Partners in the FISHINN project, supported by the Interreg Atlantic Area Programme, are moving forward with local innovation roadmaps across four pilot areas in the Atlantic Region. These draft roadmaps were presented during the FISHINN Transnational Innovation Forum on 6 May in Brittany.
The roadmaps focus on finding innovative solutions and creating practical action plans adapted to the needs of each local fisheries ecosystem. The four pilot areas are Lea-Artibai, Cornouaille Saint-Guénolé-Penmarc’h, Sines and County Kerry.
Although each pilot faces different local challenges, the partners share several common goals: strengthening fisheries value chains, encouraging innovation and diversification, attracting new talent, and improving collaboration between businesses, research organisations, public authorities and local communities.
Several examples presented during the forum showed the wide range of approaches being explored through the FISHINN project. In the Basque Country, partners are developing the Blue Economy Ecosystem Hub at Port of Ondarroa by attracting startups and SMEs, creating a talent strategy, and launching pilot and living lab activities. In Cornouaille, partners presented ongoing work to promote and add value to seafood products. One pilot experiment at the Saint Guénolé Cannery includes testing different fish species and developing new recipes. The presentations from Portugal highlighted initiatives such as using fishing boats for tourism activities. Meanwhile, the Irish roadmap focused on strengthening cluster membership, developing skills and human capital, and improving commercial opportunities for the sector.
The forum also opened discussions beyond the FISHINN partnership by showcasing several European initiatives linked to the project’s themes. The APPETIT project presented its work on alternative bio-based bait solutions for pot fisheries in Brittany, while the Blue Shuttle project shared initiatives supporting digitalisation and innovation in the blue bioeconomy sector. Additional examples from Aquaponics Iberia and Nitrogen Sensing Solutions demonstrated how smart technologies and innovative aquaculture systems can support more sustainable and resilient maritime activities.
During the forum, partners also announced that the final FISHINN event will take place on 1 October 2026 in County Kerry. The event will bring together project partners and stakeholders to share the project’s results and discuss future opportunities for the Atlantic fisheries ecosystem.
The roadmaps focus on finding innovative solutions and creating practical action plans adapted to the needs of each local fisheries ecosystem. The four pilot areas are Lea-Artibai, Cornouaille Saint-Guénolé-Penmarc’h, Sines and County Kerry.
Although each pilot faces different local challenges, the partners share several common goals: strengthening fisheries value chains, encouraging innovation and diversification, attracting new talent, and improving collaboration between businesses, research organisations, public authorities and local communities.
Several examples presented during the forum showed the wide range of approaches being explored through the FISHINN project. In the Basque Country, partners are developing the Blue Economy Ecosystem Hub at Port of Ondarroa by attracting startups and SMEs, creating a talent strategy, and launching pilot and living lab activities. In Cornouaille, partners presented ongoing work to promote and add value to seafood products. One pilot experiment at the Saint Guénolé Cannery includes testing different fish species and developing new recipes. The presentations from Portugal highlighted initiatives such as using fishing boats for tourism activities. Meanwhile, the Irish roadmap focused on strengthening cluster membership, developing skills and human capital, and improving commercial opportunities for the sector.
The forum also opened discussions beyond the FISHINN partnership by showcasing several European initiatives linked to the project’s themes. The APPETIT project presented its work on alternative bio-based bait solutions for pot fisheries in Brittany, while the Blue Shuttle project shared initiatives supporting digitalisation and innovation in the blue bioeconomy sector. Additional examples from Aquaponics Iberia and Nitrogen Sensing Solutions demonstrated how smart technologies and innovative aquaculture systems can support more sustainable and resilient maritime activities.
During the forum, partners also announced that the final FISHINN event will take place on 1 October 2026 in County Kerry. The event will bring together project partners and stakeholders to share the project’s results and discuss future opportunities for the Atlantic fisheries ecosystem.
Publish date: 2026-05-19
