Sjókovin to coordinate project on Climate Change and European Fisheries
Coordinators of the new projects: Petter Olsen from Nofima, Jónas R. Viðarsson from Matís, Unn Laksá from Sjókovin, and Michaela Aschan from UiT.
At the conference on the fishing and aquaculture industry, held on March 28, we announced that in the coming years, several million kroner in research funding will be allocated to the Faroe Islands. Sjókovin and Faroese partners have secured a total of over 18 million DKK for research projects through Horizon Europe.
This funding covers three projects: MeCCAM, OCCAM, and MarineGuardian. All are new initiatives aimed at increasing sustainability in the fishing and aquaculture sectors, reducing environmental impact, and preparing the industries to handle the consequences of climate change. They will also support businesses in meeting the growing demands for sustainability reporting.
Reducing emissions and adapting fisheries
Sjókovin will coordinate the MeCCAM project, which includes 16 partners from across Europe. From the Faroe Islands, Havstovan and Varðin will also be participating.
Sjókovin will lead the MeCCAM project, which aims to develop solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt European fisheries to climate change. One of the areas of research focuses on pelagic fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic. The project will also analyse the relationship between fuel use, fishing routes, seasons, and quality.
The project involves partners from nine countries, with Varðin, Havstovan, and Sjókovin participating from the Faroe Islands. The project has received a total of DKK 33.5 million in EU funding.
The OCCAM project focuses on aquaculture but shares the same goals as MeCCAM. In this project, Sjókovin will be responsible for the socio-economic analyses. Faroese companies Firum, Hiddenfjord, and Avrik are also participating.
Sjókovin is also responsible for the socio-economic analyses in the MarineGuardian project, which aims to reduce the environmental impact of fisheries and protect marine ecosystems. This project will develop solutions to reduce bycatch, waste, and fuel consumption, among other things.
Fierce Competition for Funding
International projects form the foundation of Sjókovin’s work. Each year, a great deal of effort is put into writing applications with international partners—particularly for Horizon Europe funding.
Every year, Horizon Europe announces calls for applications on specific topics where challenges must be addressed. Researchers must form consortia and submit proposals outlining how they will collectively solve these challenges. The competition for EU funding is fierce, with only the very best projects receiving support. On average, only one in ten applications to Horizon Europe is funded.
In 2024, Sjókovin submitted three applications to Horizon Europe for the aforementioned projects—and all were approved for funding. Final agreements are now being completed, and the projects are expected to launch on May 1 and run for four years.
The participation of Faroese companies and institutions in international research and innovation projects is of great importance to Faroese society. These projects provide opportunities to generate new knowledge, foster innovation, and promote sustainable development, while also strengthening our international position and networks.
