Adapting Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to Climate Change

Key Learnings

About the Region

Climate Threats

The Mediterranean Sea is warming 20% faster than the global average and predictions estimate that by 2040 the average annual temperature will be 2.2°C warmer than during the pre-industrial period. Currently, 90% of the commercial fish stocks in the Mediterranean area are overexploited despite its importance as a biodiversity hotspot. Warmer waters alter species composition and abundance. For instance, cold-water species are becoming less abundant and migrating, and warm-water species are spreading and displacing cold-water species, severely impacting marine ecosystems. Warming water temperatures can also lead to mass mortality events, as happened, for example, in 1999. Between 1970 and 2006, sea level rise accelerated to 1.1 mm per year, leading to coastal floods and erosion. CO2 uptake is another threat to the Mediterranean Sea, which causes an acidification of the seawater and threatens corals and shell-building organisms.

Marine-protected areas of the Mediterranean at the forefront of adaptation to climate change

Good health and good conservation status of marine areas is the basis for achieving resilience to the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems and their associated economic sectors. Hence, this underlines the importance of marine protected areas as strategies for adaptation to climate change.

Gemma Cantos Font, Catalan Office of Climate Change

Catalonia Pilot Sites: The four phases of adaptation planning

Climate Change Adaptation Plans aim to reduce an area's vulnerability by improving or restoring natural habitats. The process underwent four phases to achieve a tailor-made adaptation plan in each pilot site.

Phase 1

As a first step, the project team focused on drawing up an adaptation plan and identifying a body for (global) planning coordination among all pilot sites within the MPA-Engage project. A core team was established with a mandate to prepare and implement the plan locally. The project team identified stakeholders and designed a stakeholder engagement process. In total, the stakeholder engagement process involved eight actions.

1. Setting up a webpage for sharing information about the MPA-Engage project and the project activities.

2. Organising a webinar to introduce the MPA-Engage project, its aims, framework, primary actions, and expected results to the stakeholders (identified in the stakeholder mapping process).

3. Keeping the stakeholders updated about the project activities through social media channels.

4. Developing and disseminating regular press releases on project activities.

5. Organising a public meeting.

6. Setting up an online survey, asking stakeholders to shortlist priority actions from a list of potential actions that should be included in the climate change adaptation and mitigation plans.

7. Organising a consensus meeting to discuss the survey results in a dialogue between experts and participants, which resulted in a draft plan.

8. Organising a final webinar to share the contents agreed-upon of the climate change adaptation and mitigation plans.

Phase 2

During the second phase, the project team conducted a climate risk assessment. They prepared scenarios to assess the future impacts of and vulnerability towards climate change in the marine areas. The sources used included information from relevant pre-existing plans and stakeholder involvement.

Eleven monitoring protocols were generated. The following topics were covered in the protocols: Temperature, Mass Mortality, Local Ecological Knowledge (protocols 3, 4, and 6), Visual Census of Fish, Posidonia oceanica Conservation Status, Pinna nobilis Conservation Status, Sea Urchin Populations, Rapid Detection of Invasive Benthic Species, and Photogrammetry. The monitoring protocols were shared with local stakeholders to collect the data, which scientists and managers had defined as the most important monitoring needs for each marine protected area. In some cases, disagreements about details for implementing the protocols arose, but through discussion and consensus, the disagreements were resolved.

An online seminar on marine citizen science was organised for stakeholders, and diving instructors were trained to become citizen scientists by applying the new PADI citizen science module: Basic Research Operators. During the module, the participants learned about the importance of citizen science for marine conservation and its added value to diving. In addition, the diving instructors were trained to develop skills and abilities for establishing and implementing specific citizen science actions. Two examples were used to provide scientific training on how to set up a monitoring protocol.

Climate change risks result from the dynamic interactions between climate-related hazards and exposure and vulnerability of the affected human or ecological system. A vulnerability assessment reveals how sensitive a system is towards the impact of climate change and how well it can adapt to harm. The socio-ecological vulnerability assessment combines ecological vulnerability (species and habitats), social sensitivity (users), and adaptive capacity. The project team assessed each marine protected area and elements (species, etc.). The advantage of this methodology is that it is replicable and can be adapted over time, which makes it possible to track changes and enable adaptive planning. More information on the vulnerability of species, habitats, and users can be found here.

Phase 3

The third phase established a vision for each marine protected area. The aim was to reach commitment and consensus with the stakeholders and participants on the action plan based on the conclusions from the previous phases. The action plan identified key problems and issues that needed to be addressed. The stakeholders agreed upon the outline of the plan and its implementation. The participants of the workshops developed 18 out of 24 actions collaboratively, and the participants’ portal, which was designed explicitly to facilitate participation, enabled the development of the other actions. Almost everyone involved in developing the action plan participated in most sessions, resulting in fruitful discussions.  

Phase 4

The final phase was the preparation and finalisation of the local climate change adaptation plan for each Marine Protected Area. Stakeholders discussed, finalised and adopted the adaptation plans during workshops. The participatory approach resulted in agreement on tailormade adaptation plans in each pilot site. The adaptation plan included thirteen priority actions for addressing climate change in the Cap de Creus site, for example, promoting citizen science programmes, monitoring activities with support from local fishermen, and implementing restoration programmes. In Litoral del Baix Empordà, the 25 actions included raising awareness and disseminating activities related to the effects of climate change, implementing long-term habitat monitoring programmes, and establishing suitable anchoring areas for boats.

Summary

Further Information

Contact