The 2016 status of marine protected areas in the Mediterranean

Abstract

MedPAN and SPA/RAC are working alongside their partners (IUCN, WWF, local NGOs, research organization, etc.) to establish an ecological network of MPA to protect at least 10% of the marine and coastal waters which is representative of the Mediterranean’s diversity and made up of ecologically interconnected and well managed MPAs, in accordance with the latest guidelines from the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Barcelona Convention. Every 4 years, MedPAN and SPA/RAC carry out the status of Mediterranean MPA to evaluate the progress that has been made, since the first inventory done in 2008, on the Mediterranean system of MPAs in view of the above mentioned objectives: does the network cover 10% of the Mediterranean, is it representative of the Mediterranean diversity, are MPAs well-connected and well managed? The main findings of the 2012 status of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean Sea were that the target of 10% protection was far from being achieved, that the network was not yet coherent and that MPA management was still insufficient. This 2016 report has used the 2015-2016 inventory made on MPAs (MAPAMED) and a survey questionnaire sent to managers not only to assess the progress made since 2012 but also to identify the remaining steps needed to achieve by 2020, the objectives set for the network of MPAs by the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Barcelona Convention.