Past Events
MSP4BIO Final Conference took place in Venice, Italy 02 – 04 July 2025
Last week 02 – 04 July 2025., the final event of MSP4BIO took place in Venice, generously hosted by CNR-ISMAR Institute of Marine Sciences in synergy with the MEDIGREEN and NESBp workshops.
This three-day event brings together a rich community of project partners, policymakers, marine planners, MPA managers, Communities of Practice, and sister project representatives to reflect on biodiversity mainstreaming in Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), for discussion and validation of project results, interactive sessions on their exploitation and upscale, with keynote speeches, and hands-on workshops. The event run alongside MEDIGREEN’s internal workshop and NESBp Multi-Use workshop on Maripark scenario building, offering extensive opportunities for cross project dialogue and networking against the unique backdrop of Venice’s historic Arsenale.
Showcasing the results in the six MSP4BIO test site session was led by Margarita Stancheva (CCMS), as coordinating the development of site-specific planning solutions supported by the application of the MSP4BIO integrated Ecological an Socio-Economic Framework (ESE) and the cutting-edge Decision Support Tools (DSTs).
Read more: MSP4BIO Final Conference took place in Venice, Italy 02 – 04 July 2025
Echoes of the MSP4BIO Webinar – Nature-Inclusive MSP: Insights from MSP4BIO Test Sites
The first webinar in the MSP4BIO final series aiming to promote project outcomes, took place on April 9, 2025, hosted by s.Pro and CCMS. This exclusive online event, conducted via Teams, attracted approximately 60 participants, including the Communities of Practice (CoPs) members established within the project.
The webinar delved into the latest advancements in science-driven Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) and their implications for biodiversity conservation, as well as the enhancement of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) integration. It highlighted and demonstrated results from the operationalization and real-world applications of the MSP4BIO Ecological and Socio-Economic (ESE) Framework tools, which facilitated the development of targeted spatial and strategic solutions across the six MSP4BIO test sites, to accelerate biodiversity protection and restoration within the MSP context.
Read more: Echoes of the MSP4BIO Webinar – Nature-Inclusive MSP: Insights from MSP4BIO Test Sites
CCMS ATTENDED THE EMD 2025
The European Maritime Day (EMD2025), took place in Cork, Ireland on 21-23 of May 2025 and was organised by the European Commission, the Cork City Council and the Irish ministry Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
The CCMS team participated in the event, taking part in both the plenary sessions and workshops. The results of our two EU projects, Horizon Europe MSP4BIO and Mission Ocean BLUE CONNECT, were prominently featured and promoted. Representatives from both projects attended EMD 2025, contributing to the extensive exhibitions that showcased the MSP4BIO and MPAs Community Network. Additionally, we engaged in the interactive group discussion during Workshop 16, titled "Mission Ocean-Unlocking Phase2 Scalable Governance," where we presented a brief overview of the stakeholder approach and engagement strategies for BLUE CONNECT.
The next EMD2026 will be held in Limassol, Cyprus, 21 - 22 May 2026!
BLUE CONNECT at the European Ocean Days 2025!
From March 3rd-7th, the EUROPEAN OCEAN DAYS brought together policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in Brussels to discuss the future of Ocean Governance, Marine Conservation, and the Blue Economy. As part of the BLUE CONNECT project, we were there to gather insights on the latest marine protection strategies and challenges, connect with key stakeholders and explore potential collaborations.
One of the highlights was the MPA Card Game, developed collaboratively by BLUE CONNECT, BIOPROTECT, PHAROS, BLUE4ALL, Marine Plan, and MSP4BIO.
The game was a hit!