French version

The European Marine Protected Areas in the Atlantic Arc (MAIA) project gathers partners from the Atlantic arc involved in MPA designation and management.

This 3 years project (2010 – 2012) aims to:

- Share experiences about MPA management tools (MPA management planning and monitoring strategies); and

- Research methodologies to enhance stakeholder’s involvement in MPA designation process.

MAIA brings together 9 major partners made up of public organisations and NGOs from 4 countries within the Atlantic arc: United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Portugal. The MAIA project is lead by The Agence des aires marines protégées (French marines protected areas Agency) in France.

MAIA is based on workshops organised over the course of the 3 years of the project. These meetings will bring together various stakeholders (sea users such as fishermen, as well as MPA managers, and scientists) to discuss three mains topics:

- Monitoring strategies,

- MPA management plan and implementation,

- Stakeholder’ involvement in MPA designation process.

The workshops will also consist of site visits in each country, aiming to enhance understanding’, information and knowledge transfers between countries and MPAs management teams.

Numerous documents produced during the course of the MAIA project will be translated into the four languages of the partners ‘countries.

MAIA is financed by the Interreg IV B Atlantic Area transnational program under the priority 2 "Protect, secure and enhance the marine and coastal environment sustainability".

Soon you’ll find more information about the project on the official MAIA web site (currently under construction).