As one of the consortium partners of the ‘MSP4Bio’ project which stands for - Improved Science-Based Maritime Spatial Planning to Safeguard and Restore Biodiversity in a Coherent European MPA Network, PAP/RAC representatives took part in the 2^ndGeneral Assembly meeting on the 20^th and 21^st of March 2023 at Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) in Ostend, Belgium.

Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme, the project has been launched to address the limited consideration of biodiversity protection and restoration in maritime spatial planning (MSP) processes in six pilot locations across five European Sea Basins – including the North-Western Mediterranean. Test sites will assess management measures, co-location and multi-use options including nature-based solutions in blue economy sectors and suggest policies and practices to be taken up in MSP e.g., planning policies and EIA and sustainability appraisal guidance for sectoral developments.

More details are available on the project website.