On 25 February 2026, in Torre del Greco, the Euro-Mediterranean workshop “Coral: towards an ethical, circular, and sustainable supply chain” will bring together institutions, clusters, research centres and Blue Economy operators to initiate a shared journey of coral protection and enhancement in the Mediterranean.

The meeting represents a concrete first step towards structured cooperation between the two sides of the basin, with the aim of integrating ecosystem protection, sustainable fishing, traceability, technological innovation, and craftsmanship enhancement within Blue Economy strategies.

Following opening remarks from Mauro Ascione (President of Banca di Credito Popolare), Vincenzo Aucella (President of Assocoral), and Luigi Mennella (Mayor of Comune di Torre del Greco), Fabrizio Monticelli (CEO of ForMare – Innovation Hub for Blue Economy) will present the strategic vision of the coral supply chain, while Leonardo Manzari (WestMED National Hub for Italy) will outline the cooperation tools of the WestMED programme.

The scientific framework will be addressed by Eva Salvati (Senior Researcher at Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn), Rakia Ayari (researcher at INSTM – Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer) and Mongi Zouai (CEO of Etoile de Mer Diving Center) with presentations on the state of ecosystems and the prospects for red coral in the Mediterranean.

There will also be a focus on innovation and local communities: Giorgio Ricci Maccarini (President of Cluster BIG) will elaborate on the role of technology transfer, Emna Sohlobji (President of Tunisian Maritime Cluster) on the role of craftsmanship and women in the Tunisian supply chain, while Vincenzo Aucella will address the issue of IGP, quality, and the protection of Torre del Greco workmanship.

The day will conclude with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding among the workshop partners, aimed at strengthening Euro-Mediterranean cooperation for the protection of coral ecosystems, raw material traceability, and sustainable supply chain development.

👉 Register here: link.