PROTECT

Marine PROTECTed areas as a tool for ecosystem conservation and fisheries management

Funding: European Union, 6th framework, Contract no.: SSP8-CT-2004-513670

Funding Period: 2005-2008

Website: www.mpa-eu.net

Contact: Dr. Christian Möllmann

Description

The aim of the PROTECT project is to provide policy advice and develop methodologies to assess the potential of different MPA regimes. Marine Protected Areas will be assessed for their effectiveness to protect sensitive species, habitats and ecosystems from the adverse effects of fishing, to promote the enhancement of vulnerable species or ecosystems and to assist in the sustainable harvesting of economically valuable species.

A number of European institutes propose to work together in 3 regional case studies and in common work packages on the methodology development, assessment and modelling of European MPAs. PROTECT will define, assess and evaluate the parameters determining the success and failure of different regimes of protected areas based on resource, ecosystem and socio-economic objectives. Because of the large variety of marine issues and conflicts that arise in European MPAs, different approaches will be studied ranging from “no take zones” and marine reserves to protected areas, where different levels of fishing are accepted either on a seasonal or activity basis. These case studies will encompass:

1. Case Study - A top-down controlled ecosystem
   
2. Case Study - A “wasp-waist” ecosystem
   
3. Case Study - Deep water coral ecosystems

In each of the case studies identified, the project will:

• Evaluate the design of marine protected areas in terms of location, size, level of regulation of human activities, ecosystems characteristics, temporal scale as well as monitoring, assessment and management structures.
  
• Identify the potential fishery benefits as well as adverseness in terms of protection of exploited populations and protection of essential habitats, including the benefits in adjacent areas.
  
• Investigate the socio-economic impacts of the MPA, or proposed MPA, on local communities, user groups and impacts on the decision making process. Integrate and model the expected performances of protected areas in terms of the pre-defined objectives and develop management tools to increase their effectiveness.

Outputs will include:

• An improved basis for the design, selection, implementation, monitoring and management of marine protected areas in Europe, including legal strategies to be adapted for establishing MPAs. A better understanding of the effects of MPAs on target species, habitats and ecosystems by comparison of different regimes of protected areas.
  
• An evaluation of impacts of the different regimes of protected areas on socio-economic activities, including fleet behaviour.
  
• Scientific tools for the greater use of MPAs in European waters as an ecosystem-based approach for fisheries management.
  
• Creation of an “MPA forum” in cooperation with FP project EMPAFISH in a European context, which will provide an opportunity for dialogue between scientists, policy makers and stakeholders on the issues of MPA design and management.

Participating Institutions

• Danish Institute for Fisheries Research (DIFRES), DK
  
• Danish Research Institute of Food Economics (FOI), DK
  
• Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute (FGFRI), FI
  
• Institute of Marine Research (IMR-N), NO
  
• Norwegian College of Fisheries Science (NCFS), University of Tromsø, NO
  
• Swedish National Board of Fisheries (NBF), SE
  
• Gothenburg University (GU), SE
  
• Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences (IfM-Geomar Kiel), DE
  
• Institute for Hydrobiology and Fisheries Science, University of Hamburg (IHF UniHH), DE
  
• Sea Fisheries Institute (SFI), POL
  
• Economics Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), UK
  
• Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), UK
  
• Fisheries Research Services (FRS), Marine Laboratory, UK
  
• Centre for Economics and Management of Aquatic Resources, UK
  
• Marine Law and Ocean Policy Centre (MRI), Galway, IRL
  
• University of Portsmouth, Centre for the Economics and Management of Aquatic Resources (CEMARE), UK
  
• Institut Francais de Recherche pour l’Exploration de la Mer (IFREMER), FR
  
• Netherlands Institute for Fisheries Research (RIVO), NLD