In June 2026, the BioProtect consortium met in the Azores for its 2nd General Assembly, bringing together partners from across the Atlantic and Arctic region to take stock of progress and plan the next phase of work. The meeting focused on how BioProtect’s solutions are moving from design to real-world application in its five demonstration sites.
Hosted by local partners in the Azores, the General Assembly combined plenary updates with hands-on workshops, creating space for joint reflection on what is working, what needs to be improved and how the project can best support decision-makers and communities.
Contributions from Associated Regions
The programme also featured presentations from two BioProtect Associated Regions, who shared their local contexts, challenges and ambitions for marine protection and restoration. Their contributions highlighted how BioProtect’s tools and approaches can resonate beyond the core demonstration sites, offering inspiration and potential pathways for adaptation in other Atlantic and Arctic settings. These exchanges enriched the discussion on transferability and helped identify concrete opportunities for future collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Workshop spotlight: testing the BioProtect Marine Planner in practice
A key highlight of the meeting was the dedicated workshop on the BioProtect Marine Planner. During this session, partners explored how the application can support area-based management, visualise different scenarios and integrate multiple layers of information relevant to marine protection and restoration.
Participants took part in a live demonstration of the app, testing its functionalities with real examples. This allowed partners to provide immediate feedback and discuss priorities for future development.
From BioProtect solutions to Mission impact
Another central session, titled “From BioProtect solutions to Mission Impact”, focused on how the project’s tools and approaches can concretely contribute to the goals of the EU Mission Ocean. Partners reflected on the full portfolio of BioProtect solutions, from planning and decision-support tools to climate–biodiversity assessment methods and participatory approaches, and discussed how these can be combined to deliver measurable benefits for marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
The workshop encouraged participants to think beyond individual tools and consider pathways to impact: how solutions can be adopted by authorities, scaled beyond the demonstration sites and shared with other lighthouse projects and regions.
A lighthouse project, a lighthouse moment
As an EU Mission Ocean Atlantic and Arctic lighthouse project, BioProtect is expected to show how innovative, science-based solutions can work on the ground. During the General Assembly, consortium members visited a local lighthouse in the Azores and captured a group photo that has since become a symbolic image for the project.
For many participants, standing together at the lighthouse was a reminder of the broader purpose of their work: moving from taking what the ocean offers to actively protecting its future, by co-developing practical tools and approaches with those who live and work by the sea.
Connecting with local audiences
The significance of the meeting for the region was also reflected in coverage on Azorean television, which introduced BioProtect to local viewers and highlighted the role of the Azores demonstration site in wider efforts to protect and restore marine biodiversity. The feature helped bring the project’s objectives closer to everyday concerns, reinforcing the importance of connecting science and policy with public awareness and local engagement.
You can watch a clip from the local news where BioProtect was featured here (it starts at 2:37).
Social Activities
As always, we couldn’t have a meeting without some fun activities planned. The team went whale watching on the first day and visited a volcano on the second. Even though no whales were spotted this time, (almost) everyone enjoyed being out on the water – and the dolphins that put on a show for us!
Next steps
Building on the outcomes of the 2nd General Assembly, BioProtect will continue refining its tools, deepening work in its demonstration sites and strengthening links with the EU Mission Ocean community. The insights generated in the Azores will guide the project as it moves into its next phase.
