The project targets design and implementation of marine protected areas, as well as advancing the scientific basis for optimal design and implementation. This features two pilot studies in the Mediterranean and Black Sea for establishing a network of MPAs. DTU Aqua will mainly concentrate on developing the scientific basis for optimal design of MPA networks by developing spatial size-based models to describe biodiversity as appropriate scales, as well as habitat connectivity from trait-based modelling. In the later stage of the project DTU Aqua will contribute to governance issues relating to establishment of MPA networks.

The project has 39 partners from the EU and Eastern Europe and Near Asia.

The project is coordinated by Universita del Salento, Italy.