SEAS-ERA

GENERAL DESCRIPTION <p style=<"font-size:95%">The construction of a European Research Area on marine sciences is a priority due to the transboundary and basin scale nature of most aspects of marine issues, namely biodiversity, ecology, oceanography, natural resources and ecosystem services. Also, the impacts are not limited to a nation as shown by accidental and microplastics pollution, eutrophication, etc. The main objectives to be attained by Seas-Era were the definition of a European Marine and Maritime Research Agenda, aiming at improving co-operation and co-ordination and promoting harmonisation of national/regional research programmes; foster synergies at national and regional level, mobilising competitive and non-competitive funds for research in a more coordinated way, through joint calls and common programs; propose a plan for a better and sustainable use and sharing of the existing Marine Research Infrastructures, and a road map for new investments; reduce imbalances among regions through human capacity building, setting-up a pan-European training and mobility strategy for human resources; and enhance public awareness towards marine and maritime scientific and policy issues in Europe to translate the RTD activities into social, economic and cultural benefits. These general objectives were to be first implemented at the basin scale as a step forward in building-up the overarched pan-European strategy and making progress in establishing a stable and durable structure for empowering and strengthening marine research all across Europe.