Overseas
Within the fast-evolving landscape of the Blue Economy, 2025 marked an important milestone for
INFOTEAM. In November, the innovative SME completed two R&D initiatives — Space2Sea and
Marine Observation System — born in different contexts yet united by a common ambition:
building digital systems that make fisheries more transparent, measurable and sustainable.
These results are even more meaningful when viewed through the lens of the Mission Charter of
the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters”. The Mission Charter is grounded in an
evidence-based premise: marine and coastal ecosystems are currently subject to intense pressure
from human activities and therefore require scientific and technological tools capable of monitoring
their status with accuracy and continuity.
To meet this challenge, the EU promotes an integrated digital infrastructure, modern data-collection
systems, and stronger cooperation between institutions, coastal communities and industry.
Space2Sea (S2S) and Marine Observation System (MarObsSys) translate this ambition into
practice, turning high-level principles into tangible operational solutions.
MarObsSys: Bringing Digital Innovation Onboard
One of the sector’s most persistent gaps is the ability to collect high-quality, structured and nonintrusive data during fishing operations. Today’s ecosystem remains fragmented: heterogeneous
tools, inconsistent formats and information flows that are rarely designed for reuse in advanced
scientific or statistical analyses. This limits the real value of the data for stakeholders.
MarObsSys, funded under Next Generation EU through the iNEST consortium (research topic:
Biology of Hydrosphere Ecosystems), tackles this issue by rethinking the core tool of data
collection itself: the e-logbook for Small-Scale Coastal Fisheries. The project introduces a Smart eLogbook that streamlines the work of vessel skippers and crew while transforming each fishing
event into a complete, structured data point. GPS coordinates, species caught and discarded,
quantities, and contextual information are automatically associated with each operation. A Machine
Learning module performs species recognition, while a cloud platform ensures secure and
reliable data storage.
The outcome is the possibility to collect granular, accurate datasets that can be easily shared with
stakeholders. This is not just a technological upgrade. For the Mission Charter, the ability to gather
and orchestrate high-quality data is a prerequisite for a truly data-driven governance model — one
that supports stock assessment, habitat-pressure modelling and adaptive fisheries management.
Ultimately, this digital foundation becomes a concrete tool for biodiversity protection and the longterm resilience of marine ecosystems.
S2S: Advanced Traceability Supporting Sustainability, Control and
Citizen Engagement
Funded by the Regional Operational Programme ERDF Lazio 2021–2027 – Regional Smart
Specialisation Strategy (RIS3), S2S delivers a platform that integrates three complementary
services:
• S1: Monitoring of fisheries closure zones;
• S2: Traceability of fishing operations and origin data recorded on blockchain;
• S3: Monitoring and safeguarding of marine and coastal environments.
The 2nd service developed by INFOTEAM — focused on advanced traceability — is among the
project’s most innovative elements. AIS (Automatic Identification System) data are merged with
catch information gathered during first-sale operations and recorded on blockchain, creating a
secure and tamper-proof registry. The result is enhanced transparency and reduced risk of
misreporting or mislabelling.
S2S directly contributes to the main objectives of the Mission Charter. It strengthens marine
biodiversity protection through fine-grained monitoring of where and when fishing occurs and the
pressure exerted on specific areas. Geo-referenced and time-stamped data support authorities in
refining management of sensitive zones, calibrating closure periods and evaluating the effectiveness
of conservation measures.
At the same time, the system promotes a more responsible and traceable Blue Economy.
Blockchain-based registries and verifiable supply-chain data reduce information asymmetries and
foster business models built on sustainability, quality and accountability.
Another key element aligned with the Mission Charter is citizen engagement. S2S provides a userfriendly web app: by scanning a QR code, consumers can instantly access traceability information
for the product they are purchasing. This shifts the role of the citizen from passive recipient of a
label to active participant in the transition toward more sustainable marine food systems.
Choosing a verifiable product means supporting compliant operators and influencing the market
toward responsible resource use.
A Concrete Contribution to the EU Vision for Restoring Our Waters
Together, S2S and MarObsSys demonstrate how digital innovation can help regenerate our seas.
In practice, they allow stakeholders to:
• achieve more accurate and shareable data on marine environments;
• simplify control processes and strengthen evidence-based decision-making;
• enhance the value of the supply chain by providing transparent information that highlights the
role and commitment of fishers.
The Mission Charter sends a clear message: the transition toward a healthier, more sustainable
marine ecosystem cannot happen without reliable data. Through these two projects, INFOTEAM
shows how research and innovation can transform this principle into operational tools —
contributing to a more resilient, transparent and understandable marine environment.
