MISTIC SEAS III aims to address the assessment of the environmental status of the marine environment based on descriptor 4 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, food webs, which are the set of food chains of an ecosystem. Taking advantage of the coordinated actions carried out in the previous MISTIC SEAS projects and the cooperation framework established between the governments of Spain and Portugal, this proposal aims to use descriptor 4 in the Macaronesian subregion (Canary Islands, Azores and Madeira) to define a common approach in the development of this descriptor 4 and strengthen cooperation with other subregions of the north-east Atlantic Ocean. This action proposes common species and measures for Macaronesia in order to maximise synergies between indicators, monitoring programmes and measures already developed for descriptors 1 (biodiversity) and 3 (commercial species) in both Member States.

The main activities to be carried out are:

– Conduct a review of descriptor 4 to ensure the use of existing best approaches and find data gaps in the application of descriptor 4 to Macaronesia;

– Evaluate descriptor 4 in the Macaronesian subregion, refine the selected methods, and apply a pilot to Macaronesia to estimate baselines and thresholds;

– Improve monitoring and actions related to descriptor 4, with particular attention to descriptors 1 and 3, and criteria not addressed above;

– Synergies and subregional cooperation;

– Communication and dissemination;

– Coordination of action.