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INSPIRING COURSE OF ACTION ON THE MOROCCAN COAST
Houssine Nibani, President of the Association for Integrated Resource
Management (AGIR), presented the progress made in achieving
conservation objectives in Al Hoceima National Park in Morocco, part of
which extends out to sea (19,000 hectares). “We have a sufficient amount
of skilled human resources on the ground. We are working on several
target species, including the osprey, octopus and seagrass meadows.
We have involved artisanal fishers as guardians and observers of these
vulnerable species. They are even asking to help implement no-take
zones. We also have the support of the Med-Nasse women’s cooperative,
EXPLORING SOLUTIONS who make traditional fish traps. But monitoring illegal trawling near the
AND AVENUES FOR 2030 coast creates many problems, including the safety of our eco-guards.”

“A minority of MPAs are effectively financed and
managed,” noted Romain Renoux, Executive Director
of The MedFund, a sustainable financial mechanism
that currently supports 20 MPAs in 9 Mediterranean
countries with funding exceeding 6 million euros and
intends to double its targets by 2030.
The roadmap also includes attracting new
stakeholders – like Nice City Council, which is
planning a new marine protected area all along the
city’s coastline, from the mouth of the Var River
to the Cap de Nice, that will therefore tackle the
human-driven pressures of coastal developments
like Nice airport and port. “The planned zone will
also encompass an offshore area flanked by the Var
and Paillon submarine canyons, which are already
in the Pelagos Sanctuary. We see this project as
a testing ground for SDG 14,” explained Aurore © Med MPA forum
Asso, Councillor at Nice City Council. “We are
using the science-based Systematic Conservation
Planning approach and taking time to establish the
project within civil society, through a long process of 10 YEARS OF ACTION IN THE CAP D’ADGE MPA
consultation”, she continued, before mentioning the
hope of seeing the return of angelsharks to the aptly “We have links with other local council services. The Cap d’Adge
named Bay of Angels. MPA, 310 hectares of which are highly protected off the coast of this
The urban marine reserves of Larvotto and Spélugues town that has 30,000 inhabitants, is seen as one element of a global
in Monaco, which are managed by the Monegasque management project”, explained the town’s Director of the Marine
Association for the Protection of Nature (AMPN), are Environment, Renaud Dupuy de la Grandrive, as he presented their
also engaged in the new roadmap: “We value links offices located in a floating building containing boats, technical
with other Mediterranean MPAs”, said Jacqueline and diving equipment and a meeting room, among other spaces.
Gautier-Debernardi, Director of AMPN, which works Their work includes the scientific monitoring of Posidonia seagrass,
actively with the Principality’s stakeholders, raising coralligenous habitats, cetaceans and seabirds, reef restoration,
awareness in hotels, organising participatory science awareness raising and environmental education.
initiatives, studying ecosystem services and so on.

The Mediterranean Posidonia Network aims to
protect 100% of Posidonia seagrass by 2030.
“40% of Posidonia is in MPAs. To protect it outside
those areas, we need to convince policy-makers.
Our goal is to have an inclusive network”, explained
Frédéric Villers, Mediterranean Coastal Uses Officer
at the French Biodiversity Agency, closing the MPA
meeting’s second panel discussion.

© Renaud Dupuy de la Grandrive