One Ocean Network (ONE)

There is already strong science that supports the advantages of MPAs and there are many MPAs around the world. Unfortunately, in Europe we haven’t had many successful cases because of two main reasons. Firstly, there has not been much interest and support, and secondly, MPAs require a lot of diplomatic negotiations to reach a consensus, and it gets more complicated when you have to deal with national and EU law.

The issue is that many countries are implementing MPAs but they’re isolated between themselves.
Our idea is for the EU to support MPAs of different countries through this network. If this network could secure some funding, it could provide financial aid, and allow collaboration between local managers. Collaboration can empower these efforts, it will allow them to share problems and solutions. In particular, they could benefit from sharing how they’ve included stakeholders (like, local fishermen) and the public, through citizen science.
A European network for MPAs can bring everyone (working on MPAs) together, exchange knowledge, common problems, and thus collaborate and empower each other. Communication and sharing of both successful and unsuccessful cases is what will allow more effective and efficient measures to come.

Next, conservationists can create a toolbox that can be used for the future and even standard protocols for all MPAs (e.g. common fishery policy that is currently endorsed).