- Sampling campaign in the Tyrrhenian Sea: scientific and technological collaboration
- Key results from the sampling phase across the Mediterranean
Brussels, 25 November 2025 – The ONE-BLUE project has reached a major milestone with the completion of its sampling campaign in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the coast of Tuscany (Italy). Conducted from 10 to 17 November, this final campaign marks the completion of all planned sampling activities in the Mediterranean basin.
Sampling operations were carried out aboard the Polaris, a new research vessel operated by the Environmental Protection Agency of Tuscany Region (ARPAT). A team of five researchers from the Italian National Research Council (CNR) worked closely with qualified ARPAT personnel, combining at-sea operations with advanced laboratory work. The extraction and preparation of samples were carried out by the CNR team in a fully equipped ARPAT laboratory at the Livorno Department.
During the two-week campaign, the team collected samples from 12 stations arranged along 4 transects stretching from coastal sites to offshore waters. In total, 24 water samples and 8 sediment samples were collected. Coastal stations provided both water and sediment samples: water samples were collected using a 10 L Niskin bottle, while sediment samples were sampled using a Van Veen grab. At deep-water stations, water samples were collected at three different depths, reaching a maximum depth of 100 meters.
The campaign yielded an extensive array of processed-samples prepared for laboratory analysis, approximately: 310 SPE cartridges for detecting contaminants of emerging concern and conducting ecotoxicological assays; 44 filters for microplastic analysis; 24 filters for assessing microbiological biodiversity in the water column; 24 samples for determining dissolved metals and 40 aliquots of sediment, frozen for subsequent analysis of metals, contaminants of emerging concern, microbiological biodiversity and in vitro testing. All samples collected will be promptly shipped to project partners for detailed laboratory analysis, marking the transition to the next phase of scientific investigation for the ONE-BLUE project.
This campaign in the Tyrrhenian Sea completes the project’s comprehensive sampling effort across the Mediterranean. This effort also included operations along the Spanish coastline, as well as in the Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea and the Upper and Middle Adriatic Sea.
About ONE-BLUE
ONE-BLUE is a pioneering project funded by the Horizon Europe programme, launched in 2024 with a budget of €6.2 million. Its main goal is to protect aquatic ecosystems from emerging pollutants and climate change by fostering transnational cooperation between regions sharing seas and marine-related challenges. Through close collaboration between science and policy, the project strengthens collective efforts to restore and preserve European marine ecosystems, contributing to the development of a more sustainable blue economy. For more information, visit www.one-blue.eu and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter/X to stay up to date with the latest project news.
About Finnova Foundation
The Finnova Foundation is a European foundation based in Brussels, committed to promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and EU funding as key tools to address major social, environmental, and economic challenges. Through its work, it supports public and private entities in accessing EU programmes such as Horizon Europe, LIFE, Interreg and Erasmus+, facilitating the creation of consortia, project development, and the transfer of best practices.
With extensive experience in EU project communication, startup acceleration, and training in EU funds, Finnova acts as a bridge between innovative ideas and European Union funding opportunities.