The Ocean Post – Editorial Jul-Sep 2022

Moving forward with Blue Bioeconomy

It’s been some time since I’ve sat at my computer to write the editorial for our first newsletter, back in December 2020. That year required all our skills and resilience to overcome, and back then it was still difficult to predict if B2E would be sustainable in the long run. Almost two years have passed since and, looking back, I’m as proud as I can be. We are about to enter a new cycle, having recently had our title of CoLAB and financing renewed by FCT and ANI: thank you for supporting us since the very beginning.

We have been successful in several of our project proposals, of which I must highlight two RRP agendas and one FCT project. We are reinforcing our brand as the go-to when it comes to aquaculture literacy, with several interviews in the media, supporting our ongoing campaigns. The most recent campaign, “AEIOU of Aquaculture”, is directed to young children, and we are happy to visit schools, to teach our toddlers about aquaculture and its benefits. We have been reinforcing our international presence – and that of our associates and partners – having just returned from our participation in Aquaculture Europe, where we have successfully organized the Portuguese Pavilion and Collaborative Stand for the second year in a row. Back in 2020, we were unable to meet face-to-face. Now that we can, let’s make the most of it: our annual event is just around the corner: B2E’s associates and chosen partners will meet on December 5, at CIIMAR, to discuss collaboration opportunities and future projects. We hope to see you there!

In my first editorial I referred to 2020 as having been “rewarding and difficult in equal amounts”. In 2022, it is definitely more rewarding than difficult!

Elisabete Matos

Technical-Scientific Coordinator of B2E CoLAB