BCN PORT INNOVATION PRESENTS THE FIRST STEPS OF THE BCN SOTAMAR PROJECT, HAND IN HAND WITH THE LOUIS VUITTON 37TH AMERICA'S CUP
BCN Port Innovation Foundation, together with America's Cup Event Barcelona, has presented at L'Aquàrium de Barcelona the BCN Sotamar project, an initiative with a holistic approach to protect marine ecosystems. This project addresses habitat degradation, biodiversity loss and the effects of climate change, integrating actions to generate a positive impact.
BCN Sotamar is a sustainable and ongoing project that is part of the legacy projects of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup, which, together with World Sailing, has named it the event's flagship sustainability project. Today's action marked just the beginning of an ambitious, long-term strategic plan that will be implemented making a significant contribution to the development of the blue economy and the well-being of our coastal communities.
Grant Dalton, CEO of America's Cup, said: “Sustainability is at the heart of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup and along with a number of initiatives we are especially excited by the Sotamar installation both in the L'Aquàrium de Barcelona and off the Barcelona waterfront. So often environmental issues and progress are unseen under water so while the project aimed at regenerating the Barcelona marine ecosystem is happening in the ocean, it can also be seen visually and educate visitors simultaneously with the positive impact at the L'Aquàrium de Barcelona
Catalina Grimalt, director of BCN Port Innovation, added: ‘BCN Sotamar is an example of how collaboration between different entities can generate great benefits for our marine ecosystem. This project not only protects our seas, but also promotes the blue economy and sustainable innovation’.
The director of L'Aquàrium de Barcelona, Mª José Peretó, said that ‘as the Marine Conservation Centre of the Mediterranean, the protection of the seabed and the conservation of its species are our raison d'être and we have been working for years to achieve this goal. It is therefore very gratifying for us to be able to get involved in this project by contributing our scientific knowledge and making it known to all our visitors’.
Among the project's main activities, Underwater Gardens International has been involved in the design and construction of sustainable marine infrastructures and the deployment of underwater gardens. It also includes educational and awareness programmes, guided tours, interactive workshops and immersive experiences for the community. Beach and seabed clean-up campaigns are also an integral part of the project, with the aim of keeping the ecosystems as healthy as possible.
It also seeks to boost the blue economy by creating opportunities for sustainable development and innovation, promoting citizen participation and awareness of marine conservation through educational programmes and community activities, involving the whole of society in this important work.
It is a collaborative initiative whose governance structure is designed to ensure efficient and inclusive management. To this end, executive, technical and scientific committees have been set up to establish rigorous criteria for evaluating and validating the solutions proposed. These committees oversee the implementation of a comprehensive methodology to diagnose, apply and validate technology and science in the initiatives.
These committees are made up of members from the Port Authority of Barcelona, Port Vell, Nova Bocana, L'Aquàrium de Barcelona, Nactiva, Institut de Ciències del Mar, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and the University of Barcelona.
Together Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup and World Sailing, they have united their efforts around a common goal: to innovate in the protection of the oceans, develop the blue economy and raise public awareness.