WAAVES is a 24-month project that supports the EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters through an integrated approach to ecosystem restoration, circular innovation, and youth engagement. The project focuses on restoring degraded kelp ecosystems in Northern Norway by expanding community-led sea urchin removal campaigns in Tromsø to restore at least 3,000 m² of kelp habitat, and empower restoration networks across North Atlantic and Arctic regions. An upgraded citizen science application featuring AI-assisted sea urchin density assessment, aims to engage over 1,000 users while generating FAIR-compliant environmental data.
Beyond ecological restoration, WAAVES explores circular economy opportunities by transforming harvested sea urchins – traditionally treated as waste – into circular value streams. Competitive prototyping sprints will bring together makers, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals to develop innovative applications, generating validated circular concepts and practical replication guidance. This approach is reinforced through a Youth Innovation Camp introducing participants to restoration and emerging technologies.
A Youth Stewardship Programme combines restoration site visits, 2,000 kg targeted marine litter removal, and Blue Economy Pathways education. Reaching 3,600 pupils across Northern Norway and pilot regions in France and Canada, WAAVES builds capacity for environmental stewardship while advancing objectives on habitat restoration, pollution reduction, and sustainable, low-carbon marine resource use.