Press release
12.06.2025
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are an essential tool for protecting marine biodiversity, ecosystems and the services they provide. As the serious ecological problems of the Black Sea are constantly in the public eye, more and more research and efforts are focused on activities related to the conservation of marine life, prevention of overfishing, pollution reduction and climate change mitigation.
The project Open environmental eFolio for joint maritime spatial planning and conservation of the valuable Black Sea Basin marine ecosystems (MARMAPS), https://marmaps.bsnn.org, supported by the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme 2021 – 2027, aims to improve knowledge on the conservation of valuable Black Sea ecosystems by creating digital tools for collaborative spatial planning and marine biodiversity restoration.
The partnership comprises the Black Sea NGO Network, Bulgaria, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, NGO Mare Nostrum, Romania, and the Black Sea Branch of the Ukrainian Ecological Academy of Sciences, Ukraine. The project lasts 18 months and has a total budget of €498 358.
In line with the objectives set by the EU and the Convention on Biological Diversity, MARMAPS aims to provide solutions and tools that enhance regional conservation capacity. Therefore, the project task is to promote biodiversity and the natural heritage protection by supporting regional marine conservation initiatives and opportunities for establishing networks of marine protected areas.
The main components of the open environmental eFolio include a decision support system and three additional developments based on information from global experience: templates for monitoring protocols, citizen science tools and a selection of best practices for MPA management.
The decision support system uses open access data on species, habitats and ecosystems in the Black Sea, taking into account the impact of human activities. Developed by scientists at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the system presents scenarios for different operational objectives and planning options for new MPAs. It integrates biodiversity and socio-economic data into planning prioritisation schemes. All generated options consider planning scenarios that align with the EU Biodiversity Strategy’s goal of establishing 30% protected areas, including 10% strictly protected areas, by 2030.
The development of model monitoring protocols for MPAs in the Black Sea has been based on monitoring experience in the Mediterranean and MPAs and reserves from other parts of the world. The monitoring framework and associated protocols help to understand how protection of the marine environment affects biodiversity. For many years, monitoring has focused on commercially important fish species as the primary means of assessing the success of an MPA or marine reserve. These data are important, but do not reveal all the factors that might affect the species or their environment. Frameworks are now being developed to monitor entire ecosystems using protocols and reviews. These will enable us to gain a clearer understanding of the state of the sea and the life in it, and to assess how it is changing. The project development highlights the benefits and advantages of this approach. The monitoring framework and associated monitoring protocols can be organised around various themes such as representativeness, habitat composition and condition, climate change, key species, water quality or marine pollution. Different combinations are also possible according to needs and local conditions. A distinction is also made between ecological and socio-economic monitoring. The topics included in the protocols for a given MPA depend on its specific conditions, the protection objectives, and the requirements of the regulators and local communities.
Through the review of citizen science monitoring tools, the MARMAPS project is making a valuable contribution to strengthening the role of the public in marine research and conservation. Initiatives such as Marine Litter Watch, Delphi or Sea Watcher demonstrate the effectiveness of digital tools in collecting relevant data for environmental research and policy. Citizen science offers opportunities for practical learning, fosters critical thinking and sparks interest in science and the environment, especially among young people. Active participation encourages a sense of responsibility towards nature and turns citizens into valuable partners in decision-making processes. The analysis also highlights the need for a common infrastructure to integrate existing initiatives, facilitate interoperability and standardise data collection and validation methods. Such a platform would support international cooperation, increase efficiency and ensure long-term impact on environmental policies.
Examining a variety of good practices in the management of MPAs is also an important contribution to the project tools. First and foremost is the ban on bottom trawling and the use of invasive fishing gear. The initiative is being taken both by individual countries, such as Greece, and by consortia of civil society organisations at EU level, which receive support from prominent political figures. Improving marketing is a means to increase sales of catches from local regulated fisheries – another successful approach to protect local resources, rebuild fish populations and improve control in marine reserves, a way to counter illegal fishing. The development of environmentally friendly marine tourism and sports activities, sustainable marine tourism, education and science programmes, plans to create networks of marine protected areas, engaging local communities and marine users in decision making are just a few more of the good practices associated with the experience of MPA management and development.
The information selected for the eFolio forms the basis for developing an exchange and long-term support mechanism between members of the target groups and end-users of the MARMAPS project. The project highights the importance of protecting biodiversity in the Black Sea and conserving valuable marine ecosystems. It also provides an opportunity to benchmark against European and global experiences for improved capacity for MPA planning, monitoring, reporting and management.
