CMA CGM Group and Ifremer, the French national institute for ocean science, signed a framework agreement on 26 October for scientific cooperation to strengthen research in the field of conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems.
The purpose of this three-year collaboration is to improve understanding of these environments in order to advance conservation and restoration efforts.
Ifremer helps to better explore the oceans and their resources by monitoring marine and coastal environments and promoting sustainable development of marine activities.
CMA CGM Group will provide financial assistance and support through its TANGRAM centre of excellence. The collaboration between the partners will be structured around three focus points: biodiversity, innovation and decarbonisation of the maritime sector.
The project will include specific projects in the Mediterranean, French Antilles and other regions, with the first three projects starting in 2023.
In the Mediterranean, the scientific mission will immerse structures by creating an underwater environment to assess the state of ecological restoration in the urban marine area in the port of Marseille, as well as the impact of previous restoration projects.
In the French Antilles, the research mission will involve studying the impact on marine biodiversity of sargassum, a brown algae that can cause health problems and economic damage.
François Houllier, CEO of Ifremer, commented, “This partnership reflects Ifremer’s commitment to foster cooperation between maritime stakeholders to understand, protect and restore the oceans.”
