MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2008) a Protected Area is a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values. In Greece, less than 5% of the total marine and coastal area is under protection, while only 0.08% of these properly implement conservation and management measures (UNEP-WCMC, 2023). However, Marine Protected Areas’ effective management can ensure the resilience of the local communities to climate crisis and offer a nature-based solution towards climate change mitigation.

The new EU Biodiversity Strategy, which is an integral part of the Green Deal, calls for the placement of 30% of the seas under protection by 2030. In line with the European Union commitments and working towards a healthy planet in the context of the sustainable development, iSea aims to improve and strengthen the protection within the existing Marine Protected Areas, but also to expand their coverage. To achieve this, we work closely with the local communities, the management units and the local authorities in order to establish strong partnerships and address the challenges linked to the management of MPAs through all stakeholder engagement, the implementation of the existing regulations, the scientific research and the suggestion, improvements and enforcement of Action Plans.