The implementation of the European program Mermaid for promoting technological tools to combat marine pollution began on the island of Poros!
The municipal authorities and the municipal port fund, in collaboration with the environmental organization Aegean Rebreath, organized a two-day event at the island’s schools, with active participation from 285 students across all three levels of education.
On the first day, students attended educational programs on the challenges of climate change and the use of new technologies to address them. They engaged in discussions about the environmental problems faced by the island, individual responsibility, the importance of active citizenship and initiatives they could take to address environmental issues. On the second day, the four schools on the island visited the port, where they attended workshops on the technological tools available through Aegean Rebreath, viewed live footage from the seabed and actively participated in using the equipment! The message was clear about the role technology can play in efforts to protect our seas, and the students’ enthusiasm was evident.
The Mermaid program includes multiple activities planned for 2025 in three members of the Blue Municipalities Network: Poros, Alonissos, and Skyros islands. The program, implemented by the three members of the Blue Municipalities Network, is expected to provide conclusions at both national and European levels, while also highlighting the role and importance of local government initiatives in Greece.
The Mermaid project is implemented through the grant allocated to the Associated Regions of the SeaClear2.0 project. SeaClear2.0 is co-funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe Programme and is among the cross-cutting projects supporting the objectives of the EU MISSION RESTORE OUR OCEAN AND WATERS, to restore, protect, and preserve the health of our ocean, seas, and waters by 2030. The SeaClear2.0 Associated Regions are projects supported by the SeaClear2.0 project. The 5 selected regions are strategic partners of SeaClear2.0, receiving a grant of up to €100,000 each to showcase the feasibility, replicability, and scale-up of SeaClear2.0’s pioneering solutions for identifying, collecting, and valorising marine litter. Through site-specific solutions and citizen engagement activities, the Associated Regions aim to prevent and minimise marine litter and foster an ocean literate society in their regions.
More information about the program can be found here.