LIFE-IP INTEMARES
LIFE15 IPE/ES/000012
Integrated, Innovative and Participatory Management for N2000 network in the Marine Environment
Networking project
Period: 01/01/2017 – 31/12/2024
Coordinating beneficiary: Fundación Biodiversidad
Associated beneficiary: WWF España (ADENA); Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente; Universidad Politécnica de Valencia; Universidad de Alicante; Fundación AZTI- TECNALIA; Confederación Española de Pesca; Consejería de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Desarrollo Sostenible de la Junta de Andalucía; SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE ORNITOLOGÍA; Consejería de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Desarrollo Sostenible de la Junta de Andalucía; Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucía; Instituto Español de Oceanografía (until 31/12/2021); Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (from 1/01/2022).
The main objective of the LIFE-IP INTEMARES project is to implement the PAF for Natura 2000 in the Spanish marine Natura 2000 network and ensure that, upon completion, Spain has a consolidated network of marine Natura 2000 sites managed in a demonstrative, effective and integrated way, with the active participation of the sectors involved and with research as a basic tool for decision-making.
LIFE ELIFE
LIFE18 NAT/IT/000846
Elasmobranchs Low-Impact Fishing Experience
Period: 01/10/2019 – 30/09/2024
Coordinating beneficiary: Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn – Italian National Institute for Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology
Associated beneficiary: MER (Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab Ltd);
Legambinte Onlus; AMPT (Consorzio di Gestione dell’Area Marina Protetta di Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo); CMed (Consorzio Mediterraneo); CNR-IRBIM (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – Istituto per le Risorse Biologiche e le Biotecnologie Marine; UNIPD (Università degli Studi di Padova – Dipartimento di Biologia; CE (Costa Edutainment S.p.A.); Soft (Softeco Sismat); AMPIP (Area Marina Protetta Isole Pelagie – Ente Gestore Comune di Lampedusa e Linosa).
The LIFE ELIFE project aims to improve the conservation of elasmobranch species (sharks and rays) by promoting best conservation practices in the context of professional fishing in the Mediterranean Sea, through the implementation of pilot and demonstration actions in the Italian ports of Chioggia, Gallipoli, Lampedusa, Cirò Marina / Porto Cesareo, North Sardinia, Marsala, Mazara del Vallo and Pelagie Islands.
MedBycatch
A collaborative approach for understanding multi-taxa ‘bycatch’ of vulnerable species in Mediterranean fisheries and testing mitigation
Period: 10/2017 – 06/2020
Coordinating beneficiary: Birdlife International
Associated beneficiary: Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area (ACCOBAMS), the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas of the United Nations Environment/Mediterranean Action Plan (SPA/RAC), International Union for Conservation of Nature – Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN-Med), BirdLife Europe and Central Asia (BL ECA) and the Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles (MEDASSET).
The project aims to support Mediterranean countries, specifically Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey, to develop a common standardized methodology to collect data and test mitigation solutions that can be replicated at the regional level. The project focuses on three demersal fishing gears: trawls, gillnets and longlines. In addition, data will be collected on purse seine bycatch in Morocco.
The main objectives of the project include: creating knowledge and baseline information on vulnerable marine species affected by multi-taxa bycatch; raising awareness of fishers and other target groups; capacity building of relevant actors for implementing sustainable fishing practices; implementing demonstration projects on sustainable fishing practices; contributing to the development of a Mediterranean Strategy/Action Plan 2020-2030.
GIREPAM
Interreg MARITTIMO-IT FR-MARITIME
Integrated Management of Ecological Networks through Parks and Marine Areas
Period: 01/2017 – 01/2020
Coordinating beneficiary: Sardinia Autonomous Region
Associated beneficiary: Parco Nazionale dell’Asinara – Area Marina Protetta “Isola dell’Asinara”; Area Marina Protetta Secche della Meloria; Ente Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano; Regione Liguria; Consorzio di Gestione Area Marina Protetta Portofino; Ente Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre – Area Marina Protetta delle Cinque Terre; Ente Parco Naturale Regionale di Montemarcello – Magra – Vara; Consorzio di gestione Area Marina Protetta Tavolara punta Coda Cavallo; Fondazione IMC Centro Marino; Office de l’Environnement de la Corse; Parc Naturel Régional de Corse; Università della Corsica; Conservatoire du Littoral; Parc national de Port-Cros; Conseil départemental des Alpes-Maritimes.
The GIREPAM project has been dealing with the marine-coastal areas of the Western Mediterranean basin that, despite being largely covered by specific national and EU protection instruments, include natural ecosystems classified among the most vulnerable. These are geographical areas characterized by a high naturalistic value in which the balance between uses, protection, conservation and enhancement of resources is not always guaranteed. In view of the high level of complexity that characterizes these territorial areas, the project aimed to overcome the sectoral and local approach of the actions undertaken and performed individually by the various actors responsible for the protection and management of the marine-coastal space, contributing to the exchange of good management practices and the sharing of the results obtained.
