As part of the MarineGuardian project, our partner Sjókovin has been actively engaging with the Faroese public to share knowledge about marine research, innovation, and EU-funded collaboration.
How were local communities engaged in 2025?
First, in March 2025, following the acceptance of the MarineGuardian project, Sjókovin celebrated its 5th anniversary with a public conference that brought together researchers, stakeholders, and the wider community. During the event, all newly approved Horizon Europe projects (MeCCAM, OCCAM), including MarineGuardian, were presented to an audience of around 100 participants, highlighting the role of research and innovation for sustainable marine futures.
Outreach continued throughout autumn 2025, when Sjókovin hosted visits for students. Twice, on October 8th and November 13th, local students had the opportunity to visit the cluster.
During those visits, participants were introduced to Sjókovin’s EU projects, with MarineGuardian featured as part of the programme. In total, around 60 participants took part in these sessions, fostering dialogue with the next generation of marine professionals.
To end the year, at Jobmatch 2025 in december, Sjókovin met with a wide range of people interested in learning more about research careers and ongoing innovation projects. With more than 500 participants attending the event, Jobmatch provided an important opportunity to showcase MarineGuardian to a broader audience.
What are the next milestones for 2026 ?
In August 2026, Faroe Islands will host the international institute of fisheries Economics and trade conference (IIFET 2026), focusing on global dialogue for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.
MarineGuardian has been invited to contribute to the special host session “Innovation to Reduce Climate Change Impacts to and from Fisheries”, further strengthening the project’s international visibility and local relevance.
Abstract submissions for the conference are open until 15th of February 2026 – try to secure your spot !
Through all these activities, Sjókovin plays a key role in connecting MarineGuardian with communities, students, and stakeholders in the Faroe Islands ensuring that research outcomes are shared, discussed, and rooted in local contexts.