystem preservation
✅ Resource and nutrient reuse
✅ Renewable energy integration
✅ Waste minimization

💬 “Andalusia has the capacity and knowledge to lead the transition to circular aquaculture,” said project coordinator Dr. Manuel Manchado. “But we need continued cooperation across public institutions, research, and industry — backed by targeted funding.”

This event marks another step toward that balances innovation, economy, and environment across the region. 🌍



Πανεπιστήμιο Πατρών University of PatrasInterreg Euro-MED ProgrammeDynamic Vision PC.Fondazione IMC Centro Marino InternazionaleIfapa Adria Innovation Harbour Razvojna Agencija Šibensko-kninske županije Institute of Fish Resources - Varna