Project partners met in their 3rd workshop to discuss project next steps
The MEDJICARP 3rd Workshop & Annual Meeting was held from 7-8 September 2026 at the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Alexandria, Egypt, with a field visit and equipment testing taking place on 9 September. The event brought together MEDJICARP project partners, national and regional stakeholders, and experts in oceanographic and marine observations for scientific exchange, technical training and planning for the future of ocean observation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The workshop formed part of MEDJICARP Work Package 5, focusing on capacity building, knowledge sharing and regional cooperation in marine observation. It provided an opportunity to review progress achieved so far, exchange experience and expertise, and discuss how cooperation can be further strengthened during the next phase of the project.
The event was officially opened by the President of NIOF, Prof. Abeer Monier, who highlighted the profound environmental changes affecting the Mediterranean, including sea-level rise, coastal erosion, marine heatwaves, extreme storms, flooding, drought, changing rainfall patterns, ecosystem degradation and increasing pressure on marine resources. The Professor underlined the essential role of ocean observation in supporting climate resilience, sustainability, maritime safety and the Blue Economy, while stressing the importance of international cooperation in understanding and protecting the Mediterranean Sea.
During the opening session, Dr. Monica Demetriou -project leader representing the Oceanography Center of the University of Cyprus- presented an overview of MEDJICARP, outlining the project’s objectives, activities, progress to date and expected outcomes, with particular emphasis on cooperation with Egyptian partners and stakeholders.
Connecting stakeholders and sharing expertise
A substantial part of the first day was dedicated to stakeholder engagement. Mediterranean stakeholder sessions featured presentations on the Geo-Inquire project, the European Multidisciplinary Seafloor and water-column Observatory (EMSO ERIC), and long-term sea monitoring in the Sicily–Malta Channel using multiple technologies. Participants also discussed the work plans and future projections of NIOF and INSTM, as well as tools, gaps and future directions for marine environmental monitoring in Lebanon.
Advancing ocean observation technologies
A key feature of the workshop was its strong focus on ocean observation technologies. Over the two days, participants explored CTD observations, fixed-platform and buoy observations, and sea-level monitoring stations, with attention to both technological principles and practical implementation. Topics included deployment and recovery, sensor configuration, power and communications, calibration and maintenance, biofouling, data quality control, data transmission and management, and the transformation of observations into useful data products.
The technical discussions also covered HF radar data standards and quality control, radar-derived wave information, wave and current monitoring, drifter deployments, data gap filling, sensor calibration and maintenance, biofouling mitigation, and operational challenges associated with fixed ocean-observing platforms. Attention was given to the challenge of transforming marine observations into useful operational services.
MEDJICARP Annual Meeting and next steps
The second day also included the MEDJICARP Annual Meeting, where project partners reviewed the overall progress of the project and exchanged updates on stakeholder engagement and the strategy implemented to date. The meeting subsequently addressed project administration, partner updates, financial status and procurement, reporting, project progress, and next steps and actions.
Overall, the Alexandria workshop provided an important platform for strengthening regional cooperation, building technical capacity and sharing knowledge on marine observation.
Last Update
14/09/2026
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