On the 20th of October, the University of Aveiro hosted the workshop “Challenges and Needs of Ocean Stakeholders in Portugal”, which brought together a group of experts and professionals to discuss key issues for those working in and for the Ocean in Portuguese territory, promoting rapprochement between academia and entities that represent the entire value chain of the sector.
This event, organised within the scope of the BESIDE and A-AAGORA projects, followed a practical working session format, where participants carried out interactive and group exercises that resulted in the identification of 60 challenges and 41 information and scientific data needs in the marine sector.
The event ended with lunch, which encouraged a spontaneous and informal exchange of ideas on how to address the challenges identified, allowing participants to bond on a personal and professional level.
The project teams, together with CESAM, will now analyse the results of this session and prepare proposals for solutions and decision support. The information will be presented in a report and executive summary to be shared with participants at a second meeting scheduled for 22 February 2024.
This event once again demonstrated the commitment of our researchers to address real societal issues and, in particular, the challenges of the Ocean in Portugal, stimulating even more effective collaboration between academics and Blue Economy stakeholders.
