At a time when marine pollution is threatening the ecological balance in Tunisia, the WestMED prize, organised by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), is rewarding the country for its efforts to conserve marine habitats, as part of its Bleu-Adapt project "Marine and Fisheries: Study, mitigation and adaptation to the effects of marine pollution in the context of climate change".
Tunisia stands out in the second round of the “WestMED Project Awards 2023” initiative, organised by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) with the support of the European Commission. The North African country won over the jury in the “Biodiversity, conservation of marine habitats and fight against marine pollution” category, thanks to its Bleu-Adapt project “Marine and Fisheries: Study, mitigation and adaptation to the effects of marine pollution in the context of climate change”.
The Bleu-Adapt project came first out of 62 projects submitted by a dozen countries, including Algeria, Libya and Morocco, at the WestMED Project Awards 2023. Funded by the European Union (EU), the Tunisian initiative aims to contribute to the sustainable development of coastal areas and the preservation of natural habitats in the Mediterranean by improving the management of marine algae species, particularly around the Qorakna Islands/Sicilian coast.
Tunisia will use the prize to continue implementing the project. It will consist of a trophy, a certificate and an opportunity to present the Bleu-Adapt project at the WestMED 2023 conference in Malta, an archipelago in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the coast of North Africa. 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 with a view to expanding the project, promotional exposure via WestMED communication channels, a plane ticket and accommodation to attend the WestMED 2023 Conference.
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“To date, the project has been able to improve the results of the national assessment strategy for the blue crab fishery in the Gulf of Gabès (2017-2020) and support joint procedures to maintain and repair marine ecosystems and ensure the transfer of innovative technologies between the shores of the Mediterranean (Tunisia and Italy)”, says the Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture. This will be done in 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.
As well as recognising countries that are innovating in terms of marine habitat conservation, the WestMED prize aims to strengthen cooperation between public and private players on the western Mediterranean coast, particularly in the context of local and regional maritime projects.
Inès Magoum