SHARKLIFE
LIFE10 NAT/IT/000271
Urgent actions for the conservation of cartilaginous fish in Italy
Periodo: 01/10/2011 – 30/06/2015
Beneficiario coordinatore: Centro Turistico Studentesco e Giovanile
Beneficiari associati: Università della Calabria; Italian Federation of Sport Fishing and Underwater Activities (FIPSAS); Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago di La Maddalena; Area Marina Protetta delle Isole Pelagie; Fondazione CETACEA; AGCI AGRITAL; Consorzio per il Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina ed Ecologia Applicata.
In linea con il Piano d’Azione Europeo per i pesci cartilaginei, approvato nel 2009, questo progetto LIFE+ Biodiversità mira a contribuire alla conservazione dei pesci cartilaginei, in particolare squali elefante e razze pelagiche, nei mari italiani, riducendo il tasso di mortalità causato da pesca commerciale e sportiva.
Il progetto promuoverà: l’uso di dispositivi di pesca a basso impatto per le razze pelagiche (amo circolare); svilupperà un sistema per ridurre la cattura accidentale di squali elefante; implementerà una politica di “tag and release” per i tornei di pesca e svolgerà una formazione su misura per i pescatori, veterinari e personale della guardia costiera che sovrintende ai controlli sulla pesca.
COCONET
Progetto FP7
Towards Coast to Coast NETworks of marine protected areas (from the shore to the high and deep sea), coupled with sea-based wind energy potential
Period: 2011 – 2014
Coordinating beneficiary: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR-ISMAR)
Associated beneficiary: CONISMA Italy; 3E Belgium; AEGEAN Greece; CLU Italy; CNRS France; COISPA Italy; CSIC Spain; DTU AQUA Denmark; GEOECOMAR Romania; HCMR-IOO Greece; IBER-BAS Bulgaria; IEO Spain; UC-IH CANTABRIA Spain; INAT Tunisia; INCDM Romania; IOLR Israel; IU Turkey; METU Turkey; MHI Ukraine; NCB United Kingdom; NEA Georgia; NENUPHAR France; NERSC Norwey; NIOF Egypt; OBIBSS Ukraine; SIO RAS Russia; UNIZD Croatia; UNIZKM Albania; UoM Malta; IBMK Montenegro; UROS Germany; USOF Bulgaria; USTV France; IO-BAS Bulgaria; UkrSCES Ukraine; IBSS NASU Ukraine; RSHU Russia; SNU-FF Turkey.
The project has two objectives: to create a network of the various marine protected areas (there are 27 in Italy) in the Mediterranean and to implement new ones in the Black Sea, which has none; to identify the most suitable sites for offshore wind power.
The project also includes the updating of wind maps of the two seas, which have been modified due to global warming. Most importantly, checking the state of the seabed of favorable sites where platforms can be anchored and power lines laid. Indeed, the presence and richness of fauna and flora will be the discriminating factor in the construction of the power plants. The project will have to identify guidelines so that the future network, formed by the current protected areas and those that will be identified in the high seas will be regulated and managed in a more homogeneous way, with a transboundary perspective.
Baltic MPAs
LIFE05 NAT/LV/000100
Marine protected areas in the Eastern Baltic Sea
Period: 01/08/2005 – 30/11/2009
Coordinating beneficiary: SO “Baltijas Vides forums”
Associated beneficiary: Institute for Aquatic Ecology (IAE LU); Latvian Ornithological Society (LOB); Latvian Fish Resources Agency (LATFRA); SIA Vides Filmu Studija /Wildlife & Environmental Film Productions / (VFS); SO Sociāli Orientētu Projektu Aģentūra /PO Socially Oriented Project Agency/ (SOPA); Institute of Ecology, Vilnius University (EKOI); Coastal Research and Planning Institute, Klaipėda University (KUCORPI); Centre of Marine Research (CMR); PO Baltic Fund for Nature (BFFN-RU) – St.Petersburg; BirdLife International; Metsähallitus – Natural Heritage Services (Metsähallitus); Baltic Environmental Forum – Estonia (BEF-Estonia); Baltic Environmental Forum – Lithuania (BEF-Lithuania); Estonian Environment Information Centre (EEIC); Estonian Marine Institute (EMI); Estonian Ornithological Society (EOÜ); Marine and Inland Waters Administration (MIWA); Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF); Estonian State Nature Conservation Centre (ECNC); Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN).
The project aimed to contribute to the protection and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in the coastal and offshore waters of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – the Eastern Baltic Sea. A particular focus was to be given to the species and habitats mentioned in the relevant Annexes of European Directives.
Trans-boundary networking and capacity building with key stakeholders from north-west Russia was also foreseen due to the close ecological connectivity of the Baltic Sea ecosystem and serious (potential) threats originating from the adjacent non-EU territories.
