Launching MPA-ENGAGE to face Climate Change in the Mediterranean

In January 14 and 15th, Elena Ojea and Julia Ameneiro traveled to the Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC) in Barcelona to attend the Kick-Off-Meeting of the project “MPA Engage: Engaging Mediterranean key players in Ecosystem Approach to manage Marine Protected Areas to face Climate” funded by the Interreg MED program with a budget of €3 M.

The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most severely affected areas by climate change. In this region, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) represent the pillars of a climate change adaptation strategy. For that reason, the main goal of MPA Engage is to outreach and disseminate the importance of MPAs as strategic areas for adaptation to climate change, and to mitigate the progressive negative effects in the Mediterranean Sea. Through a social-ecological approach, MPA-Engage will indeed develop adaptation action plans in 7 protected marine areas in 5 Mediterranean countries in the next 2 years. To do so, MPA-Engage will engage the main players and stakeholders: MPA managers, socio-economic actors such as recreational diving sector and artisanal fishing, local and regional authorities, research institutions and the general public.

The project MPA Engage is led by the Institut de Ciències del Mar from Spanish Research Council (CSIC) and involves the Department of Territory and Sustainability of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Government of the Ligurian Region, research institutions (Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Polytechnic University of Marche and Future Oceans Lab / Universidade de Vigo), the management bodies of 7 protected marine areas (Catalonia, France, Italy, Croatia, Albania and Greece), two non-governmental organizations – Low Impact Fishers of Europe and MIO-ECDSE- the Diving Alert Network Foundation.

The FOL-Team in CIM-University of Vigo is the responsible partner for developing climate vulnerability assessments in the different MPAs, including training activities, the development of methodological guidelines and workshops. MPA Engage involves partners from Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, Albania and Greece. These countries represent most of the European Mediterranean shores and its results will be particularly relevant to guide regional  level actions.

From FOL, we want to thank Joaquim Garrabou and his team for the excellent organization and all the MPA representatives for a great exchange of ideas and future collaboration opportunities.