Sebastian M.H.K. KOPF from the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) will represent the BlueMissionAA project at the upcoming MPA Europe Conference in Bodø, Norway, this July. As part of the panel on “Governance, Stakeholders and Participatory Engagement,” KOPF will demonstrate how EU Mission projects like BlueMissionAA are revolutionizing marine protected area implementation by prioritizing local community involvement and regional alignment.

The presentation will highlight three key insights:

•  Strict protection measures covering 10% of marine areas can only succeed when backed by robust enforcement mechanisms and genuine local community support.
• The ambitious 30% protection target risks becoming merely symbolic without full integration of restoration frameworks and use-regulation policies, such as those outlined in the Nature Restoration Law.
• The urgent need for better alignment between high-level international commitments—like the Ocean Pact—and practical tools that regional actors can actually implement. This disconnect has historically limited the effectiveness of marine conservation efforts across Europe.

The MPA Europe Conference serves as an ideal platform for sharing these insights, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working on marine protection across the continent. This participatory approach will propose concrete solutions for making marine protected areas more responsive to local needs while maintaining their conservation effectiveness.

The conference takes place in Bodø, Norway, from July 9 to 12, positioning discussions within one of Europe’s most remarkable marine environments and underscoring the practical importance of effective MPA governance for Arctic and sub-Arctic waters.