MPA Europe

The MPA Europe project will map the optimal locations for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in all European seas. The approach applies a holistic range of measures that includes biodiversity from species to ecosystems, habitats, and the area covers the EEZ of European Member States and associated countries and Atlantic Oceanic islands.

With an inter-disciplinary approach, the project encompasses variation within and between species and of ecosystems (including many environmental variables), as well as carbon cycle dynamics and climate change scenarios. The potential MPA areas will be prioritised using systematic conservation planning software which enables alternative weighting of variables and multiple scenarios, and ultimately supports wider marine spatial planning.

MPA Europe project has been accepted under the EU Mission: "Restore our Ocean and Waters” Charter .