Twelve Recommendations for Advancing Marine Conservation in European and Contiguous Seas

摘要: Like most ocean regions today, the European and contiguous seas experience cumulative impacts from local human activities global pressures. They are largely in poor environmental condition with deteriorating trends. Despite several success stories, policies for marine conservation fall short of being effective. Acknowledging challenges conservation, a four-year multi-national network, MarCons, supported collaborative efforts to bridge gap between science, management policy, aiming contribute reversing present negative By consolidating large network more than 100 scientists 26 countries, conducting series workshops over four years (2016-2020), MarCons analysed challenges, opportunities obstacles advancing seas. Here, we synthesize major issues that emerged this analysis make 12 key recommendations policy makers, managers, researchers. To increase effectiveness planning, recommend (1) designing coherent networks protected areas (MPAs) framework spatial planning (MSP) applying systematic principles, including re-evaluation existing zones, (2) MPA within broader transboundary framework, (3) implementing integrated land-freshwater-sea approaches. address inadequate or poorly informed management, (4) developing adaptive plans all sites Natura 2000 revising (5) embedding effects assessments into risk process making them operational, (6) promoting actions reach ‘good status’ waters. account change further (7) strategies change, (8) incorporating biological invasions prioritizing control invasive species. Finally, improve current practices may compromise actions, (9) reinforcing collection high-quality open-access data, (10) improving mechanisms public participation (11) goals full collaboration stakeholders, (12) addressing gender inequality sciences conservation.