In early June, in the City of Fortresses – our beautiful Šibenik – the Knowledge Network team, together with colleagues from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, welcomed project partners from across the Mediterranean to the kick-off meeting of AquaBioNets project. Over two days, we exchanged valuable insights, aligned plans, and embraced a shared goal: advancing sustainability in aquaculture through concrete, hands-on collaboration.

Most partners joined us in person, while some participated online. We were especially pleased to host our Project Officer and colleagues from the Governance projects team, alongside partners who brought a wealth of experience and strong motivation.

The first day focused on getting to know each other and diving into the heart of the project – our objectives, intervention logic, work packages, and upcoming activities. We discussed expected deliverables and results in detail, and it quickly became clear: sustainable aquaculture is a shared priority for all our countries. This partnership brings together the right mix of knowledge, passion, and local relevance to drive real change.

A special thank you goes to Matija Bumbak from Platform22, our associated organization, who shared his personal story as a local mussel farmer and hosted us at the mussel farm beneath the Šibenik Bridge. Seeing the young mussels and two juvenile noble pen shells was a moving moment – a reminder of why we do this work. That experience gave our shared mission even greater weight and urgency.

On the second day, we held the first Project Steering Committee meeting, addressing key management topics – administration, reporting, and communication – and wrapped up with a clear roadmap for the months ahead.

We are excited to continue this collaboration and to develop sustainable, biodegradable solutions for the aquaculture sector.

The AquaBioNets project is implemented under the Interreg Euro-MED program and is co-funded by the European Union.