Mission Starfish - regenerating our oceans by 2030
Horizon Europe will incorporate, as a new element, research and innovation missions. One of the five mission area is healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters, also referred to as "Mission Starfish". This mission area will support actions that address the water system as a whole looking at the many intertwined challenges to have healthy oceans and waters.
The interim report published on 25 June 2020, identifies the objectives and approach of the mission and proposes five targets:
i) generate and organise the necessary science and data
ii) tackle pollution
iii) sustainable use and management of aquatic resources
iv) accelerate decarbonisation
v) improve effective governance
ERRIN input
The governance of our oceans and waters is a fragmented framework spread over all levels – from international to local. Regional and local authorities and stakeholders will be an important player in the development and steering to create more coherence and efficient cooperation both in terms of investments and research and innovation agendas.
In July 2020, the Blue Growth WG organised a webinar to discuss the development of the mission on healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters with the European Commission and a member of the Mission Board.
Building on this, ERRIN will in June 2021 organise a dialogue with the European Commission on the foreseen "area-based lighthouse demonstrators" looking at objectives, activities and scale, as well as what support would be needed. ERRIN members can read more and get engaged here. The dialogue will take place shortly before the publication of the implementation plan at EU R&I Days 2021, which the Blue Growth WG will follow closely.
