Center for Coastal & Marine Studies
The 3rd Blue Horizons Newsletter is out and ready to read!
As in the first two issues of our joint newsletter, we bring to you the latest updates of BLUE4ALL and MSP4BIO projects, as well as the latest news on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP), and Ocean Conservation.
This 3rd issue introduces you with the BLUE4ALL's recent General Assembly in Lecce, Italy, where intellect and progress converged. The issue also explores MSP4BIO's latest innovation, the Data Compilation App, designed to make marine data accessible and easy to navigate. The events section is packed with opportunities, from joining the EU Blue Parks Community workshop to the upcoming 2nd Mission Arena to be held in Latvia and for which the registration is already open.
External news brings you the launch of the Mission Ocean and Waters service portal—a one-stop-shop for ocean stakeholders. Plus, don't miss the chance to apply for the MPA Awards, recognizing outstanding Marine Protected Areas contributing to #MissionOcean.
So, grab your tea or coffee, and dive into the latest updates in the world of Blue Horizons!
MSP4BIO at the IV Webinars of the MED-MSP-CoP: Sharing knowledge as key for advancing MSP practice
On February 13th, Margarita Stancheva (CCMS) presented the MSP4BIO project at one of the technical webinars that MED-MSP-CoP organises on a regular basis.
The aim of these webinars is to:
• Disseminate valuable practices on MSP in the Mediterranean
• Illustrate how such experiences tackle some of the key challenges addressed by the MED-MSP-CoP, including “MSP for MPAs” and “MSP as key enabler for SBE strategies and initiatives”
• Provide a regular opportunity for an open discussion on MSP-related issues of common interest for the MED-MSP-CoP experts
• Invite any other experts in participating to the discussion and more in general to join the MED-MSP-CoP.
In this event, several points to be capitalised were highlighted, such as:
- MSP4BIO process of CoPs engagement – a series of interactions to facilitate exchange, build ownership and ensuring uptake of developed MSP4BIO tools in the test areas and beyond, keep their interest and show the added value of being a CoP member.
- SeaSketch tool and participatory mapping survey for trade-off analysis – the step-by step methodology has the potential to be replicated/adapted and to enhance stakeholder interest, a robust platform, leading to important discussions and diverse feedback from the CoP members.
You can access the full presentation on the MSP4BIO website!
The MSP4BIO first two deliverables are available online!
What about starting the week by reading our first 2 deliverables published online: https://msp4bio.eu/publications/
• D2.1: Overview of the available biodiversity datasets & platforms relevant for planning
This deliverable presents an analysis of the availability of datasets, data platforms, tools, and models required by MSP4BIO. Data were compiled and the availability for each test site and data requirement (desideratum) was analyzed. Data availability varied considerably between test sites and desiderata. The analysis found several data gaps, which serve as guidance for data collection by other work packages. In total, 339 datasets, data platforms, tools and models were compiled from a wide variety of sources.
Read the full deliverable here!
Summary of the MSP4BIO deliverable on MPA and MSP policy coherence is out!
Check out what this comprehensive study is about: State of the art on key barriers and levers for policy coherence (D6.1): https://msp4bio.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Summary-6.1_MSP4BIO_short-version.pdf.
To effectively halt biodiversity loss, integrating biodiversity considerations into a broad range of policies, including those outside the traditional environmental scope, is essential. The MSP4BIO project's Task 6.1 focused on assessing the incorporation of biodiversity into EU marine policies and sectors, evaluating the barriers to and facilitators of such integration, and understanding the role and effectiveness of the maritime spatial planning directive (MSPD) in promoting biodiversity conservation across the European Union.
The study involved a comprehensive analysis of how biodiversity is integrated into environmental, economic, and marine spatial planning (MSP) policies at EU, regional, and national levels, examining eight EU member states and four Regional Sea Conventions. Through interviews, workshop outcomes, and policy document reviews, the project identified how biodiversity is prioritized and the ambition behind conservation efforts within these policies.
The full study will be published in MSP4BIO’s website once finished!
Check out our deliverables section under our 'Publications' subpage! We will start uploading summaries of the work we have carried out and later on the full deliverables: https://msp4bio.eu/publications/
