MPA Europe Symposium and North Atlantic Stakeholder Workshop
Copenhagen, Denmark 18. February 2025
Meeting location: Europa-Huset, Gothersgade 115
MPA Europe [HORIZON-CL6-2021-BIODIV-01-12] takes an inter-disciplinary approach to map the optimal locations for Marine Protected Areas in European seas, for science-based maritime spatial planning, by using holistic measures of biodiversity, encompassing variation within and between species and of ecosystems, as well as carbon cycle dynamics and climate change scenarios. The team includes experts in marine biology, taxonomy, ecology, oceanography, biogeochemistry, biogeography, MPA network design, benthic habitat mapping, carbon dynamics, and species distribution and climate modelling [www.mpa-europe.eu].
The MPA Europe Symposium will cover new data products, modeling of biodiversity and carbon stocks, and best practices in MPAs, including stakeholders’ engagement, ocean literacy and scientific communication. The North Atlantic Stakeholder Workshop will stimulate a discussion on how the results of MPA Europe can support the needs of stakeholders for optimal marine spatial planning in the region, including strengthening and extending MPA networks whilst expanding offshore renewable energy.
Meeting agenda
Registration (8:30):
08:30 Please arrive on time for security check as Europa-Huset has high level of security
Session 1 (9:00-9:30):
Welcome and Introduction to MPAs and MPA Europe
09:00 – 09:15: Welcome and opening remarks
- Mark Costello, Project Coordinator of MPA Europe, Nord University, Norway
- Welcome from the Commission – Victoria Beaz Hidalgo, Research Program Administrator, European Commission
09:15 – 09:30: Project MPA Europe: Objectives, approach and expected products – Anna Addamo, Nord University
Session 2 (9:30-10:00):
MPA in MSP in Europe
09:30 – 09:45: Updates on marine protection and restoration in Europe – Vedran Nikolic, DG Environment
09:45 – 10:00: Balancing EU visions for marine protected areas and offshore wind energy – Johnny Reker, European Environment Agency
10:00 – 10:20: Coffee break
Session 3 (10:20-11:05):
Marine biodiversity at European scale (MPA Europe results)
10:20 – 10:35: European marine regionalisations: biogeography and ecosystems – Mark Costello, Nord University [10 minutes + 5 minutes QA]
10:35 – 10:50: Range maps for marine species at European scale Including new shiny app and tutorial – Silas Candido Principe De Souza- UNESCO [10 minutes + 5 minutes QA]
10:50 – 11:05: How EMODnet can contribute to MPA planning – Eleanor Stewart, JNCC [10 minutes + 5 minutes QA]
Session 4 (11:05-12:00):
Blue carbon across European seas and communicating MPA Europe results
11:05 – 11:20: Blue carbon and the distribution of organic carbon stores in the seabed of Europe – Dorte Krause-Jensen and Christian Lønborg, Aarhus University [10 minutes + 5 minutes QA]
11:20 – 11:35: Importance of wave exposure for understanding marine habitats and organic carbon stores – Mike Burrows, SAMS [10 minutes + 5 minutes QA]
11:35 -11:50: MPA Europe science communication products – Miguel Leal, Science Crunchers [10 minutes + 5 minutes QA]
11:50-12:00: General discussion of morning topics: Biodiversity & blue carbon
12:00 – 13:00: Lunch
Session 5 (13:00-14:10):
Optimal Marine Protected Area networks in a future climate
13:00-13:15: Preliminary prioritisation of spatially optimal places for MPA in European seas – Anna Addamo, Nord University [10 minutes + 5 minutes QA]
13:15-13:30: Oceanographic connectivity, climate velocity and species migrations Jorge Assis, CCMAR [10 minutes + 5 minutes QA]
13:30-14:00: Discussion
14:00 – 14:30: Coffee break
Session 6 (14:30-16:15):
Stakeholder perspectives and interaction
14:30- 14:40: Perspectives and needs of stakeholders in the context of Marine Protected Areas and Marine Spatial Planning – Thanos Smanis and Belinda Bramley, Climazul [10 minutes]
14:40-15:20: Short talks in a panel format, to stimulate a discussion of use cases of MPA Europe’s results for the region:
- Talk 1 MPAs and MSP in Ireland – Oliver Ó Cadhla, Ireland Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage [10 minutes]
- Talk 2 Kenn Skau Fischer, Executive Committee Chair, North Sea Advisory Council (title to be confirmed) [10 minutes]
- Talk 3 (to be confirmed) [10 minutes]
- Talk 4 (to be confirmed) [10 minutes]
15:20-16:10: Q & A to panel and invitation to stakeholders to propose case uses for MPA Europe results
16:10-16:15 Goodbye
We encourage participants to continue discussions and networking over a drink in town.
