The main objective of the project is to determine the areas of ecological importance for the conservation of marine biodiversity in the Spanish areas of the North Atlantic and the Cantabrian Sea.

The main objective of the project is to determine the areas of ecological importance for the conservation of marine biodiversity in the Spanish areas of the North Atlantic and the Cantabrian Sea. Likewise, through the initiative “Determination of marine waters of ecological importance in maritime exclusion zones of the North Atlantic and the Spanish Cantabrian Sea for eventual incorporation into the Natura 2000 Network” it is intended to check and evaluate whether the habitat proposal made in the project executed between 2005 and 2007 is included within the network of marine protected areas currently existing.

More specifically, the objectives we pursue are the following:

• To increase scientific knowledge about biodiversity on the seabed.
• Contribute to the National Inventory of Natural Sites of Conservation Interest of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Mediterranean Action Plan.
• To assess the status of populations of species protected by the Barcelona Convention and its Protocol on Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity of the Mediterranean.
• Determine which type of important marine habitats are or are not represented in the first project outcome proposal 2005-2006.
• To determine which border areas of the current Marine Protected Areas of the Spanish State should be included in these, with the aim of increasing their protection and providing them with ecological coherence.
• Raise awareness among the population about the importance of conserving the biodiversity of marine areas and oceans.