ONE-BLUE takes part in “Além fronteiras”, a public meeting focused on marine forests and their key role in the health of coastal ecosystems

ONE-BLUE takes part in “Além fronteiras”, a public meeting focused on marine forests and their key role in the health of coastal ecosystems

  • Multidisciplinary gathering on marine forests: science, culture, economy and funding.
  • ONE-BLUE’s contribution: pollution and local stressors in the Iberian Atlantic, a key context for these ecosystems.

Matosinhos, 19 December 2025 – Espaço Verde Perto (Matosinhos) hosted “Além fronteiras”, a public event focused on marine forests -underwater forests formed by macroalgae- and their relevance to the health of coastal ecosystems in northern Portugal and Spain. These forests create complex habitats that support biodiversity and essential ecological functions along the coast, making their conservation and restoration increasingly strategic priorities. The event was organised by CIIMAR and the Oceanographies Collective Foundation, with the sponsorship of the Embassy of Spain in Portugal and the collaboration of the Municipality of Matosinhos and FUN SEA.

Juan Manuel Revuelta, CEO of Finnova Foundation and a member of the ONE-BLUE consortium, was invited to present the project and its contribution to advancing knowledge on marine pollution. His intervention helped place the discussion within a broader framework: in the Iberian Atlantic, pollution and other local stressors form part of the environmental context in which marine forests develop, and understanding them is key to guiding protection and management measures.

The session opened with institutional remarks from the Municipality of Matosinhos (Councillor for the Environment, Maria Manuela Álvares), the Embassy of Spain in Portugal (Luis Prados) and CIIMAR (Francisco Arenas). This was followed by a roundtable -moderated by Marina Dolbeth (CIIMAR) and Irene Solé (Oceanographies Collective)- bringing together complementary perspectives to address the challenge from different angles: research, economy, art–science and funding. Participants included João Franco (Polytechnic Institute of Leiria), António Muiños (Porto-Muiños), Maria Ruivo (A Recolectora), Nuria Bofarull (Oceanographies Collective) and Juan Manuel Revuelta (Finnova/ONE-BLUE).

The event concluded with a shared commitment to continue building collaboration between research, public authorities, the economic fabric and cultural agents, with the aim of launching a multidisciplinary initiative on marine forests in 2026. The day ended with a tasting of seaweed-based dishes, highlighting the potential of these resources for the territory and for public awareness-raising.

About ONE-BLUE

ONE-BLUE is a pioneering project funded by the Horizon Europe programme, launched in 2024 with a budget of €6.2 million. Its main goal is to protect aquatic ecosystems from emerging pollutants and climate change by fostering transnational cooperation between regions sharing seas and marine-related challenges. Through close collaboration between science and policy, the project strengthens collective efforts to restore and preserve European marine ecosystems, contributing to the development of a more sustainable blue economy. For more information, visit www.one-blue.eu and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter/X to stay up to date with the latest project news.