ARGOS is a Strategic Project of the Interreg Italy-Croatia program that aims to establish a common framework for Governance in which all institutions responsible for fisheries and aquaculture in the Adriatic Sea area act together for the sustainable management and protection of marine biological resources.
Specific objectives are:
1. Establish and encourage a coordinated common framework and strengthen institutional dialogue for sustainable and shared management of Adriatic marine resources. ARGOS brings together Adriatic fisheries and aquaculture institutions and Argos partners for shared action for sustainable fisheries through the Adriatic Advisory Committee (AAC), which represents the needs of the Adriatic basin at the European and international level.
2. To protect the fishery resources of the Adriatic Sea according to the shared decision-making processes with the best available knowledge. ARGOS is based on a scientific approach for a common strategy related to fish stocks and the eco-biological status of marine habitats and species. ARGOS will ensure ongoing scientific advice and consultations with stakeholders for specific studies on the Adriatic Sea marine area and the evaluation of fisheries and aquaculture data.
3. Improve fishing techniques geared toward environmental sustainability. ARGOS aims to create a network that fosters the cross-border exchange of information and skills among those working in the fisheries sector, to improve skills and steer them toward responsible behavior and environmental sustainability through specific training and dedicated workshops.
The project explores the influence of maritime activities on MPAs in the Mediterranean, and provides recommendations for MPA managers, MSP authorities, and businesses on how to prevent or minimize the environmental impacts of certain sectors of the blue economy.
PRIZEFISH aims to address the twin challenges of Italian and Croatian fishing enterprises and producer organizations to be more sustainable and increase their economic competitiveness in fish markets.
The research activities of the Institute are carried out in the context of research, development and innovation projects, both national and international, based on regional funding programs (POR FEAMPA - Regional Operational Program of the European Maritime Affairs Fisheries Fund and Aquaculture and POR FESR - Regional Operational Program of the European Regional Development Fund) or ministerial (PRIN - Projects of relevant national interest, PNRA - National Research Program in Antarctica, PO FEAMPA - National Operational Program European Maritime Affairs Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund) , programs for European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg), direct funding programs of the European Commission (Horizon2020 and Horizon Europe, Life, JPI - Joint Programming Initiatives, ERA-NET Cofund) and thematic collaboration initiatives managed by international organizations such as, for example , the FAO - GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean). The Institute also develops funded projects in the context of collaborations with private companies in the sectors of the blue economy as well as technology transfer and research results. Research projects, mainly of a collaborative nature, are developed through a wide network of partners that include major Italian and foreign research institutions and universities.