MARISENSE establishes the first community-led marine monitoring, restoration and education network across the Atlantic and Arctic, anchored in two Nature-based Solution Living Labs contributing to EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030.
Kilkieran Bay SAC (002111, Connemara, Ireland) is one of Ireland’s most biodiverse marine sites, home to Annex-I habitats (maërl, seagrass Zostera spp.) and protected species (Ostrea edulis), unmonitored since 2010/11. A community-owned sensor network covers one of Europe’s largest aquaculture licenses of 14,000 hectares, flagging deviation within 12-hours. Native oyster restoration, low-trophic aquaculture and a co-designed Regenerative Underwater Garden, stewarded by an 88-member shellfish cooperative, contribute to biodiversity recovery, while a public sensory garden anchors accessible ocean education and ecotourism.
In Båtsfjord, SALT leads the first community-initiated, monitored macroalgae reforestation programme (Laminaria digitata, L. cloustonii, Alaria esculenta) on the Barents Sea, restoring urchin-barren seabed in a fisheries-dependent Arctic community.
Both Living Labs transfer infrastructure and ownership to communities by M24. Fifty trained citizen scientists, NOFIMA-led Replication Toolkit and an AWI-led exchange programme connect communities across Ireland, Germany and Norway, targeting follow-on projects by Year five. Eight partners, three countries, prioritising coastal communities to lead environmental and social regeneration rather than serving as research subjects.