The Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) of Côte Agathoise (France) and Torre Guaceto (Italy) are the winners of the MPA Awards 2024.
The ceremony took place yesterday, in Brussels on March 5, 2024, during the 2nd Annual Forum of the Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters.”
The MPA Awards, launched through a collaborative effort of the “2030”, BlueMissionAA, and MPA Europe projects, operate within the framework of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters.” These awards specifically recognize MPAs that demonstrate exceptional commitment to the EU Mission’s goals while prioritizing strong stakeholder engagement in their establishment and management.
Côte Agathoise (France)
Located along the French Mediterranean coast, Côte Agathoise has distinguished itself through its comprehensive approach to MPA management, highlighting the local political commitment, innovative technical solutions and collaborative efforts with maritime stakeholders. Managed by the town of Agde, under the authority of the Préfecture Maritime de la Méditerranée and the Préfecture de l’Hérault, the MPA has been a beacon of effective governance and environmental stewardship.
Torre Guaceto (Italy)
Situated in Italy’s Puglia region, it has earned recognition for its exemplary stakeholder engagement practices and conservation initiatives. The MPA has demonstrated remarkable success in the 20 years of dedicated work in marine conservation. The reserve’s innovative approach to management, involving the Reserve Management Consortium and active stakeholder engagement, garnered praise from the European Commission representatives.
The winning MPAs receive a comprehensive package of benefits designed to enhance their conservation efforts and operational capabilities, including:
- An Award Certificate presented by high-level Mission Ocean and Waters representatives
- Enhanced visibility and recognition as Mission Actors
- Access to networking opportunities and best practice sharing platforms
- Ocean literacy and education tools
- Comprehensive access to the Mission Implementation Platform services
- Entry to the WaveLinks Platform and its stakeholder engagement resources
- Investment opportunities and expert advisory services
- Support from Lighthouse CSAs and Mission Implementation Platform Help Desks
These awards not only recognize the outstanding achievements of these MPAs but also provide them with valuable resources to continue their vital work in marine conservation and stakeholder engagement.
The success of Côte Agathoise and Torre Guaceto serves as an inspiration for other MPAs across Europe and demonstrates the importance of collaborative approaches in marine conservation.