ITACA addresses the competitiveness of the fishing sector in the Adriatic by fostering the introduction of innovation in the blue economy and improving the sustainability of fishing activities. The project focuses on small pelagic fisheries, i.e., fisheries targeting two main fish species (anchovy and sardine) that account for a significant share of income for the sector in the Adriatic.ITACA contributes to the sustainable growth of the small pelagic fishing sector by testing in 7 pilot Regions and promoting the large-scale application of innovative SME-oriented tools to increase the competitiveness of small pelagic fisheries, along with thecreation of a cluster of small pelagic fishing enterprises for sustainability-oriented co-management of Adriatic fishery resources.
NAUTILOS was created with the goal of complementing and expanding existing observational instruments and services in the EU, and enabling the collection of marine data with greater spatial resolution, temporal regularity, and length than currently available.
To provide key information on the biodiversity and marine ecosystems of the Central Mediterranean Sea - Strait of Sicily, the ecosystem services provided, human activities and pressures due to humans and climate change.
To contribute to the development of sites and infrastructures in the aquaculture sector and reduce the environmental impact of interventions in the Apulia Region.
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.