BLUE CONNECT project relies on its 12 Demonstration Sites (DSs) to test and demonstrate a systematic approach to marine conservation planning and management. A crucial first step in this process is conducting a scoping and baseline analysis of the DSs, providing a clear picture of their biodiversity, human pressures, governance structures, and conservation challenges.
The scoping aimed at capturing the full picture of each demonstration site:
Nature: species, habitats, and ecological data.
Pressures: human activities such as fisheries, tourism, transport, and other uses.
Protection & management: legal status, conservation measures, and the presence of a management body.
Participation: involvement of local communities and stakeholders in decision-making.
Monitoring & restoration: technologies, ongoing initiatives, and financial or institutional mechanisms.
Strict protection measures, Funding tools: ………..
By identifying both enablers and barriers, the assessment provided a comprehensive overview of each site’s challenges and opportunities.
The baseline assessment combined multiple perspectives to ensure accuracy:
• Expert input – Demonstration site leads completed detailed forms.
• Stakeholder interviews – Local working groups validated the expert knowledge and highlighted community concerns.
• Public surveys – Broader surveys captured perceptions and needs of the wider community.
All information was compiled into Deliverable 4.1, offering the first in-depth portrait of the 12 demonstration sites.
Find more details and key findings following the BLUE CONNECT website!