The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment, has delivered to the European Commission the project “Integrated, innovative and participatory management of the Natura 2000 Network in the marine environment (LIFE IP-PAF INTEMARES)”, within the framework of the LIFE 2014 call. It is the result of several months of work and 116 contributions from almost 50 scientific, fisheries, conservationist and business organizations that have improved the final proposal. It has been an innovative process of contributions to the identification of a project. In addition, 27 letters of support have been received.

The project, whose development approach covers from 2015 to 2021, has as initial partners the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography and the TRAGSA group, although mechanisms have been planned to incorporate new partners throughout the project. In addition, a Technical-Scientific Committee and a Social Committee have been planned, with the aim of increasing the participation of third parties in the project.

The project, which addresses the execution of more than 80 actions, has the general objective of developing the Framework of Priority Action in the Natura 2000 Network in the marine environment of state competence and to ensure that, by its completion in 2021, the Spanish State has a consolidated Network of Natura 2000 marine areas managed in an effective and integrated way. with the active participation of the sectors involved, with research as a basic tool for decision-making and under the opportunity to contribute to a development model based on sustainability and innovation.

The actions proposed in the project address various aspects of the management of the marine environment, such as the development of management plans for designated areas, monitoring and surveillance through new technologies, governance in the marine environment, conservation and restoration of habitats and species, training and public dissemination and awareness.

These actions will be complemented by others financed by various European funds (European Social Fund and European Maritime Fisheries Fund), such as training for sea users, the promotion of entrepreneurship in the marine environment, the diversification of income of the various business sectors or the adaptation of fishing activities to the fulfilment of the objectives of the Natura 2000 Network.

From now on, the proposal will be submitted to the European Commission for evaluation and, if selected, would begin in October 2015.