PHAROS4MPA

PHAROS4MPAs addressed the growing interaction between blue economy activities and marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Mediterranean, in a context of increasing pressure from maritime sectors and the need to achieve Good Environmental Status under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

At the time of the project, MPAs covered 7.14% of the Mediterranean Sea, below the global target of 10%, while facing rising demands for economic use within and around their boundaries. The project responded to this challenge by exploring how key blue economy sectors affect MPAs and by promoting more balanced approaches that reconcile economic development with marine conservation.

Razdoblje provedbe

2018 – 2019

Partnership

WWF France
Priority Actions Programme Regional Activity Centre (PAP/RAC)
Regional Development Fund of the North Aegean Region
Regional Agency of the Administration of Protected Areas in Albania
Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISMAR and IRBIM)
WWF Mediterranean
University of Girona Institute of Aquatic Ecology

Geographic scope

Mediterranean

Key objectives

The project focused on improving the understanding and management of interactions between economic activities and MPAs, while strengthening cooperation among relevant actors.

In particular, it aimed to:

assess the impacts of key blue economy sectors on Mediterranean MPAs
support more effective management of MPAs in the context of increasing economic pressures
promote dialogue and cooperation between MPA managers, MSP authorities and maritime sectors
develop practical recommendations and tools to prevent or minimise environmental impacts
contribute to achieving Good Environmental Status through improved integration of conservation and development objectives

Main results

PHAROS4MPAs delivered a set of knowledge products, policy recommendations and cooperation mechanisms supporting more sustainable management of MPAs across the Mediterranean.

The main results include:

comprehensive assessments of interactions between MPAs and key sectors, including maritime transport, tourism, aquaculture, offshore energy, fisheries and recreational activities
development of practical recommendations to reduce environmental impacts and improve compatibility between economic uses and conservation objectives
provision of policy tools and guidance to support uptake by regional stakeholders, including MSP authorities, MPA networks and maritime sectors
strengthened cooperation across sectors and governance levels, fostering a more integrated approach to blue economy development in and around MPAs
contribution to regional processes under the Barcelona Convention and engagement with European policy frameworks

Role of PAP/RAC

PAP/RAC acted as a partner with a leading role in the development of policy recommendations related to cruise tourism and leisure boating. Its contribution focused on analysing the interactions between these sectors and marine protected areas, and on identifying practical measures to reduce environmental pressures while improving their compatibility with conservation objectives.

Partneri