PUBLICATIONS
Deliverables
The MSP4BIO project recognized the effective implementation of a strategic communication and dissemination plan as a central pillar of its’ success and achieved strong and wide-reaching outreach, surpassing initial KPIs and ensuring high visibility for its results. The project website became a central hub with 65 blog posts and over 35,000 visits, supported by effective cross-platform promotion.
Policymakers at all levels—regional, national, and EU-wide—must act decisively to strengthen the biodiversity dimension of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP)
Deliverable 6.3 presents a synthesis of policy-oriented outcomes from the Science-Policy Dialogue Think Tanks conducted under MSP4BIO’s Work Package 6. These dialogues, held between May 2023 and May 2025, brought together stakeholders from over eleven EU-funded projects, EU authorities (DG MARE, DG ENV) and planning experts to discuss and exchange on policy coherence and integrating biodiversity into Maritime Spatial Planning
The effective integration of biodiversity considerations into marine and maritime policies as well as into Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is crucial for achieving the EU’s environmental and sustainability objectives. Despite policy advancements, challenges such as governance fragmentation, data accessibility issues, insufficient funding, and the absence of legally binding biodiversity objectives hinder progress.
Task 6.1 of MSP4BIO aimed to 1) understand the status of biodiversity mainstreaming in marine environmental and economic sector policies in the EU region, and identify related barriers and levers, and 2) scrutinize the potential and challenges of the maritime spatial planning directive and its implementation in the EU member states for enhancing biodiversity mainstreaming
This report presents the participatory processes implemented across six European pilot sites within the MSP4BIO project, which aims to integrate biodiversity considerations into Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP).
Deliverable 5.4 presents the final recommendations regarding the transferability and scaling up of effective biodiversity mainstreaming in Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP). It provides findings from the cross–test site analysis and offers guidance on the transferability of results, as well as the potential and barriers associated with scaling them up.
Deliverable 5.3 showcases and demonstrates the results from the application and operationalization of the ESE Framework tools, which supported the development of test site–specific solutions for accelerating biodiversity protection and restoration in MSP under WP5, Task 5.3.
This deliverable presents the findings of Task 5.2 within the MSP4BIO project. The primary objective is to streamline the adjustment process of the Ecosystem Service Enhancement (ESE) management framework, which provides guidance on enhancing the protection and restoration of marine ecosystems and biodiversity while integrating with Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP).
To understand the current status of marine protected area networks and how they are considered in maritime spatial planning, a gap analysis was carried out for six test sites in five sea basins using a combination of desktop analysis and interviews. Gaps were identified and compared across test sites. These gaps will inform the further work that will take place within the MSP4BIO project.
This deliverable presents the Ecosystem-based Spatial Evaluation (ESE) Framework developed within the MSP4BIO project. The ESE Framework provides a structured approach to support Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) processes with the aim to protect and restore biodiversity while balancing sustainable human uses at sea.
This document outlines a structured screening process that includes an expert judgment phase and a criteria checklist to facilitate MPA integration throughout the entire MSP lifecycle — from plan preparation to implementation, monitoring, and revision phases. By examining current practices within European Union (EU) Member States, this deliverable identifies key criteria that have guided MSP development and evaluates whether and how MPAs are integrated into these processes.
This report presents the participatory creation of intergrated trade-off scenarios within the MSP4BIO project, aiming to improve the management of marine spaces and safeguard ecosystem services. The outcomes of this deliverable provide detailed Guidelines for applying trade-off methodology for MPA design.
This report aims to provide a comprehensive set of recommendations tailored for the five primary blue economy sectors addressed in the MSP4BIO project - aquaculture, fisheries, marine non-living resources, renewable energy, and tourism. These recommendations are strategically crafted to facilitate a sustainable and resilient transition, ensuring the vitality and well-being of the blue environment.
This report presents preliminary results from a methodology aimed at defining socio-economic and governance criteria for prioritizing proposals related to new areas, boundary adjustments, area relocations, and network corridors within marine management approaches. The study also focuses on identifying Ecosystem Services (ES) that encompass the social dimensions of various spatial management approaches in the marine realm.
