The MUPPETS Mentoring Programme is designed for early-career professionals and those already exploring the space who want to grow with purpose and direction.

Our mentors are industry insiders who’ll help you explore possibilities, make informed choices, and grow at your own pace with confidence.

Ready to start? Here’s how:

Register here.

Or, if you’re already registered, go straight to the Mussels Working Group to apply.

Got questions? We’re here to help. Contact us at info@balticmuppets.eu

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The post OCCAM appeared first on Submariner Network for Blue Growth.

Our partners spent several days in Tromsø launching the project, planning upcoming activities, and discussing the implementation of OCCAM. This kick-off provided a strong foundation for collaboration and alignment across the consortium. The consortium consists of 22 partners from research, industry, non-profit, and aquaculture sectors from diverse regions, all committed to climate-proofing the aquaculture industry.

The project will deliver outcomes in the following key areas:

Sustainable Aquaculture for a Changing Climate – OCCAM will pilot novel aquaculture practices and tools that help reduce environmental impact while ensuring economic viability. Innovative methods for monitoring and managing aquaculture systems will enable producers to respond in real time to changes caused by climate impacts.

Science-Driven Tools for Smarter Decisions – Digital innovation is key in OCCAM. The project will deliver data-driven tools and best practices to support smarter, climate-resilient decision-making throughout the aquaculture value chain.

Collaboration for Lasting Impact – OCCAM will bring together industry stakeholders, scientists, and policymakers, OCCAM, fostering cross-sector collaboration to ensure that its results are both practical and impactful. Training materials and policy briefs will support the integration of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies into long-term aquaculture management.

Nine Case Studies Across Europe – OCCAM will conduct nine regional case studies, covering a diverse range of aquaculture methods and sectors—from industrial aquaculture to small-scale operations. These case studies will test the project’s tools and approaches, ensuring relevance and applicability across Europe’s aquaculture industry. With climate change posing increasing risks to marine ecosystems and coastal communities, OCCAM is a timely and vital step toward securing a sustainable future for European aquaculture.

“At SUBMARINER, we believe that innovation, collaboration, and sustainability must go hand in hand. OCCAM represents a vital opportunity to bring the aquaculture sector into the climate-resilient future—by translating scientific knowledge into practical solutions that work for producers, ecosystems, and communities alike.” — Freya Robinson, Project Manager, SUBMARINER Network for Blue Growth EEIG

OCCAM is funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement N° 101182044. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or REA. Neither the European Union nor REA can be held responsible for them.

Contact:

Freya Robinson

fr@submariner-network.eu

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/occam-project/about/

Photo Credit: Audun Iversen, Nofima

The post Launching OCCAM: A New EU Project to Future-Proof European Aquaculture Against Climate Change appeared first on Submariner Network for Blue Growth.

Meet the winners

Focuslink ApS, is based in Børkop, Denmark. The company, founded by Michael Nedergaard, brings strong expertise in consultancy, project management and the development of production equipment. His focus on durable, practical solutions makes him well-suited to tackle regulatory and operational challenges in submerged mussel farming.

Saga Aqua, located in Småland and Islands, Sweden, specialises in energy-efficient Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) that are both robust and versatile, supporting sustainable aquaculture across diverse environments. Together, they are set to develop new techniques for sustainable mussel farming across the Baltic Sea region.

The Challenges ahead 

Both winners will contribute to Cluster 1 – Testing and Piloting Activities, each addressing a different challenge in close collaboration with dedicated project partners.

Focuslink ApS will develop durable and cost-effective equipment marking systems for submerged mussel farms in Denmark’s Limfjord. These prototypes will be designed to ensure long-term readability, resist biofouling, and support regulatory compliance—ultimately aiming to reduce operational complexity and costs for farmers.

Meanwhile, Saga Aqua will concentrate on improving post-harvest handling through more efficient logistics along Sweden’s east coast. By piloting technical innovations that address factors such as water temperature and improving packaging methods, they aim to enhance transport efficiency, extend mussel shelf life, and ensure consistent product quality from sea to shelf.

What’s Next?

The pilot projects begin on April 1, 2025, with work wrapping up in August and final results presented in September. We will be following the progress of Focuslink ApS and Saga Aqua closely and share key updates along the way. Thanks to all who applied and supported the call—stay tuned for future opportunities and insights into the future of sustainable mussel farming in the Baltic!

For any questions about the open call, please contact us at opencall@balticmuppets.eu, or about the project in general on info@balticmuppets.eu.

The post Winners of the Baltic MUPPETS Innovation Call appeared first on Submariner Network for Blue Growth.

Key Facts:

• Up to €50.000 to start-ups and SMEs
• Projects up to 4 months
• Deadline 14th of January

Learn more here.

The post The Baltic MUPPETS Innovation Call is open! appeared first on Submariner Network for Blue Growth.

Read the full article here.

The post Modelling and mapping carbon capture potential of farmed blue mussels in the Baltic Sea region appeared first on Submariner Network for Blue Growth.

The Blue Green Bio Lab Toolkit provides in-depth learning and details of our process in starting up discussions on bio-industrial symbiosis, drawing from the approaches utilized in the Blue Green Biolab project and our experiences employing the methods described. For each step in the guide, a set of briefs has been developed, serving as specific cases to illustrate how we worked through each stage and what outcomes were achieved.

Check out the Toolkit here.

The post Initiating bio-industrial symbiosis based on blue and green biomasses: A toolkit for local authorities appeared first on Submariner Network for Blue Growth.

SUBMARINER members

Klaipeda University

Klaipeda University

BlueSDU

BlueSDU

Other partners

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Read the full publication here.

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Dead mussels are classified as ABP category 3 (lowest risk-class). There are several different options for hygenisation and use of category 3 material, but we have focused on option (f) stipulated under Article 14 in EC No 1060/2009, ‘in the case of material originating from aquatic animals, ensiled, composted or transformed into biogas’. Approved methods for hygienisation of Category 3 materials are specified in chapter III of (EU) No 142/2011, which is the regulation on how to implement (EC) No 1069/2009. We chose to work with method no 7, ”Any processing method authorised by the competent authority where the following [specified further in text] have been demonstrated by the operator to that authority”.

Read the full publication here.

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