The Kick-off Meeting of the “Atlantic and Arctic sea basin lighthouse” PHAROS project took place on 25–27 September 2024 at PLOCAN headquarters in Telde, Gran Canaria, Spain. The consortium held productive working sessions to define key responsibilities and ensure a strong start. Prof. Pavlo Zhezhnych, the institutional coordinator at Lviv Polytechnic, represented our university at this important event.
The PHAROS Project unites 23 partners from across the EU to confront a growing global challenge—ocean pollution. Funded by the European Union, the project addresses the increasing threat to marine ecosystems and biodiversity. In our interconnected world, protecting the oceans is a shared responsibility that impacts both present and future generations.
More than raising awareness, PHAROS focuses on action. Through advanced technologies, Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), and grassroots initiatives like Living Labs, the project targets pollution at its source. The goal: reduce marine litter, restore damaged ecosystems, and empower communities to protect their coastlines.
Built on strong collaboration, PHAROS brings together partners from academia, industry, civil society, and local authorities. Its scalable solutions, particularly for the Atlantic and Arctic basins, will also extend to the Black Sea and Danube Delta, where Ukrainian partners, including Lviv Polytechnic and I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, will play an active role.
Following the kickoff at PLOCAN, the project is set to begin pilot demonstrations in selected sites. These will test NBS approaches and serve as models for wider EU implementation. PHAROS will continue advancing capacity building, technology transfer, and cross-border cooperation to meet its ambitious goals for 2030.