Meeting Reviews Mediterranean Marine Biodiversity Conservation Progress

At this meeting representatives of 22 Mediterranean countries, including Spain, discussed the implementation of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI) beyond national jurisdiction, in high seas and deep, and future actions to be developed.

To date, 10 priority conservation areas that may become SPAMI high seas and deep waters site have been identified. Spain has identified three areas: the Alboran Sea (shared jurisdiction with Morocco and Algeria), the Gulf of Lions (shared jurisdiction with France) and the Balearic area.

This strategy aims to lead the way to achieve the 2020 target of Aichi, where 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas should be under some kind of protection because of their importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Another aspect to be discussed at this meeting will be the presentation of a pilot project on the impacts of climate change and the ecosystem approach in the management of aquaculture in Mediterranean wetlands.

This aims to provide an integrated Mediterranean countries management plan for the conservation and management of coastal biodiversity through promoting the use of aquaculture and capture fisheries as a basis for habitat rehabilitation, mitigation of climate change and improving the welfare of local communities.

The Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, IUCN has worked to prepare the document. It will present the study of Veta la Palma in the marshes of Doana as an example of good management practices of aquaculture with an ecosystem approach, which is recognized by several international conservation institutions such as UNESCO and WWF.

This meeting is held every two years and has been organised by the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA) of the Barcelona Convention in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation IUCN (IUCN-Med). The meeting venue will be Hotel Barcel Malaga.