Building bridges for sustainable Aquaculture: CTN and OCNARK join forces

The agreement between the Marine Technology Centre (CTN) and OCNARK marks an important step for the global aquaculture community. By connecting the Mediterranean and the Asia–Pacific (APAC) region, this partnership opens new opportunities to accelerate sustainable growth, foster marine biodiversity, and strengthen the role of innovation in shaping the future of aquaculture worldwide.

By Editorial Staff

For projects like TRANSEATION, which aim to demonstrate how digital tools and hybrid infrastructures can regenerate marine ecosystems, this agreement is highly relevant.

The aquaculture sector is both a beneficiary and a driver of innovation in ocean health. By linking Mediterranean expertise with APAC’s market reach, CTN and OCNARK are creating a bridge that accelerates:

• Deployment of eco-engineered infrastructures that support biodiversity in working waters.
• Integration of digital technologies like AI, IoT, and digital twins into everyday aquaculture practice.
• Knowledge exchange across regulatory and environmental contexts, making innovations more adaptable and scalable worldwide.

A two-way flow of knowledge and solutions

The agreement means that solutions developed in Europe—from intelligent feeding systems to structural health monitoring of cages—can find practical application in Asia-Pacific markets. At the same time, lessons learned in APAC about large-scale deployment and diverse environmental conditions will enrich European projects and strengthen their global impact.

As CTN’s Director Noelia Ortega underlined during the signing, “this effort maximizes the impact of our technological capabilities across diverse markets, leveraging our extensive experience in developing and coordinating European projects such as TRANSEATION.”

The collaboration includes joint organisation of seminars, workshops, and pilot projects, all aimed at bringing sustainable aquaculture innovations faster to market. For aquaculture producers, researchers, and policymakers, this agreement represents a clear opportunity to access new tools and best practices that improve efficiency while safeguarding marine ecosystems.

With this step, CTN and OCNARK are not only reinforcing their leadership, but also contributing directly to the objectives of European missions: protecting the ocean, restoring biodiversity, and ensuring a sustainable blue economy.