SIMNORAT - Marine protected areas in the Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coasts - Database completion and analysis (D10)
Component 1.3.2 – Spatial demands and future trends for maritime sectors and marine conservation C1.3.2 Marine protected areas in the Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coasts database completion and analysis Completion of the North East Atlantic MPA database: to enhance decision makers awareness on MPA policies, a concrete view on the network is necessary. To do so, the North Est MPA database (available through http://www.maia-network.org), which was developed by a previous Interreg Project, has been completed with as much information as possible for the 350 MPAs of the SIMNORAT Area. This task has provided harmonized maps of the MPA network throughout the SIMNORAT area. This basin scale view of the network is essential since marine conservation must take into account ecosystem functioning, which is not framed by administrative delimitation. Moreover, collection of the information related to the management of each MPA allowed to provide original views on the network. For example, maps displaying MPAs based on their conservation objectives have been produced. ; This report was produced as part of SIMNORAT Project (Grant Agreement N0. EASME/EMFF/2015/1.2.1.3/03/SI2.742089). Competition for maritime space – for renewable energy equipment, aquaculture and other uses – has highlighted the need to manage our waters more coherently. Maritime spatial planning (MSP) works across borders and sectors to ensure human activities at sea take place in an efficient, safe and sustainable way. That is why the European Parliament and the Council have adopted a legislation to create a common framework for maritime spatial planning in Europe. The Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 (said Maritime Spatial Planning Directive) establishes a framework in order to reduce conflicts between sectors and create synergies between different activities, to encourage investment – by creating predictability, transparency and clearer rules, to increase cross-border cooperation – between EU countries to ...