Center for Coastal & Marine Studies
BLUE CONNECT at the European Ocean Days 2025!
From March 3rd-7th, the EUROPEAN OCEAN DAYS brought together policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in Brussels to discuss the future of Ocean Governance, Marine Conservation, and the Blue Economy. As part of the BLUE CONNECT project, we were there to gather insights on the latest marine protection strategies and challenges, connect with key stakeholders and explore potential collaborations.
One of the highlights was the MPA Card Game, developed collaboratively by BLUE CONNECT, BIOPROTECT, PHAROS, BLUE4ALL, Marine Plan, and MSP4BIO.
The game was a hit!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CCMS: WE TURN 7!
On 9 March 2025 we celebrate seven years of the Center for Coastal and Marine Studies (CCMS)! The past seven years of success, challenges, exchange and learning, has been an incredible experience!
We have accomplished so much, but the best is yet to come!
CCMS was born with the fundamental goal of developing and promoting science, research, knowledge transfer, and innovation technologies in the Black Sea and in the World Ocean by bringing together science, environment, expertise, stakeholders and policy making. Our activities comprise a vast range of coastal and marine research (studies and surveys in the field of modern coastal and marine processes), as well as support to the implementation of the EU coastal and maritime Strategies and Directives (MSP, Blue and Circular Economy, European Green Deal, EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters, etc.), by developing scientific basis and providing knowledge and expertise, project participation, networking and consultancy.
SITE-SPECIFIC GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT KNOWLEDGE-BASED MSP
Authors:
Inne Withouck, Flanders Marine Institute – VLIZ
Isabelle Rombouts, Flanders Marine Institute – VLIZ
Margarita Stancheva, Center for Coastal and Marine Studies – CCMS
Fien De Raedemaecker, Flanders Marine Institute – VLIZ
Natascha Jaspert, s.Pro – sustainable projects
Ivana Stojanovic, s.Pro – sustainable projects
Analysing the coherence of maritime polices and management tools, and their effectiveness for conservation targets is crucial for advancing knowledge-based Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP).
In the six MSP4BIO test sites across five European sea basins, a thorough gap analysis identified several issues, divided into four categories, that hampered the effective integration of marine protection and MSP. This was validated with the Communities of Practice (CoPs) in the test sites made up of MSP and MPA authorities, sectoral representatives, researchers and environmental organisations.
Fifth MSP4BIO General Assembly showcased main achievements
Partners from MSP4BIO got together for the Fifth General Assembly Meeting held on 5 and 6 of February 2025 in an online format event. The two days meeting was filled with intense presentations on the main results achieved in the MSP4BIO and discussions on fine-tunning the outcomes and their widespread communication and promotion across the six test sites and beyond.
On the first day, in active interactive sessions partners discussed and contributed to socio-ecological management framework for MPAs and MSP integration and to the formulation of recommendations on Strategic Environmental Assessment process for MPA and MSP integration. In the afternoon the recent updates on the ESE Integrated Framework, feedbacks from MSP4BIO Communities of Practice and next steps were presented and discussed among partners to fine-tune the ESE tools, ecological and socio-economic criteria and measures for better alignment of MSP and MPAs. Afterwards, policy solutions for each test sites and results from the Think Thank science-policy events were presented and brainstormed to facilitate the biodiversity mainstreaming in MSP and to address the gaps in EU and Regional Seas Policy Frameworks for improved integration of biodiversity protection in a science-based MSP.
