Conservation of priority species of marine megafauna in Greece and Italy

Introduction

The Mediterranean Sea is a region of conflicts and intensive human activities for millennia. It is also a Sea of Nature, a global biodiversity hotspot, facing immense conservation challenges.

Project Overview

The MareNatura LIFE Project aims to provide the means for the mitigation of threats for 9 of the most threatened EU priority species of seabirds, marine turtles, and marine mammals at the Ionian, South Adriatic, and Aegean seas, hosting the strongholds of target species populations in 44 N2K project sites.

Consortium and Collaboration

The project involves a wide consortium of experienced actors, joining forces for the sustainable and effective conservation of the target species and their marine habitats.

Objectives

The project aims to cover existing knowledge gaps by:

1. Using a unique survey effort.
2. Utilizing modern technologies and methods for producing sufficient ecological information.
3. Developing appropriate planning tools to address the conservation challenges of target species in the Project Area.

Inventory and Conservation Proposals

The project will create a Mediterranean Offshore Biodiversity Hotspots Inventory (MOBI) and propose:

• Suitable hotspots for inclusion in the Greek N2K network.
• Site Specific Conservation Objectives and Management Guidelines for these new sites.
• Guidelines for the 44 project sites ecologically linked with these hotspots (e.g., breeding sites of the target species).

Stakeholder Engagement

Further improvement of the conservation status of the MOBI sites located in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction will be achieved by mobilizing stakeholders and policy groups.

Monitoring and Capacity Building

The project will develop and implement an Integrated Monitoring Project to regularly assess the species' conservation status and establish a well-trained Marine Conservation Task Force to apply conservation measures.

Additionally, it aims to build the capacity of competent authorities for the conservation and active management of the project sites and the sustainability of the approach.