The Ecological Toolkit (ESE1) was developed to support the design, establishment and management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by improving decision-making processes, focusing on prioritization of areas, integration of connectivity processes and assessment of human impacts on marine ecosystems.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are designated zones aimed at conserving marine ecosystems, safeguarding biodiversity, and sustaining yields of nearby artisanal fisheries, with potential benefits on provisions of jobs and marine economies.
A refined set of ecological criteria to strengthen biodiversity protection and restoration within maritime spatial planning, aligning with the EU Biodiversity Strategy.
The need to conserve and restore ecological functioning, i.e the set of processes that biotic and abiotic components perform within ecosystems, is universally recognized as vital to preserve and rebuild the health of ecosystems and sustain the flow of the services they provide.
A state-of-the-art overview of the main categories of conservation measures currently applied to protect marine ecosystems and species, considering international, European and national level measures is provided, including examples of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs).
Existing conservation and restoration initiatives were reviewed in this report to compile lists of criteria, species and habitats related to area designations for conservation.
This deliverable presents an analysis of the availability of datasets, data platforms, tools, and models required by MSP4BIO. Data were compiled and the availability for each test site and data requirement (desideratum) was analyzed. Data availability varied considerably between test sites and desiderata. The analysis found several data gaps, which serve as guidance for data collection by other work packages.
Scientific Publications
How can socio-economic dimensions support the integration of MSP and MPAs? This paper explores the importance of a people-centric approach to marine protection and spatial planning.
This paper explores how Maritime Spatial Planning can boost nature restoration using a biodiversity-centric approach to ocean management.
Horrendograms as Tools to Assist Circumnavigating Through a Sea of Different Maritime Policies. In: Partelow, S., Hadjimichael, M., Hornidge, AK. (eds) Ocean Governance.
This special issue aims at providing blue knowledge development and mechanisms that can be transferred into actions to improve a sustainable water and coastal management.
The present paper aims to develop a MPA proposal in the ABNJ context through expert consultation. The proposal was built upon the analysis of the Macaronesia region study case.
This paper clearly defines and distinguishes MSP and MPAs discussing opportunities to optimise synergies, especially under rapidly changing climate.
Using the PlanWise4Blue decision support tool (DST), this research examined cumulative impacts on the northeastern Baltic Sea.
This PhD dissertation developed web-based operational decision support tools to collect and analyse data and insights as well as to facilitate communication and discussion with stakeholders.
The study presents a systematic approach to evaluate stakeholder participation in coastal zone management, revealing key challenges like underrepresentation and fragmentation in Cádiz Bay, Spain.
This conference report explores the critical intersection of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) and climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.
This MSc Thesis explores how trade-offs—mainly between conservation and development—are addressed, emphasizing their central role in achieving sustainable and balanced ocean management.
Rising maritime activities have increased environmental impacts and competition for marine resources. This study explores trade-offs in marine management tools like MPAs and MSP to balance conservation and socioeconomic goals.
This research prioritizes marine management proposals using socio-economic criteria and assesses ecosystem services' societal value.
This paper offers participatory-based methodological guidelines for applying trade-off analysis in marine spatial planning, aiding MPA design by balancing ecological and socio-economic objectives through stakeholder-informed scenarios.
Master thesis by Nancy Cross
Master thesis by Silvia Rayo
PhD dissertation by Camila Pegorelli
PhD dissertation by Volcy Boilevin
Factsheets
Factsheet
Factsheet
Factsheet
Factsheet
Factsheet
Factsheet
Factsheet
Factsheet
Tourism
Marine Non Living Resources
Fisheries
Aquaculture
Renewables
Briefs
Policy Brief
Policy Brief
A Guide to support the integration of Marine Protected Areas into Maritime Spatial Planning.
Brief
Brief
Blog Posts
Newsletter
Project news. events and key insights - July 2025
Project news. events and key insights - May 2025
MPAs, MSP & Ocean Conservation news - April 2025
MPAs, MSP & Ocean Conservation news - December 2024
MPAs, MSP & Ocean Conservation news - June 2024
MPAs, MSP & Ocean Conservation news - February 2024
MPAs, MSP & Ocean Conservation news - December 2023
MPAs, MSP & Ocean Conservation news
