C-FAARER · Community-driven Farming for the Atlantic and Arctic sea basins through REgeneRative aquaculture

To restore and protect ocean ecosystems within a sustainable blue economy, in line with the objectives of the Mission ‘Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030’, we urgently need new business models for regenerative aquaculture, informed by best scientific evidence on environmental impacts and developed in partnership with societal stakeholders. To encourage adoption, such practices must be technically, operationally, and economically viable for ocean farmers, with clear benefits to ecosystem services, community resilience, market potential and job creation. C-FAARER will deliver a roadmap and guidance, co-designed with stakeholders, to support ocean farmers in the Atlantic and Arctic Sea basin to develop community-driven business models for regenerative ocean farming and policymakers to take enabling actions. C-FAARER builds on prior EU projects, reviewing evidence on socio-economic and environmental impacts and successful community business models to establish a robust case for adoption. Working with ocean farmers and coastal communities at sites in Norway and Ireland, we will analyse technical, operational, economic, environmental, and social needs and create guidance on developing site-specific community-led business plans. We will co-design feasibility reports and evidence-based business plans with members of the Norwegian Seaweed Association cluster of 80+ ocean farmers, replicate lessons via a new Irish Seaweed Association and ensure long-term sustainability through a new Community of Practice on the established Connecting Nature Enterprise Platform. Policy recommendations will highlight barriers, supports and investments needed from local, national and EU authorities to strengthen and scale regenerative community-led aquaculture in the Atlantic and Arctic Sea basin. Clustering and engagement with Ocean Mission projects and partner networks will identify opportunities to embed community-led business models for regenerative aquaculture in future Mission actions.