CCI’s Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme is awarding US$25 million in grants to support seven large-scale initiatives focused on restoring Europe’s critical marine and coastal ecosystems. These projects will collectively cover nearly 3 million hectares – an area roughly the size of Belgium – working to reverse habitat degradation, improve ecological connectivity, and enhance protections for Europe’s most vital seascapes. 

Europe’s seas are vital to marine biodiversity, supporting coastal economies and climate resilience. From mussel beds to salt marshes, these habitats help sustain fisheries, protect coastlines, and sequester carbon. However, pollution, overfishing, and habitat loss have severely impacted these areas, leaving them in need of urgent restoration efforts.

“It’s exciting to be supporting a number of projects looking to surface and solve marine restoration challenges,” says Berry Mulligan, Seascapes Programme Manager at the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme. “These places are often out of sight and out of mind to most of us landlubbers, yet our culture and communities in Europe are tightly bound with the sea, and a stable future depends on a healthy ocean.” 

The funded projects will restore ecological processes, improve marine species habitats, and ensure the long-term success of these vital ecosystems through cooperative restoration efforts. 

Here’s a look at how these projects will help shape the future of Europe’s waters. 

Restoring the Dogger Bank (North Sea – UK, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark)

Lead organisation: Doggerland Foundation 

The Dogger Bank, once a thriving marine ecosystem, is a vast sandbank spanning 2.5 million hectares of the North Sea. After centuries of trawling, dredging, and resource extraction, its biodiversity has been drastically reduced. Now, the Doggerland Foundation is spearheading a restoration effort to revive this vital region. By building a transboundary coalition, advocating for stronger legal protections, and reintroducing horse mussel reefs – crucial for improving water quality and providing spawning grounds for diverse marine life – this project aims to restore the Bank’s ecological balance and ensure its future resilience.

An octopus spotted at the Dogger Bank © Joost van Uffelen

Reviving Lemnos (Greece) 

Lead organisation: BirdLife Europe & Central Asia 

BirdLife Europe & Central Asia, a partner of BirdLife International – one of CCI’s partners – is working to restore the seagrass meadows surrounding Lemnos Island. Located in the North Aegean Sea, the island is home to the largest Neptune grass meadow in the eastern Mediterranean. These rare seagrass habitats support a diverse array of species, including angel sharks, Mediterranean monk seals, Audouin’s gulls, and Yelkouan shearwaters. Despite its ecological importance, the area faces threats from coastal development, overfishing, and invasive species. In collaboration with the Hellenic Ornithological Society and iSea, BirdLife Europe & Central Asia is restoring these vital habitats and strengthening conservation efforts, ensuring Lemnos remains a biodiversity hotspot while supporting climate adaptation.

Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae) nest mainly on the coastal cliffs of small islands, including those of Lemnos Island © Chris Vlachos / HOS (BirdLife in Greece)

Transforming the Thames (UK) 

Lead organisation: Zoological Society of London (ZSL) 

Connecting the UK’s capital to the North Sea, the Greater Thames Estuary is an essential coastal area stretching over 250,000 hectares. The Thames’ intertidal flats and freshwater habitats provide crucial nursery and foraging grounds for marine species such as sea bass and the Critically Endangered European eel. After centuries of industrial pollution and habitat fragmentation, this project – led by ZSL – seeks to restore degraded habitats, enhance protection, and improve conditions for fish, birds, and other wildlife, rejuvenating the estuary into a thriving coastal ecosystem.

Dogfish nestled in seagrass in the Thames Estuary © ZSL

Rewilding Cyprus Seas (Northern Cyprus – Turkish Cypriot Community) 

Lead organisation: Society for Protection of Turtles (SPOT) 

The waters off northern Cyprus have suffered from overfishing, coastal development, and tourism pressures. While a ban on industrial fishing has helped slow the decline, small-scale fisheries continue to impact marine vertebrate populations. Led by SPOT, this project will address these threats by establishing new small-scale fisheries co-management regulations, promoting No Take Zones and Fishery Restricted Areas, and restoring key seabird nesting sites. Additionally, the initiative aims to develop ‘pescatourism’ – a sustainable tourism model that supports local fishers while conserving marine biodiversity.

A sea turtle hatchling on a beach in northern Cyprus, recorded during a hatchling release event at Alagadi © SPOT

Sejerø Seascape (Denmark) 

Lead organisation: WWF-DK 

Once home to rich marine biodiversity, Sejerø Bay has suffered from habitat degradation since the 1960s, largely due to 14.4 million tons of pebble stones being extracted from reefs for use in construction. WWF-DK is leading efforts to restore the area through reef restoration, seagrass recovery, mussel bed creation, and cod population support, aiming to revive the bay’s marine ecosystem and bolster fish stocks for local communities.

Sejerø Seascape, Denmark © Jonas Lysholdt Ejderskov / WWFDK

Revitalising Greece’s Amvrakikos Gulf (Greece) 

Lead organisation: Blue Marine Foundation 

Covering 40,000 hectares, the Amvrakikos Gulf is a vital ecological sanctuary, home to one of the Mediterranean’s densest subpopulations of Critically Endangered bottlenose dolphins and providing essential habitat for over 300 bird species. The area is also a crucial breeding and foraging ground for two of the world’s seven sea turtle species – the green and loggerhead turtles – and supports eight species of sharks and rays. Blue Marine Foundation is leading efforts to restore and protect this area, enhancing its resilience and ecological health for the benefit of both wildlife and the local communities that depend on it.

A common bottlenose dolphin in Amvrakikos Gulf © Tethys Research Institute / Joan Gonzalvo

Recovering Southern Apulia’s Seascape (Italy) 

Lead organisation: WWF Mediterranean 

The sea bordering southern Apulia in Italy hosts one of Europe’s last strongholds for seagrass – an essential habitat for marine biodiversity, carbon storage, and coastal protection. Yet, these important ecosystems are under threat. WWF Mediterranean and WWF Italy’s project focuses on restoring seagrass meadows, reefs, and coastal dunes while promoting sustainable fisheries management. By co-developing a network of No Take Zones and eco-mooring parks with local communities, the project aims to safeguard southern Apulia’s marine ecosystems for future generations.

A section of the Southern Apulia coastline in Italy © Consorzio di Gestione di Torre Guaceto / Giuseppe Lanotte

Turning the Tide for Europe’s Seascapes 

These seven projects represent a major step forward in the restoration of Europe’s degraded marine ecosystems, thanks to the generosity and foresight of Arcadia, which announced a new injection of funding dedicated to ocean recovery in 2023. Through habitat restoration, species recovery, and community-led initiatives, these projects will contribute to a healthier ocean – benefiting biodiversity, strengthening coastal resilience, and addressing climate change for generations to come.

This article has been adapted from the original post on the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme website.