Last week, the coordinator of the MPA-Europe Horizon Europe project hosted the kick-off meeting in Bodø, Norway.

The 10 partner organizations involved in the project met for two days of productive meetings that greatly contributed to sharing and aligning ideas and frameworks. On the first day, MPA Europe organised an open symposium at Nord University, where the different partners presented their latest scientific developments regarding marine biodiversity and Marine Protected Areas. The symposium was presented both virtually and in-person, and it was attended by faculty and students at Nord University, local and regional stakeholders, and other representatives interested in Marine Protected Areas.

The project partners also used the 2-day gathering to develop and refine important strategies for project implementation and to also obtain important information about the Horizon Europe grant program from the Project Officer. In addition to these valuable discussion and brainstorming sessions, the project coordinator Prof. Mark Costello presented the MPA Europe project to the EU Commission Marine Expert Group.

The kick-off meeting wrapped up with a trip to Saltstraumen, where the world’s strongest maelstrom takes place, a natural phenomenon created when the tide turns and flows in and out of the strait between two fjords. This area is rich in marine life, and it’s one of Norway’s first marine protected areas, created in 2013. It was also a great photo opportunity for the MPA Europe group!