LIFE PROMETHEUS at European Maritime Day 2026

LIFE PROMETHEUS participated in the 2026 European Maritime Day (EMD) in Limassol, Cyprus on 21-22 May 2026. European Maritime Day is the European Union’s annual meeting point for Europe’s maritime community, bringing together stakeholders working on the sustainable blue economy, ocean health, fisheries, coastal communities, and maritime innovation. The 2026 edition gathered around 1,000 participants over the two conference days, offering an important opportunity for LIFE PROMETHEUS to share its activities, build connections, and raise awareness of the project’s contribution to the marine and coastal conservation.

The project was represented by members of the coordination team, including Giovanna Dante, and by the Cypriot partner MER. On 21 May, Giovanna Dante presented LIFE PROMETHEUS during workshop WS7, “Sustainable tourism as a resource for coastal communities”, which took place from 15:15 to 16:30. The session was facilitated by Luca Marangoni, Head of the Sustainable Blue Economy Unit at CINEA. The presentation focused on project activities involving divers and restaurants and the ecolabel “Shark free”. How local stakeholders can support the management of invasive alien species and contribute to more sustainable coastal tourism has been highlighted. The workshop attracted strong participation and generated an engaging discussion among attendees. [Photo 1]

On the morning of 22 May, LIFE PROMETHEUS was featured at the CINEA stand, where MER presented a selective lionfish trap being optimised in Cyprus to target invasive lionfish while minimising bycatch, inspired by trap designs tested in the western Atlantic and Caribbean. During a visit by Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, and members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER), Periklis Kleitou from MER introduced the project and its work on reducing elasmobranch bycatch and managing invasive alien species. He highlighted the importance of practical tools and stakeholder engagement in addressing marine biodiversity challenges. [Photos 2–3]

Later that afternoon, LIFE PROMETHEUS welcomed a CINEA delegation including Aneta Willems, Head of the Natural Resources, Climate, Sustainable Blue Economy and Clean Energy Department; Luca Marangoni; Giulia Carboni, CINEA Sustainable Blue Economy; and Francesca D’Angelo, CINEA LIFE. The visit included a field demonstration at sea with MER, where participants observed how the invasive alien species traps operate in practice. [Photos 4–5]

The day concluded with LIFE PROMETHEUS’ participation in “Alien Species 101 – Taste the Alien!”, a BlueSenses public-engagement activity organised in the framework of EMD 2026. The event attracted strong public interest, with more than 500 people visiting the booth and tasting dishes prepared with edible alien species, including lionfish and blue crab.  The activity provided an engaging entry point to discuss the broader LIFE PROMETHEUS approach, from reducing elasmobranch bycatch and testing magnetic deterrents to promoting responsible shark-watching, sustainable tourism, and the active involvement of fishers, restaurants, divers and local communities in the management of invasive alien species. [Photos 6-7-8-0]

LIFE PROMETHEUS participated in the 2026 European Maritime Day (EMD) in Limassol, Cyprus on 21-22 May 2026. European Maritime Day is the European Union’s annual meeting point for Europe’s maritime community, bringing together stakeholders working on the sustainable blue economy, ocean health, fisheries, coastal communities, and maritime innovation. The 2026 edition gathered around 1,000 participants over the two conference days, offering an important opportunity for LIFE PROMETHEUS to share its activities, build connections, and raise awareness of the project’s contribution to the marine and coastal conservation.
The project was represented by members of the coordination team, including Giovanna Dante, and by the Cypriot partner MER. On 21 May, Giovanna Dante presented LIFE PROMETHEUS during workshop WS7, “Sustainable tourism as a resource for coastal communities”, which took place from 15:15 to 16:30. The session was facilitated by Luca Marangoni, Head of the Sustainable Blue Economy Unit at CINEA. The presentation focused on project activities involving divers and restaurants and the ecolabel “Shark free”. How local stakeholders can support the management of invasive alien species and contribute to more sustainable coastal tourism has been highlighted. The workshop attracted strong participation and generated an engaging discussion among attendees.

On the morning of 22 May, LIFE PROMETHEUS was featured at the CINEA stand, where MER presented a selective lionfish trap being optimised in Cyprus to target invasive lionfish while minimising bycatch, inspired by trap designs tested in the western Atlantic and Caribbean. During a visit by Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, and members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER), Periklis Kleitou from MER introduced the project and its work on reducing elasmobranch bycatch and managing invasive alien species. He highlighted the importance of practical tools and stakeholder engagement in addressing marine biodiversity challenges.

Later that afternoon, LIFE PROMETHEUS welcomed a CINEA delegation including Aneta Willems, Head of the Natural Resources, Climate, Sustainable Blue Economy and Clean Energy Department; Luca Marangoni; Giulia Carboni, CINEA Sustainable Blue Economy; and Francesca D’Angelo, CINEA LIFE. The visit included a field demonstration at sea with MER, where participants observed how the invasive alien species traps operate in practice.

The day concluded with LIFE PROMETHEUS’ participation in “Alien Species 101 – Taste the Alien!”, a BlueSenses public-engagement activity organised in the framework of EMD 2026. The event attracted strong public interest, with more than 500 people visiting the booth and tasting dishes prepared with edible alien species, including lionfish and blue crab. The activity provided an engaging entry point to discuss the broader LIFE PROMETHEUS approach, from reducing elasmobranch bycatch and testing magnetic deterrents to promoting responsible shark-watching, sustainable tourism, and the active involvement of fishers, restaurants, divers and local communities in the management of invasive alien species.