Conservation of priority species of marine megafauna in Greece and Italy

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

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. 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. 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. Aiming to cover existing knowledge gaps, by using a unique survey effort, using modern technologies and methods for producing sufficient ecological information and appropriate planning tools, to deal with the conservation challenges of target species in the Project Area, create a Mediterranean Offshore Biodiversity hotspots Inventory (MOBI), propose suitable hotspots for inclusion in the Greek N2K network, propose Site Specific Conservation Objectives and Management Guidelines for these new sites, as well as for the 44 project sites, ecologically linked with these hotspots (e.g. breeding sites of the target species). Further improve the conservation status of the MOBI sites located in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, by mobilising stakeholders and policy groups. Develop and implement an Integrated Monitoring Project to regularly assess the species conservation status and a well-trained Marine Conservation Task Force to apply conservation measures. Build capacity of competent authorities for the conservation and active management of the project sites and the sustainability of the approach.