The MedMPA (Regional Project for the Development of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas in the Mediterranean Region) project's general objective is to strengthen the conservation and sustainable management of the elements that make up the Mediterranean marine and coastal biological diversity. The actions advocated have been designed to act as models and thus play a pilot, demonstrational part. It also aims at strengthening the concerned countries' national capacities, to guarantee the future of marine resources; particularly those, which are of particular interest or are being threatened.