1. Marine Expert Group meeting 6/11/2012
The Network of Mediterranean MPA Managers – How can the network support political commitments in the Mediterranean ?
Purificacio Canals, MedPAN Chairman,
Chloë Webster, MedPAN scientific officer,

2. What protection in the Mediterranean?
677 MPA including:
161 MPA with a national juridical status, that may also have an international status
9 MPA with international status only (without national status)
507 Natura 2000 at Sea sites
+ 55 MPA in project (4 are extensions of existing MPA, 1 project of transboundary marine park in Bonifacio)
+ 4 Fisheries Restriction Areas (FRAs) on the high sea (GFCM)
bottom trawling prohibited (depth under 1000m)
Fisheries reserves will be inventoried in (collaboration with GFCM)

3. Key figures 18 965 km² without Pelagos Sanctuary The Mediterranean
represents 0.8% of world’s oceans surface area
677 MPAs in the Mediterrean
represent 6.6% of the world’s MPAs
Mediterranean MPAs = km²
km² without Pelagos Sanctuary
this represents 1.28% of the world’s protected surface area

4. Key figures
4.56% of the Mediterranean sea is under a legal protection status
1.08% without Pelagos Sanctuary
Less than 1% is included in an integral protection zone or No Take Zones (NTZ)
Higher proportion within the 12 n.m from the coast than in the open sea

5. Conclusions of the 2012 Status of Mediterranean MPAs
CBD target of 10% protection has not yet been achieved
Limited information on management effectiveness
the effective protection level remains to be assessed (still many are « paper MPAs »)
Need to harmonise the current 26 designations for Mediterranean MPAs according to the IUCN categories
Need to work towards a balanced geographical distribution
between South/East and North

6. Conclusions of the 2012 Status of Mediterranean MPAs
The distribution of MPAs is still essentially coastal
Need better representation of ecoregions, of inshore and offshore habitats…
Representativeness of habitats and species covered by MPAs is highly variable across the basin
Yet great lack of data
Need to reinforce ecological coherence
Lack of knowledge on connectivity
MPA management must be more effective
And capacity built & financial means sustainable to do so

7. History of the network « bottom-up » approach Project: common actions
1990 : MedPAN launched
1996 : activities stopped
2001 : Port-Cros National Park delegates the re-launching of the network to WWF-France
: INTERREG III C MEDPAN project with 23 partners
2007 : 1st conference of the Mediterranean MPAs (Porquerolles – France)
2008 : Creation of the MedPAN Organization at the request of MPA managers
2009 : Permanent secretariat of the Organization based in Hyères (France)
« bottom-up » approach
Project: common actions
Governance of the network

8. The MedPAN network – a snapshot
31 members, founding members,
24 partners
from 18 countries
Development of strategic partnerships : RAC/SPA, WWF, IUCN, GFCM, ACCOBAMS, CdL, CIESM…
A legally independent structure with an international governance
Secretariat: 6 permanent staff based out of Hyères

9. MedPAN long term Mission
The MedPAN mission is to provide support to MPA managers and relevant organisations to reach and sustain an ecologically representative, well connected and efficiently managed network of Mediterranean MPAs
Thus, it contributes to achieving the objectives of international conventions (CBD, Barcelona Convention Protocols (e.g.. Specially Protected Areas), ACCOBAMS
and European policies.

10. 5 major transversal intervention areas
MedPAN Strategy
3 main strategic axes
5 major transversal intervention areas
Axis 1: Build an efficient network (knowledge – monitoring – state of the art - anticipation)
Axis 2: Enhance the vitality of the network; interactivity between members + reinforcing their capacity of members to achieve effective management of MPAs together with all stakeholders
Axis 3: Reinforce the MedPAN network, its sustainability, governance, international prominence and resources
:A Scientific Strategy -Knowledge for management use
A communication strategy
A strategy for management capacity building - Training & capacity building in situ
A sustainable funding strategy - Sustainable financing for management and the network
Strengthening of the Secretariat and governance of the MedPAN association.

11. Some of the MedPAN current activities
MPA database,
Status and MPA Forum
Call for small projects
Workshops
Resource center
(documents, directory…)
Management tools/guides,
Exchange visits,
Trainings, pool of experts
Capitalisation of projects’ results
&
good practices on MPAs
Website, e-newsletter
Science to action
Scientific newsletter
Ecological/socio-econom.
monitoring

12. MedPAN Strategic Role Bridging the gap
between
Field actions / political commitments / science
Enabling dialogue/partnerships among all MPA stakeholders (scientists, decision-makers, private sector, managers, civil society…)
Welcoming MPA managers to “have a voice’’ into the political arena
To contribute to making well-informed decisions and provide for efficient implementation at all levels taking into account scientific results

13. How can the MedPAN network contribute to the implementation of European policies?
raising awareness on
challenges faced by Mediterranean MPAs
importance of integrating the different policies
the positive role of MPAs
bringing examples of good practice
providing a discussion platform for decision-makers / scientists / managers / private stakeholders
contributing to marine data collection (MSFD, N2000 at Sea)
through harmonised monitoring methods in all MPAs
Centralised in MAPAMED (International use & visibility)
Supporting and promoting the integration of MPAs to ICZM & marine spatial planning
2012 Mediterranean MPAs Forum / Roadmap to 2020

14. How European policies can contribute to the network of MPAs ?
Enable a better integration of all policies that can reinforce the positive impacts/effects of the regulated zones of MPAs
Contribute to improve the coherence of the network of MPAs through MSP and ICZM
Improve financing mechanisms and contribute to their sustainability
Adapt legal frameworks (iterative approach)
Improve knowledge of species and habitats
Support compliance mechanisms and the implementation of effective enforcement
Support empowerment of all existing MPAs with adapted management structures and adequate means

15. MedPAN Secretariat contact : www.medpan.org medpan@medpan.org
Marie Romani, Executive Secretary
Chloë Webster, Scientific Officer
Magali Mabari & Pierre Vignes, Communication officers
Bruno Meola, database officer
Marianne Lang, workshops and guidebooks officer