MPA Europe contributes to European discussions on effective marine protection

MPA Europe partners from CLIMAZUL joined two recent events focused on marine protection, helping share the project’s policy recommendations with stakeholders working across marine spatial planning, MPA management, and ocean governance.

MPA Europe Releases Policy Brief on Biodiversity, Organic Carbon, and Marine Spatial Planning

MPA Europe has released a new policy brief on how representative Marine Protected Area networks can support Marine Spatial Planning in Europe, with a focus on biodiversity protection and seabed organic carbon.

MPA Europe partners meet in Oostende and Brussels to wrap up the project

Early this month, MPA Europe partners gathered in Oostende, Belgium for the project’s final consortium meeting, followed by a policy-focused meeting in Brussels with European Commission staff and invited stakeholders.

The benefits of MPAs highlighted on RTÉ Radio 1’s CountryWide

Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1’s CountryWide show, MPA Europe coordinator Mark Costello explained how well-managed marine protected areas (MPAs) can help restore fish stocks and sustain coastal livelihoods. The interview highlighted how MPAs, when effectively designed, can support both biodiversity and local economies.

Recent studies reinforce the case for ecologically representative and connected MPAs

Three recent contributions from MPA Europe partners strengthen the scientific case for ecologically representative MPA networks. Together, they highlight the importance of large-scale biodiversity representation and future climate considerations in MPA design.

MPA Europe launches interactive Online Atlas for MSP with species distribution models at its core

The new Online Atlas for MSP brings together biodiversity data, climate scenarios, and spatial prioritisation layers to support MPA network design across European seas and places species distribution models (SDMs) at its core to guide science-based planning.

MPA Europe hosted the first MPA in MSP International Conference

The International Conference on “Marine Protected Areas in Marine Spatial Planning” (MPAinMSP), hosted by MPA Europe in Bodø, Norway, from 9 to 12 July 2025 brought together experts from science, policy, and practice to explore the integration of marine protected areas in marine spatial planning across European seas.

Call for Papers: MPAinMSP conference proceedings

All presenters at the Marine Protected Areas in Marine Spatial Planning (MPAinMSP) International Conference, hosted by MPA Europe in Bodø, Norway this week are invited to submit their work to a special issue of the journal Frontiers of Biogeography.

Mediterranean Sea Stakeholder Workshop Report is now available

MPA Europe’s report on the Mediterranean Sea stakeholders workshop recently co-hosted by the project, is now available on the Resources page

Calling All Marine Experts: Help Validate Species Distribution Models with MPA Europe

MPA Europe is inviting marine taxonomists and ecologists to contribute to an important collaborative effort—validating Species Distribution Models (SDMs). Experts who participate will gain recognition as Expert Reviewers and potential co-authorship in a technical paper. Join the effort by signing up before April 21, 2025!