The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and the Environment has laid the foundations to move towards a new management model for marine protected areas through the LIFE IP INTEMARES project, which is now in its first year. It is the largest marine conservation project in Europe, and the Ministry acts as coordinator – through the Biodiversity Foundation – and as a partner, through the Directorate General for Sustainability of the Coast and the Sea.

 In order to learn about the actions carried out during this first year of operation, a delegation from the European Commission has met with the coordinators and partners of the project, which has the financial contribution of the LIFE Programme, as well as the European Social Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, among other sources of funding.

 In this first year of implementation, the cooperation mechanisms for the joint management of the marine protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network with coastal autonomous communities and cities, as well as with other administrations and ministries, including Defence and Development, have been strengthened.

 Specifically, lines of collaboration have been agreed for the preparation of management plans and conservation strategies for endangered species, as well as for the monitoring and surveillance of the marine environment. A training plan has also been launched for the Navy to improve the knowledge necessary for the management of the Natura 2000 Network in the marine environment.

Participation is one of the main axes of LIFE IP INTEMARES. During 2017, more than 50 entities related to research, conservation and socioeconomic sectors, such as fishing, tourism and education, among others, have been involved in the project.

Within the framework of the project, the Ministry has developed various actions to improve the protection of vulnerable or endangered species. This is the case of the prickly pear, the largest endemic mollusk in the Mediterranean. Due to its critical situation, an emergency plan has been put in place to prevent the extinction of the species.

 The conservation of sea turtles has also been key during the first year of LIFE IP INTEMARES, in which the creation of an action protocol for sea turtles stranded on the coast has been promoted.

The first steps have also been taken to draw up the conservation plan for the porpoise, the smallest cetacean that can be sighted in Spain.

 The Ministry coordinates the project through the Biodiversity Foundation, and acts as a partner through the General Directorate of Sustainability of the Coast and the Sea. The Spanish Institute of Oceanography, the Spanish Fisheries Confederation, SEO/BirdLife and WWF-Spain also participate as partners.