About BlueActionBANOS
Empowering Communities for Ocean Restoration
BlueActionBANOS is a four-year Horizon Europe-funded initiative (September 2025 – August 2029) that places communities at the heart of ocean restoration in the Baltic and North Sea (BANOS) region. As part of the European Union’s Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”, the project supports local actors in turning ambition into action—restoring ecosystems, reducing pollution, and accelerating the transition to a carbon-neutral and circular blue economy.
Coordinated by the SUBMARINER Network and implemented by a consortium of 18 partners across 11 countries, BlueActionBANOS provides funding, expert guidance, and hands-on support to empower communities to lead transformative change.
Our Approach
BlueActionBANOS offers two types of funding opportunities to support communities in ocean restoration efforts:
Community-Led Actions (CLAs)
Grants ranging from €200,000 to €2 million are awarded to pilot projects with strong local engagement. These projects implement high-impact solutions in areas such as pollution reduction, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable blue economy practices.
Transition Agendas (TAs)
Strategic roadmaps for long-term sustainability are supported with grants of up to €100,000. TAs help communities plan future actions aligned with Mission Ocean objectives, including decarbonisation, circularity, and biodiversity protecti.
In addition to funding, BlueActionBANOS provides tailored technical assistance to ensure successful implementation. This includes expert mentoring, peer-to-peer learning, and capacity-building support delivered through dedicated Project Key Accounts and thematic Expert Forums.
Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
To foster collaboration and amplify impact, BlueActionBANOS facilitates:
- Networking via BlueBioMatch
An interactive platform hosting over 550 blue economy stakeholders, enabling matchmaking, twinning, and thematic working groups. - Workshops and Events
Including regional roundtables, trans-lighthouse webinars, and a mid-term conference to connect communities, funders, and policymakers. - Knowledge Transfer Packages
Open-source resources capturing lessons learned, tools, and scalable solutions for future community-led initiatives.
Alignment with EU Mission Objectives
All funded actions under BlueActionBANOS contribute directly to the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” by:
- Restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems
- Reducing pollution
- Advancing climate neutrality and circularity in the blue economy
The project also supports communities in aligning their actions with EU legislation and the European Green Deal targets.
Building on BlueMissionBANOS
BlueActionBANOS builds upon the foundation laid by the BlueMissionBANOS project, which mobilised stakeholders across the region and produced Mission Arena Roadmaps identifying priority actions. These roadmaps serve as inspiration and guidance for the Community-Led Actions and Transition Agendas that are to be developed under BlueActionBANOS.
Partners
