The ADRISMART was approved within the INTERREG South Adriatic under the specific objective S.O.2.2: Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution. These challenges threaten biodiversity, fisheries, and local economies, requiring transnational cooperation for effective solutions. ADRISMART focuses on mariculture (marine aquaculture) as a sustainable way to reduce pressure on natural fish stocks.
The project aims to:
-Enhance technological innovation in mariculture through AI-based monitoring and predictive modeling.
-Develop shared standards and agreements for sustainable, transnational marine management.
Key activities include setting up pilot sites in Italy and Albania, establishing AI-driven monitoring systems, and producing biosecurity guidelines and a Memorandum of Understanding on biodiversity protection.
Building on the ADRINET project, ADRISMART promotes a bottom-up, multi-stakeholder approach, engaging scientists, policymakers, and citizens to foster collaboration, improve knowledge, and strengthen policies for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management.

Albanian Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development is partner in the I-AM_Smart Aquaponics project – supporting Italy, Albania and Montenegro’s Smart Aquaponics initiatives - is a project funded by the European Union under the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Programme 2021-2027. The main goal of I-AM_Smart Aquaponics is to enhance aquaponics technology, sharing customized solutions for a profitable business model that promotes environmental sustainability and food security in Italy, Albania, and Montenegro.
-- Project total budget: 181.000,18 €

Project partners:
· High Tech Technological District Scarl - Lead Partner (Italy)
· Albanian Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development (Albania)
· Sea LAG 'Coastal Molise' (Italy)
· Free Mediterranean University Giuseppe Degennaro (Italy)
· Diocese of Budimlje and Nikšić, Serbian Orthodox Church (Montenegro)

The Karaburun-Sazan Marine National Park, created in 2010, is the 1st MPA established in Albania.
Fishing is only allowed in certain areas and only fishers holding a permit issued by the marine area
management authorities are allowed to access it. Recently, the management measures have been
expanded and MPA managers want to improve their collaboration with the local fishers and
strengthen the involvement of fishers in the management of the MPA. They plan to strengthen the
effectiveness of management measures and fisheries monitoring activities in the territory. Albanian
managers expected to build on the experience of the Italian MPA of Torre-Guaceto, also located in
the Adriatic Sea, which is a success story of small-scale fisher’s involvement in the management of
fisheries in an MPA. Indeed, the Torre-Guaceto MPA succeeded in overcoming the crisis between
fishers and local authorities concerning the ban on fishing in the MPA when it was established in
2001. With the support of scientists, an agreement between fishers and managers was found to open
certain areas to a regulated fishery co-managed by fishers and local authorities.

Interreg Euro-MED - 2B-BLUE
Human health, food and energy security, and environmental sustainability are challenges that require innovative solutions. Many of these can be found in the study and exploitation of marine and freshwater resources, also known as Blue Biotechnologies. However, their development in Europe is still in its infancy. 2B-BLUE will foster them by establishing 5 interactive Blue Biotechnology Hubs that will facilitate collaboration, know-how transfer and innovation. These will integrate partners across the Mediterranean in the areas of research, industry, governance, civil society, and the environment. 2B-BLUE will support public-private cooperation, training, and scientific activities that will continue after the project’s end. 2BBLUE aims to capitalize on B-Blue positive results to: Exemplify evidence-based best practices identified to help communities turn BBt research into practice. Build national demonstration sites (DS) to experiment emerging technologies or practices in local field conditions and bridge the gap among BBt research and industry for new technologies adaptation while help improve marine environment.

Albanian Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development is partner in the ENGAGE project - Enhancing protection of nature and biodiversity of the “South Adriatic Ionian Strait” in the programme area – funded by the European Union under the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Programme 2021-2027. The main goal of ENGAGE is to contribute to protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable development of the ecologically significant area of the “South Adriatic Ionian Strait”, considered an Ecologically or Biologically Significant Area between Italy, Albania, and Montenegro, through multidisciplinary actions and the exchange of good practices. Project total budget: 132.102,48 € EU funding: 109.338,08 €
Project duration: 01.02.2024 – 31.01.2025
Project partners:
Management Consortium of Torre Guaceto (Italy) – Lead Partner
Albanian Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development (Albania)
Montenegro Dolphin Research (Montenegro)
Mediterranean Center for Environmental Monitoring (Montenegro)
Legambiente Molise Aps (Italy)