The Co-Opt Project is a research initiative focused on developing nature-based coastal management solutions to address the challenges of climate change, rising sea levels, and coastal flooding. By combining ecosystem service valuation, socio-economic analysis, and stakeholder engagement, the project created an innovative framework for sustainable coastal resilience. Tested through four UK case studies, it demonstrates how green infrastructure and adaptive strategies can deliver multiple benefits, including flood protection, biodiversity conservation, and community wellbeing, while informing national coastal policy.

The Meroir Project promotes sustainable artisanal fishing by enhancing the value of small-scale coastal fishers’ products and connecting them to their territory, history, heritage and tradition. The initiative developed clear criteria for identifying Meroir seafood products, ensuring quality and sustainability. Piloted in Liguria and Emilia Romagna, the project combined research and collaboration with local producers to define standards that highlight ethical fishing practices, marine conservation, and certified, eco-friendly seafood.

Sea Sentinels - Divers United for the Environment (DUE) Project, created by researchers at the University of Bologna, is a citizen science initiative aimed at protecting the fragile Mediterranean marine ecosystem. By engaging recreational scuba divers to record sightings of key species, the project enhances biodiversity monitoring, raises environmental awareness, and supports better marine resource management. This collaborative approach helps bridge the gap where traditional large-scale monitoring lacks funding and manpower, ensuring sustainable protection of the Mediterranean Sea.