About
The BRAVE project addresses critical environmental challenges in the Adriatic Sea (AS), with a specific focus on biodiversity loss and compromised ecosystem functionality. The AS is currently threatened by the spread of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and degradation due to pollution and overexploitation. Compounding these issues is severe data fragmentation, which limits effective cross-border environmental planning.
The project's primary objective is to enhance species knowledge and ensure ecosystem functionality, ultimately leading to a more resilient Adriatic region. BRAVE aims to implement unified cross-border strategies to protect coastal, marine, and protected areas. This delivers effective tools and vital data to all Adriatic Sea users, directly supporting small-scale coastal fishing and aquaculture activities and ensuring evidence-based decision-making for sustainable management.
To achieve this, BRAVE creates a smart digital platform to harmonise and share environmental data. It introduces innovative monitoring techniques, including the genetic analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA), to track biodiversity. Furthermore, the project tests nature-based solutions and develops ecosystem models, actively involving fishers, policymakers, and citizens to foster shared knowledge and transnational governance for sustainable marine management.
