ERA recently attended the Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre Symposia on Mediterranean Marine Key Habitats & ‘Non-Indigenous Species’

ERA recently attended the Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC) Symposia on Mediterranean Marine Key Habitats and ‘Non-Indigenous Species’ (NIS) held in Antalya, Turkey from 14 to 18 January 2019. Scientists, researchers, Non-Governmental Organisations and national representatives from all over the Mediterranean met to exchange knowledge on marine biodiversity conservation and enhance cooperation to achieve the good environmental status of the Mediterranean Sea. The symposia covered four distinct but intertwining themes:

• 6th Mediterranean Symposium on Marine Vegetation (proceedings);
• 3rd Mediterranean Symposium on the Conservation of Coralligenous and other Calcareous Bio-Concretions (proceedings);
• 2nd Mediterranean Symposium on the Conservation of Dark Habitats (proceedings), and
• 1st Mediterranean Symposium on the Non-Indigenous Species (proceedings).

The symposia provided an opportunity to exchange scientific data and research findings on marine biodiversity conservation, and promoted cooperation between all participants. Key note conferences, oral communications, poster sessions and round tables were held to present the most recent studies dealing with marine key habitats and species introduction in the Mediterranean Sea, and to discuss the best strategies for biodiversity conservation and restoration. A photographic exhibition on marine habitats and non-indigenous species was also held at the conference venue during the symposia.

The information shared and the discussions held at these symposia will help ERA with many of its ongoing programmes of work under important international and regional policies, such as the EU’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and Birds Directive (2009/147/EC); SPA/RAC’s Protocol  for  Specially  Protected  Areas  and Biological  Diversity  in  the  Mediterranean  of  the Barcelona Convention (the SPA/BD Protocol); the Bern Convention; the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and Malta’s national law S.L. 549.44, the Flora, Fauna and Natural Habitats Protection Regulations.

Such regional events are important to promote collaboration, and ensure that all stakeholders in the Mediterranean Sea are working with the most recent information available, to improve the environmental status of our Mediterranean Sea.