The presentation slides from the event can be found HERE
On 7 March, the EU Blue Parks Community (EU BPC) met in Brussels, to share ideas and exchange best practices at a workshop on the topic of ‘Effective Management of Marine Protected Areas and the land-sea interface including coastal zones’. The workshop took place as part of the European Ocean Days, a week-long series of events, delving into European maritime issues.
This second instalment of the EU BPC workshop series, and first in-person event, attracted more than a hundred participants, coming from a range of sectors, including national and regional agencies for marine and environmental matters, researchers, regional sea basin organisations, NGOs, donors and sustainable investors.
The gathering in Brussels sought to showcase the full landscape of EU funded projects in this area, giving attendees a comprehensive view of good practices, as well as identifying scope for innovation. The workshop also provided insights into the evolving policy landscape, highlighting particularly the upcoming EU Nature Restoration Law which aims to restore at least 20% of the EU's lands and seas by 2030.
Thanks to the forward-looking approach of the EU BPC, participants left the workshop with a clear picture of the next steps required to support the objectives of the EU Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030” and push forward progress to achieve EU targets to protect 30% and strictly protect 10% of EU sea areas by 2030.
How is the EU Blue Parks Community building effective marine management models?
Participants agree that our mission is to create effective and resilient MPAs that achieve their conservation objectives and deliver tangible social and ecological benefits. For this, it is crucial to build a complete understanding of local conditions, gain the support and involvement of local communities, and establish strong governance structures that are sustainable over time.
Many marine protected areas (MPAs) in Europe and beyond are currently struggling with implementation issues and are often labelled as "paper parks" due to their limited effectiveness on the ground. Despite over 6000 protected marine sites in the EU, half of which are part of Natura 2000, the actual management effectiveness of these areas remains problematic. To be able to evaluate effectiveness of MPAs at an EU wide level presents challenges, however ongoing efforts are being made to address and overcome them. Data gaps, coupled with the complexity of interactions between various policy domains in the marine environment (including the Common Fisheries Policy), complicate the overall scenario, demanding integrated and innovative policy solutions.
The EU Blue Parks Community bringing together a suite of EU funded projects and a wider community of actors working on oceans and waters are pioneering new methods in this regard. Their experiences are a great source of optimism for the future; when we get it right, everyone reaps the rewards of a healthier, more vibrant coastal-marine environment – from fishermen securing their livelihoods to tourists and hobbyists enjoying the waves and shores, to marine life that can once again thrive.
How do we make this vision a reality across Europe? Participants of the workshop unanimously agreed: this is a team effort. We need everyone on board, from scientists, to businesses, to authorities and policymakers. While the benefits of protected areas and effective marine management might be crystal clear to the scientific community, bridging that gap requires legwork. This is where EU Blue Parks and their community of actors can lead the way. The many projects and actors involved are leveraging comprehensive knowledge and data to inform decisions and securing long-term local support for effective solutions.
At the EU level, the European Commission is fostering these activities by connecting with authorities, providing initial funding and acting as a facilitator to simplify cooperation between projects, initiatives and public bodies. The workshop also featured EU Member States' efforts towards these targets, their respective challenges and strategies to overcome them. A recurrent theme was the necessity for more holistic, cross-sectoral collaboration involving stakeholders in decision-making, the need to balance top-down and bottom-up approaches as well as implementing more strictly protected sites that serve to rebuild marine life via both passive and active restoration.
Bringing degraded marine habitats back to life
EU Blue Parks Community members are not just focused on protecting marine areas; they are also actively engaged in restoring marine ecosystems. To do this, they are embracing marine and coastal nature-based solutions (NbS), as well as combining this with reconverted grey, green and blue infrastructure techniques to breathe life back into marine environments.
‘Nature-based or natural’ methods include undertakings such as reintroducing marine life capable of recycling waste from the fishing industry, replanting marine flora which serve as critical habitats and natural carbon sinks, and collaborating with fishing communities to alter trawling practices, to name just a few.
‘Artificial as well as hybrid’ techniques are being employed to reinvigorate marine and coastal areas suffering from significant degradation due to human activity.
The good news is that both these methods used in strategic combination are yielding excellent results. Echoing through each good practice was the optimistic message that, when we protect and restore the ocean, it responds with vitality. While this is well known fact within the scientific community, the challenge lies in conveying this message to communities and policy makers and engaging them in meaningful action.
Diverse ecosystems, common approaches
The EU Blue Parks Community brings together members from all corners of Europe, implementing solutions across Sea Basins, from the Baltic to the Mediterranean. Despite the diversity of ecosystems and habitats they manage, these members often encounter similar challenges, with parallel pathways emerging towards effective solutions. The workshop highlighted the value of sharing techniques and practical insights within the community. These shared experiences provide a template that can be adapted and implemented across different contexts, advancing marine protection efforts in diverse environments. This exchange underscores the EU BPC's role as a dynamic platform for idea-sharing, fostering collaboration that includes public authorities, which is crucial in reaching the targets set for marine protection.
What’s coming up for the EU Blue Parks Community?
The community will continue in its role as a forum for networking, exchanging knowledge, practices, experiences and fostering partnerships in marine protection and restoration. Sign up to the Mission newsletter, to be first in line to register for our next workshop; details will be announced soon
If you haven’t already, join the EU Blue Parks Community today and help shape the future of EU marine protection. Apply to become a member and enjoy the benefits.