BLUE CONNECT

The BLUE CONNECT project aims to protect and restore marine habitats to achieve EU and global conservation goals by 2030. Collaborating with Marine Protected Areas managers, authorities, industries, and local communities from several demonstration sites, it will develop a systematic approach to marine conservation implementation. This effort will create a robust blueprint for setting science-based conservation objectives, defining conservation actions for effective MPA co-management, and ensuring conservation effectiveness. By integrating biodiversity, ecological functions, ecosystem services, and stakeholder input, BLUE CONNECT promotes a comprehensive and inclusive strategy for establishing and expanding MPAs, empowering communities to actively safeguard marine ecosystems.

Partners: Submariner Network for Blue Growth (DE), Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique (RBINS; BE), Centyr za Bregovi i Morski Izsledvaniya (CCMS; BG), Salt (NO), Universiteit Ghent (UGent; BE), Deltares (NL), Norsk Institutt for Vannforskning (NIVA; NO), Universidade de Malaga (UMA; ES), Tartu Ulikool (UTARTU; EE), WWF Mediterranean (WWF MED; IT), WWF Spain (ES), WWF Italia (IT), Submon (ES), Universidade dos Açores (UAc;PT), Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso (FGF; PT), Jan de Nul Nv (JDN; BE), Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare Marina Grigore Antipa (INCDM – NIMRD; RO), The Baltic and Marine Environment Protection Comission (HELCOM; FI), Balgarska Fondatsiya Bioraznoobrazie (BBF; BG), Fundação Maio Biodiversidade (FMB; CV), Service Public Federal Sante Publique, Securite de la Chaine Alimentaire et Environnement (BHTC; BE), Ministrio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (MITERD; ES), WWF Adria (HR), University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).