Author: refest

The transition towards a more sustainable fishing sector is not only about technological innovation. It is also about understanding how these changes affect people, communities and the wider value chain.

As part of REFEST, our partner RINA has launched a new survey to gather stakeholders’ perceptions on the social implications of technologies supporting the decarbonisation of the fishing sector.

The questionnaire explores key social dimensions associated with the adoption of low environmental impact solutions, including affordability, safety, inclusiveness, transparency and community engagement. These aspects have been identified using internationally recognised methodologies, such as Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment and Social Life Cycle Assessment.

We invite everyone with an interest in the fisheries sector to take part. The survey welcomes contributions from different stakeholder groups, including:

• Workers employed in boatbuilding sites;
• Local communities affected by fishing-related activities;
• Consumers and vessel end-users;
• Value chain actors involved in upstream and downstream activities;
• Members of society interested in the sustainable transition of the fishing sector.

Your contribution will help us better understand the social dimension of the sector’s decarbonisation journey and support the development of more sustainable and socially responsible solutions.

The questionnaire is completely anonymous, and all responses will be analysed only in aggregated form.

Thank you for contributing to a more sustainable and socially inclusive future for European fisheries.

REFEST was promoted during the 13th International Conference on Energy and Environment Research (ICEER 2026), which was held in Porto, Portugal form 15 to 17 July 2026. The conference aimed to provide a platform for engineers, researchers, and professionals from universities, research institutions, and industry worldwide to exchange ideas and present the latest achievements and solutions addressing challenges in energy and environmental research. The event brought together participants from institutions across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The main thematic areas of ICEER include energy, environmental protection, and education for sustainable development.

Thematic scope closely aligned with REFEST. The Morski Instytut Rybacki delegates presented a conference contribution entitled “Potential Impact of the REFEST Project on the Marine Environment” which examined the potential environmental implications of implementing the project’s solutions. The co-authors of the contribution were Marcin Rakowski, Iwona Psuty, Adam Mytlewski, Katarzyna Nadolna-Ałtyn, Vasilij Djačkov and all REFEST project members.

The poster prepared and presented by the team received a “Best Poster Award” from the conference organizers. In addition to presenting the project’s findings, participation in the conference provided an opportunity to promote the REFEST project and expand participants’ knowledge of current research trends in the fields of energy and environmental sustainability.

Understanding the goals and impact of European research and innovation projects is not always straightforward. That is why REFEST has released a new video, now available on the project’s YouTube channel, to present the project in a simple, engaging and accessible way.

The video explains the challenges REFEST is addressing, the solutions being developed by the consortium, and how the project is contributing to a more sustainable future for the fishing and maritime sectors. It offers an overview of REFEST’s objectives and highlights the potential impact of its innovative approach in supporting the transition towards more sustainable practices.

Whether you are a researcher, stakeholder, policymaker or simply interested in sustainable innovation, this video is a great starting point to learn more about REFEST and its mission.

🎥 Watch the video here!

Stay tuned to the REFEST website and social media channels for more project news, results and upcoming activities.

The development of the REFEST propulsion unit continues to progress according to plan.

The design phase has now been successfully completed, and we are currently awaiting the delivery of the final components required to complete the full motor assembly. The complete assembly is scheduled for the end of July 2026.

In parallel, initial low-power performance tests have already been successfully carried out, validating the first stages of the propulsion system. The next milestone will be the first translation and rotation tests, which will begin once the complete propulsion unit has been assembled.

These upcoming tests will represent an important step towards validating the maneuverability capabilities of the REFEST propulsion solution.

On 3 July 2026, REFEST was presented during the webinar “Océans et Eaux & Horizon Europe 2027”, organised by the French Ministry for Ecological Transition, in partnership with the Point de Contact National (PCN) Bio-Environnement.

The event brought together researchers, public authorities, industry representatives and innovation stakeholders to explore the funding opportunities offered by the Horizon Europe 2027 calls addressing oceans, inland waters and the sustainable blue economy. The webinar also provided participants with practical guidance on participating in Horizon Europe and featured testimonials from successful EU-funded projects.

REFEST was presented by Denis Real (BlueNav) during the session dedicated to “Sustainable Blue Economy and Maritime Transport Infrastructures”, alongside other Horizon Europe flagship initiatives. The presentation highlighted the project’s objectives and shared practical insights from its implementation, offering participants a concrete example of how European collaborative research contributes to advancing more sustainable maritime transport solutions.

By taking part in this high-level national event, REFEST contributed to showcasing the impact of Horizon Europe-funded innovation while inspiring future applicants interested in developing projects that support the transition towards a more resilient, sustainable and competitive blue economy.

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.

On 19 May 2026, REFEST partners at the Lithuanian Fisheries Producers Association organised their Annual General Meeting held in Klaipėda, Lithuania. As a key industry event gathering fishing company members and sector representatives, the meeting provided an important opportunity to engage with stakeholders and share the latest developments of the project.

The annual meeting focused on discussions on sector-related matters and updates on ongoing initiatives relevant to the fishing industry. Within this framework, representatives of the Lithuanian Fisheries Producers Association, Akvilė Kungienė and Paulius Jurkus, presented the progress achieved by REFEST and the activities carried out on the LFPA demonstration vessel.

Through oral presentations supported by visual materials, posters and project flyers, participants were informed about the overall advancement of the project, the current status of the vessel modernisation process, and the next steps planned within the project framework.

Particular attention was given to the role of innovative technologies in supporting the transition towards a more sustainable and energy-efficient fisheries sector. The discussion also addressed future funding opportunities, including the potential utilisation of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) for the 2027-2034 programming period, which could further support the deployment of sustainable solutions within the fishing fleet.

These opportunities were presented as a means to complement and build upon the achievements of REFEST, ensuring that the knowledge, innovations and momentum generated by the project can continue beyond its lifetime. In line with the broader philosophy of European research and innovation programmes, such initiatives help maintain the impact of project results, foster the uptake of developed solutions, and create new starting points for further technological advancements and sectoral innovation.