2nd EU Blue Parks Community Workshop – Effective management of marine protected areas

Effective management of Marine Protected Areas

The EU Blue Parks Community held its face-to-face workshop on March 7, 2024, in Brussels, alongside the Mission Forum and the European Ocean Days. 

This workshop was part of the broader EU Blue Parks Initiative under the EU Mission "Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030". It aimed to enhance understanding of the effective management of EU Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and brought together experts and stakeholders from across European sea basins.

The morning session explored EU-funded projects and Research & Innovation on effective marine management, including projects under LIFE and Horizon Europe. Discussions also centered on how EU Member States are advancing towards the 30x30 target.

The afternoon focused on sharing case studies and good practices in effective marine protection, restoration, and management. This included illustrating governance and community-led initiatives in the Mission Ocean, as well as innovation and good practices. The day offered numerous opportunities for participants to engage in meaningful discussions.

Why this was important:

This event marked the second in the series of workshops by the EU Blue Parks Community. It provided a vital platform for community members to engage directly, share insights, and deepen their involvement in EU marine protection efforts.

Although registration for this in-person event has closed, stay tuned for future workshops and continue to engage with the community through upcoming events and discussions.

Agenda and presentations: 

09:00 Opening statement by Andreea Strachinescu-Olteanu DG MARE HEAD of Unit A1

1st Session – Exploring EU funded projects and R&I on effective marine management

09:15 EU Blue Parks Community: 1st event recap, Community membership & support services; Gregory Fuchs, Researcher, Ecologic Institute / MIP Ocean

09:25 Overview of EU funded projects on MPAs and Marine Ecosystems (LIFE and Horizon Europe); Alberto Zocchi, CINEA C.C1.2

09:40 EU Research & Innovation on effective marine management:

Horizon Europe Mission Ocean Work Programme – EU Blue Parks projects

- BLUE4ALL, facilitating the Blue Parks Community; Steven Degraer, Project Coordinator, Institute of Natural Sciences

- EFFECTIVE - Enhancing social well-being and economic prosperity by reinforcing the eFFECTIVEness of protection and restoration management in Mediterranean MPAs; Iván Felis, Head of the R&D department, CTN-Marine Technology Centre, Spain

- PROTECT BALTIC - Ensuring sufficient protection and restoration in the Baltic Sea’s marine environment; Jannica Haldin, Project Coordinator, HELCOM

- OCEAN CITIZEN - A multidisciplinary approach integrating science and society in Marine Forests regeneration for ocean management and protection; Lorenzo Bramanti, Researcher, LECOB-CNRS

10:40 Coffee Break | In the venue room - projection of Life DELFI: A Conflict to Resolve

11:10 LIFE projects on effective marine management

- LIFE Delfi and LIFE TartaLife: On the coexistence between professional fishing and protected species within MPAs; Alessandro Lucchetti, Project Coordinator, National Research Council Italy (CNR-IRBIM)

- LIFE MareNatura on enlarging the Greek MPA network to adequately protect marine megafauna; Panagiotis Kasapidis, Project Coordinator, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR)

11:40 Q&A of the 1st session

2nd Session - Pledging towards 30x30, state of play and next steps

11:55 Biodiversity strategy targets for a coherent and effectively managed EU MPA network; Vedran Nikolić, Team leader, Nature Conservation Unit, DG Environment

12:10 Member State testimonies

- Situation, challenges and solutions for the network of marine protected areas in Portugal; Nuno Banza, President of the Board, ICNF, National Authority for Nature Conservation and Biodiversity

- Marine Protected Areas in Belgium: status, challenges, and case studies; Gizem Poffyn, Marine Policy Officer, FPS Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment

12:40 Q&A of the 2nd session

13:00-14:00 Lunch Break & Networking

3rd Session - Sharing case studies and good practices

14:00 Governance & community-led initiatives

- IUCN green list and effective management of MPAs; Jean-François Sys, Marine Biodiversity Project Leader, IUCN French Committee

- The Living Baltic Sea: towards community-led conservation; Ville Wahlberg, Managing Director, Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG)

- From government leadership to community-based approaches: case studies for effective marine protection; Emanuel Gonçalves, Chief Scientist, Executive member of the Board, Oceano Azul Foundation

- Restoration of degraded coastal habitats: the Vejle Fjord case study; Rune Christian Husted Steinfurth, Postdoc, University of Southern Denmark (SDU)

15:00 Q&A

15:15 Innovation and good practices

- CLIMAREST. Coastal restoration in the Atlantic and Artic Lighthouse: case studies from Svalbard to Madeira; Ida Beathe Øverjordet, Project Leader, SINTEF

- SUBMON's Collaborative Regional Approach to Marine Conservation; Tecla Maggioni, Project Technician, and Juanita Zorrilla, Project Manager, SUBMON

- Artificial fish nurseries. Rehabilitation and restoration of marine habitats: the added value of artificial structures; Etienne Abadie, Project Manager, and Alexandre Belly, Ecological Engineering, Apprentice, Ecocean

16:00 Q&A

16:20 Closing statement by Elisabetta Balzi, HEAD of Unit Ocean and Waters, DG RTD