The 1st workshop of the EU Blue Parks Community marked a pivotal moment in fostering collaborative efforts for the protection and restoration of marine ecosystems and biodiversity across Mission sea-basins. With over 120 online participants and a distinguished lineup of speakers from diverse organizations and research projects, this event fostered a collaborative platform for experts to identify and address common challenges, exchange knowledge and set research and policy priorities. To access the full range of workshop presentations and further details, please visit the event webpage.
State of play: more and better marine protection needed across Europe
Currently, 12% of EU seas are designated as protected, and less than 1% as strictly protected. Although the situation varies across sea basins, urgent efforts are required from Member States to expand and enhance these areas, especially in offshore and coastal regions, while nearshore areas are consistently highest protected in all EU seas. Currently, Member States are in the process of submitting their initial pledges towards the EU marine protection targets under the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030. These commitments are a crucial step forward in the collective effort to effectively protect marine biodiversity in the EU.
Key workshop outcomes
The need for more effective management of existing marine protected areas was widely recognised during the first workshop. Central to the discussions were good governance, sound planning, robust financing, and active stakeholder involvement at both local and transnational levels. This was coupled with the emphasis on an integrated approach to MPA management, which includes effective law development and enforcement, surveillance, and the necessity for an EU-wide system to evaluate management effectiveness. The workshop underscored the critical role of knowledge sharing and integration of decision-making tools in MPA management. It highlighted the importance of establishing stronger cross-sectoral links between various marine sectors, and their integration into broader Maritime Spatial Planning efforts.
A transboundary approach was recognized as crucial, acknowledging the interconnectedness of marine environments. Discussions focused on establishing coherent MPA networks to support broader ecological processes and secure positive biodiversity outcomes across sea basins. This includes strategies with sufficient spatial protection measures for reducing pressures on marine ecosystems. In particular, a need for better fisheries management within MPAs was highlighted, with a focus on minimizing the impact on the seabed and avoiding bycatch. The workshop discussion made clear that protection should also go hand-in-hand with restoration efforts. More than 200 marine habitat types will need to be restored under the new EU Nature Restoration Law and effective protection (considered a form of passive restoration itself) can be a vital tool in achieving this.
Discussions evolved around managing MPAs to bolster resilience against climate change, with a specific focus on adaptive strategies at the climate-ocean nexus. The concept of climate-smart MPAs, designed to function effectively in the face of climatic changes, emerged as a recurrent theme. Project presentations highlighted needs for stronger use of adaptive management and ongoing (pilot) activities aimed at developing and implementing protection shemes based on adaptive and ecosystem-based management. Lastly, the role of Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) for marine protection was underscored with a recognized need for further clarification on how OECMs can be identified, legally recognized, supported, and reported in the broader context of marine protection efforts.
Future directions for the EU Blue Parks Community
The EU Blue Parks Community aims to facilitate the science-policy exchange of experiences and good practices across the EU, promoting innovative and adaptable methods in marine protection and restoration. During the workshop, participants engaged in an interactive survey to express their main expectations and help shape the future trajectory of the EU Blue Parks Community. The survey highlighted a strong preference for robust networking opportunities, access to knowledge, and active involvement with the Mission Ocean and Waters initiative. Additionally, thematic workshops and regular updates on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) from Mission-funded and other EU-funded projects were identified as essential tools and services.
The community pinpointed several pressing topics for forthcoming workshops. Key areas include improving the effectiveness of MPA management, establishing strictly protected zones within MPAs, integrating marine protection objectives into broader maritime spatial planning processes, and tackling the impacts of climate change and pollution on MPA management and designation.
Further priorities centered around expanding MPA coverage, enhancing connectivity and addressing transboundary issues of MPAs, and resolving practical and operational challenges faced by MPA managers. Other significant areas include fostering stakeholder engagement in MPA design and management, exploring financing mechanisms for MPAs with an emphasis on the role of private investors, supporting coastal communities in climate resilience (focusing on mitigation, prevention, and risk), and enhancing data collection, along with utilizing ocean observation and coordinated monitoring for optimal MPA distribution. Furthermore, there is a keen interest in broadening discussions to encompass OECMs, offshore and deep-sea MPAs, developing MPA networks that cross national boundaries, and examining the marine-freshwater interface.
These diverse areas of interest underscore the community's dedication to a comprehensive and inclusive approach to marine conservation, striving to address a broad spectrum of challenges and opportunities in the future.