Author:
Camila Pegorelli, University of Cadiz – UCA
On June 20th, the MSP4BIO project hosted a vibrant and thought-provoking webinar on “Nature-Inclusive Approaches of the Blue Economy in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Good Management Practices and Orientations.”
Organized by the University of Cádiz and supported by the MSP4BIO consortium, the event brought together marine spatial planning experts, researchers, and practitioners to discuss how to make blue economy activities more nature-inclusive—especially within MPAs.
🔍 Highlights:
✔️ Presentation of 95 good management practices for five sectors: fisheries, aquaculture, renewable energy, non-living resources, and tourism.
✔️ Visual tools like Sankey diagrams and impact matrices that illustrate how sectoral pressures affect ecosystem services.
✔️ A strong call to move beyond sector-by-sector management and embrace integrated, site-specific solutions.
🎙️ Expert Reflections:
🌊 Rachel Shucksmith (University of the Highlands and Islands) shared how voluntary fisheries closures in Shetland, co-designed with stakeholders, led to better marine protection and increased trust.
🌿 Janne Liburd (University of Southern Denmark) reminded us that tourism is more than an economic sector—it’s a “relational, cultural, and transformative force” that can also serve conservation goals.
⚡ Anna Barbanti (Renewables Grid Initiative) emphasized that nature-inclusive design in offshore wind is not only possible—it’s already happening, with practical measures from design to decommissioning.
🐚 Anne Mühlmann (Havhøst / Cool Blue project) highlighted the importance of small-scale, zero-input aquaculture (like seaweed and mussels) and community-based models that support education, local economies, and ecosystem regeneration. She also called for clearer restrictions on what should or should not be allowed within MPAs—arguing that protection must come with meaningful limits.
📍 Adriano Quintella (Oceano Azul Foundation) reflected on the practical value of the sectoral sheets and good practices to support “behavior-based management,” rather than just regulating activities.
💡 These discussions show how science-based guidance and collaborative approaches can inform better marine planning—rooted in the realities of both nature and people.
🎥 Missed it? You can still catch the full webinar here: Nature-inclusive Approaches of the Blue Economy in MPAs: Good Management Practices and Orientations
