The EU and Member States have funding programs and initiatives relevant for Mission Ocean and Water projects. There are calls for proposals that could support your projects. The Mission Work Programme has regular calls relevant to Blue Parks. There are also financial instruments for the other conservation activities and the blue economy. Furthermore, there are resources for financing the green energy transition of fisheries and aquaculture. Funding is also available for Associated Regions to showcase solutions developed within projects in other areas. You can explore all these opportunities here.
You can start by reviewing the information in our funding pages (following the above link) for information and opportunities to help you search for funding. Please note that there are many funding sources and opportunities across Europe, so we encourage you to use this list as a starting point and look further as well.
We look forward to providing more information on our financing pages. Please send us an email to missionocean-platform@technopolis-group.com and include your contact details and, if possible, the website of your funding programme.
We also encourage you to upload your programmes supporting marine protection and restoration in the Mission Charter.
Enhancing the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) involves a multi-faceted approach. Key measures include establishing clear, coherent policy frameworks and involving stakeholders at every step.
Effective management depends on incorporating advanced decision-making tools and facilitating the sharing of knowledge and best practices.
It is also critical to create interconnected networks of MPAs, supporting wider ecological processes and improving biodiversity outcomes. Integrating protective efforts with restoration initiatives within these areas amplifies their impact.
Projects such as EFFECTIVE aim to promote large scale MPAs through marine ecosystem restoration solutions , applying an ecosystem-based management framework , observation and monitoring and involving governance, participation and social engagement.
The PROTECT BALTIC project is developing a comprehensive suite of tools and guidelines aimed at enhancing MPA management. This includes methodologies and recommendations for analyzing and improving the sufficiency and effectiveness of measures including a planned MPA coherence assessment tool and MPA monitoring guidelines, capacity building for MPA managers, and strategic planning of restoration actions to support the ecological integrity of the Baltic Sea.
For more specific strategies and detailed insights tailored to your needs, our helpdesk is ready to assist you further.
Many MPAs merely exist on paper, so called “Paper Parks” and it is crucial to transform these into effective, well-managed areas. This often involves overcoming hurdles in securing sufficient funding and resources for essential activities such as monitoring, law enforcement, and community engagement. Implementing robust monitoring programs to assess MPA effectiveness and ecological health, in line with its management and spatial planning, can be resource-intensive and technically challenging.
Additionally, MPAs are increasingly challenged by environmental pressures and climate change impacts such as ocean warming, acidification, pollution, and habitat degradation leading to biodiversity loss. Another significant hurdle is ensuring ecological connectivity between MPAs and scaling up management practices to consider broader ecological processes and networked ecosystems. Coordinating these efforts across different jurisdictions, agencies and multiple stakeholders add to the complexity of achieving effective and efficient MPA management. As a good practice example, the Blue4All project is focused on transforming 'paper parks' into efficient and effective MPAs and MPA networks. It achieves this by delivering stakeholder-driven solutions that enhance networking and knowledge sharing, particularly for MPA managers, through a Living Lab approach. The EU funded project MPA Europe is working on maps of an optimal MPA network in European seas prioritised for biodiversity protection and blue carbon benefits.
For insights on addressing these challenges and tailored support, our helpdesk team is available for comprehensive guidance.
This approach to create representativeness and connectedness between MPAs aims to establish a network of MPAs that effectively conserves biodiversity and ecological processes across different marine environments. This approach helps protect migratory species, maintain genetic diversity, and enhance ecosystem resilience to environmental changes.
It involves strategic planning to identify key areas for protection, considering factors such as habitat types, species distributions, and ecological connectivity. Ecological connectivity is essential for maintaining biodiversity, identify species climate refugia, ecosystem functioning (such as nutrient cycling), and the long-term sustainability of (marine) ecosystems.
Representative and well-connected MPAs are foundational to achieving long-term (marine) conservation goals while at the same time benefiting communities and economies that depend on marine resources.
Well-managed MPAs significantly enhance ecosystem services, playing a crucial role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. They can protect 'blue carbon' ecosystems such as seagrasses, which not only sequester carbon but also provide coastal protection among other benefits. They also support sustainable fisheries management, through mechanisms like spillover effects, where protected areas can enhance fish stocks in adjacent areas.
For more tailored advice or specific examples of connected and representative MPAs, reach out to our helpdesk.
Establishing effective social engagement processes between communities of users, planners, and other sectoral actors in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) while building participatory support for new ones requires several key steps.
Firstly, it is essential to actively involve local communities and other stakeholders (including fishers, tourism operators, and environmental groups) in decision-making processes, ensuring their needs and perspectives are considered. This can be achieved through methods such as community meetings, workshops, and stakeholder consultations, which foster open communication and dialogue. Secondly, forming partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, academia, and local communities, provides access to a broader range of expertise, resources, and support. Thirdly, promoting participatory management empowers communities to contribute local knowledge and innovative solutions to MPA management, fostering a sense of ownership and stewardship. Additionally, raising awareness about the benefits of MPAs through educational campaigns and community engagement activities can build support and understanding among stakeholders. Overall, establishing effective social engagement processes involves inclusive decision-making, collaboration, and education to ensure the success and sustainability of MPAs. For more detailed strategies and examples, feel free to contact our helpdesk.
