The scientific committee of the LIFE+ INDEMARES project met today to address the various types of habitats studied within the framework of this project coordinated by the Biodiversity Foundation, whose objective is to contribute to the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity in Spanish seas by identifying areas of value for the Natura 2000 Network. held at the headquarters of the Biodiversity Foundation, has featured, among others, researchers from the oceanographic centers of Santander, the Balearic Islands, Malaga and the Canary Islands of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO); the Institute of Marine Sciences of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the universities of Malaga, Barcelona and the Autonomous University of Madrid, as well as Oceana.

Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment, through the Directorate General for Sustainability of the Coast and the Sea and the Directorate General for Fisheries Resources and Aquaculture, also attended.

During the meeting, the LIFE+INDEMARES scientific committee analysed the various types of habitats present in the State Standard Reference List (ERLP) in each of the 10 areas studied within the framework of the project. In addition, the information has been prepared to expand the list of habitats to be included in Annex I of the Habitats Directive, as provided for in the project.

Participatory approach

Co-funded by the European Commission and coordinated by the Biodiversity Foundation, the LIFE+INDEMARES project has a participatory approach and integrates the work of leading institutions in the field of management, research and conservation of the marine environment.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, the Spanish National Research Council, ALNITAK, the Coordinator for the Study of Marine Mammals, OCEANA, the Society for the Study of Cetaceans in the Canary Islands, SEO/BirdLife and WWF Spain participate in this initiative.

The project, which is in its final stretch, is the largest marine research and conservation effort carried out in Spain and will allow the declaration of an extensive Natura 2000 Network in the marine environment.

Since its launch in 2009, numerous species and habitats included in the Habitats and Birds Directives, the OSPAR and Barcelona Conventions, the National Catalogue of Endangered Species and the IUCN Red Book have been studied, including the bottlenose dolphin, the harbour porpoise, the loggerhead turtle, the pilot whale, the Balearic shearwater, the Cory’s shearwater, the Madeira storm-petrel, deep-sea sharks, as well as various habitats of high ecological value, such as coral reefs or mud volcanoes. In addition, new species have been discovered for science.