The Bleu-Adapt project, initiated by Tunisia for the conservation of marine habitats, has won the WestMED Project Awards 2023, organised by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) with the support of the European Commission to reward the efforts of countries around the Mediterranean, particularly in the context of local and regional maritime projects.
The Bleu-Adapt project won first place in the WestMED Project Awards 2023, out of 62 projects submitted by a dozen countries, including Algeria, Libya and Morocco.
It aims to contribute to the sustainable development of coastal areas and the conservation of natural habitats in the Mediterranean by improving the management of marine algal species, particularly in and around the Qorakna Islands off the coasts of Sicily.
To date, the project has been able to improve the results of the National Strategy for the Assessment of the Blue Crab Fishery in the Gulf of Gabès (2017-2020), support joint procedures for the maintenance and restoration of marine ecosystems and ensure the transfer of innovative technologies between the shores of the Mediterranean (Tunisia and Italy),” said Abdelmonem Belaati, Minister of Agriculture.
Tunisia will use the prize to continue implementing the project. The prize consists of a trophy, a certificate and the opportunity to present the Bleu-Adapt project at the WestMED 2023 conference in Malta, an archipelago in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast.
The Bleu-Adapt project team, made up of Tunisians and Italians, will also benefit from a coaching session with experts from the WestMED National Hub to scale up the project, publicity through WestMED communication channels, and an air ticket and accommodation to attend the WestMED 2023 conference.
The Bleu-Adapt project is the result of a collaboration with the General Administration of Marine Fisheries and Fish Farming, the Tunisian National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, the Benzerert Higher Institute of Marine Fisheries and Aquatic Biology (ISPAB), the Distretto della Pesca e Crescita Blu (COSVAP), the University of Palermo and other partners from civil society and professional organisations.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse