On 30 June and 1 July 2026, the REFEST consortium gathered in Naples, Italy, for its Month 25 General Assembly, marking another important milestone in the project’s journey toward retrofitting traditional fishing fleets with low-CAPEX, easy-to-deploy solutions capable of cutting fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 40%. Partners came together in person and online to review progress, align on upcoming activities, and discuss the next steps toward the project’s goals ahead of its conclusion in April 2027. The event was hosted by ENCO SRL, REFEST partner based in Naples.
The two-day meeting also provided the perfect opportunity to organise a joint hybrid session with the HY2FISH project, held on 1 July from 11:30 to 13:30 CEST. The goal: to explore how the two projects, both working toward the decarbonisation of Europe’s fishing fleets, could exchange knowledge and contribute to each other’s mission. Participants had the chance to explore how innovative vessel technologies and alternative energy solutions can contribute to reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, supporting the transition towards more sustainable and climate-neutral fisheries.
The session brought together REFEST and HY2FISH partners alongside representatives from industry and members of the European Commission, who took an active part in the discussion. Companies working in the fishing and maritime sectors showed strong interest in the solutions being developed by both projects, confirming the relevance of this collaborative approach to the sector’s green transition.