Advancing the Blue Economy: Nazaré Hosts Innovative Bivalve Aquaculture Session

On April 16th in Nazaré, an important session took place under the 'Vertical BIVALVES' initiative as part of the Blue Bioeconomy Pact. This program is focused on the regenerative aquaculture of high-value European bivalve species using groundbreaking methods, with the goal of transforming the bivalve sector through innovative scale regeneration.

The session was marked by the participation of twelve significant entities, including the project leader Oceano Fresco, AQUALGAE, blueOASIS, and various prestigious research institutes like the Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR) and CIIMAR, among others. These participants are integral to the innovative drive of the project.

The Blue Bioeconomy Pact, a critical component of Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Plan, is a consortium of 83 national entities. This includes 53 companies—from large multinationals to startups—and 30 non-business entities from the Research and Innovation System. By the end of 2025, the consortium aims to invest €133 million in developing over 50 new products, processes, and services.

The primary objective of this initiative is to promote the development of a state-of-the-art industrial sector in Portugal focused on sustainable marine resource utilization, contributing significantly to the decarbonization of the Portuguese economy. The initiative foresees substantial economic growth, job creation, and a reduction in carbon emissions, reaffirming the sea as a critical resource in addressing the global scarcity of terrestrial resources.