MPA Europe, in collaboration with PROTECT BALTIC, hosted a significant stakeholder workshop on February 29, 2024, focusing on the unique marine environment of the Baltic Sea. Held at the Hanaholmen Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre in Espoo, Finland, the event brought together experts and stakeholders, both online and in-person, to discuss the future of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and marine spatial planning in the region.

The workshop provided a platform to share the latest findings from the MPA Europe project, which include the first marine ecosystem classifications for Europe’s waters, comprehensive maps of species richness, and potential geographic distributions of key biogenic habitats. These findings are crucial for supporting the design and management of MPAs and advancing marine spatial planning in the face of climate change.

A significant part of the workshop focused on engaging stakeholders from various sectors, including HELCOM, national authorities, research institutes, NGOs and blue economy businesses. Discussions revolved around how the MPA Europe project’s results can enhance existing MPAs, help extend the network of protected areas and support science-based marine spatial planning. The input from these discussions is vital for shaping effective strategies for marine conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.

The workshop also highlighted the development of a sedimentary blue carbon database and maps, which are instrumental in understanding and managing the carbon storage capacity of marine environments. This work supports broader efforts to integrate blue carbon into climate change mitigation strategies and marine spatial planning.

The discussions from the workshop are summarized in a newly released report, which covers the detailed outcomes and key points raised during the sessions. This report is now available on the Resources section of our website. It serves as a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in stakeholder perspectives on the MPA Europe project’s latest developments in support of marine protection and spatial planning in the Baltic Sea.

We encourage all interested parties, whether you’re a policymaker, researcher, or marine conservation advocate, to download the full report. Your engagement is crucial as we continue to develop and implement strategies that support the health and sustainability of our marine environments.