WP1, led by Submariner network for Blue Growth, will engage local stakeholders and community members associated with the Demonstration Sites (DSs) to ensure the success and impact of BioProtect. It is in close collaboration with all WPs, as feedback from stakeholders will be shared with all of them.

Objectives

• Foster a collaborative environment among stakeholders by forming Communities of Practice (CoP) where they can share their expertise, concerns, and perspectives, exchange ideas, and collaborate on developing innovative and effective strategies.
• Serve as a platform for co-designing and co-creating processes with local stakeholders throughout the project and beyond, taking into account their expectations and needs, while leveraging their knowledge and expertise.
• Gather and provide feedback from stakeholders regarding the innovative solutions developed.

WP2, led by NOFIMA, will map and analyse the current institutional framework across the Demonstration Sites (DSs), focusing on interactions between management systems and decision-making processes.

Objectives

Institutional challenges in managing human impacts on marine biodiversity will be identified and good practice recommendations via a CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA) will be offered. These recommendations will outline improved management practices and support the mission to protect and restore marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

WP3, led by MFRI, will develop the “BioProtect Biodiversity Toolbox” composed of innovative solutions to monitor, map and forecast biodiversity.

Objectives

• Demonstrate and validate scalable, transferable and cost-effective tools for monitoring of marine biodiversity (eDNA biosampler, eDNA citizen sampling, low-cost cameras, video analysis software extension).
• Generate maps and spatial distribution models of biodiversity.
  Integrate information obtained from “BioProtect Biodiversity Toolbox” into SCP.
• Predict the effects of climate change and human activities on biodiversity.

WP4, led by Universitet i Tromsoe, will analyse pressures from human activities and develop the “BioProtect PPGIS Analyser ”, and identify adaptive measures needed.

Objectives

• Develop maps of pressures from human activities and climate change on marine biodiversity for all DSs.
• Identify measures to reduce risks to marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
• Identify and assess the vulnerabilities to pressures of key components of marine biodiversity.
• Identify mitigation, adaptation and restoration measures to reduce the cumulative pressures of human activities and climate change.
• Develop the “BioProtect PPGIS Analyser” to map the priorities, and concerns of coastal communities.
• Integrate citizen – and expert data for socioecological analysis of risks and threats to nature and people into “BioProtect Marine Planner”.

WP5, led by University of Galway, will co-develop and demonstrate a systematic and transparent approach to conservation and restoration planning to prevent biodiversity loss.

Objectives

• Carry out multi-scale SCP and ERP to identify optimal areas for expanding MPA networks to achieve national/ EU and international targets.
• Develop the “BioProtect Marine Planner” to facilitate stakeholder co-design of MSP emphasising the need for conservation measures.
• Apply ecosystem modelling to assess the ecological implications of designating new MPAs and their potential for co-use by various activities, e.g., ORE.

WP6, led by Sjokovin, will provide socio-economic assessment of scenarios and activities conducted in the DSs.

Objectives

• Quantify socio-economic activities in DSs and assess socio-economic impacts of management scenarios.
• Evaluate the suitability of socio-economic methods for different contexts.
• Incorporate distributional equity considerations into SCP.
• Provide recommendations on how to best integrate socio-economic assessments within the management process.

WP7, led by AIR Centre, will build capacity and showcase the feasibility, replicability and scalability of the BioProtect solutions in other regions.

Objectives

• Share the “BioProtect ABM-DSF” to support the next phase of the implementation of the Mission Oceans and Waters, which is the “deployment and upscaling” phase (2026-2030).
• Tailor the “BioProtect Biodiversity Toolbox” and the “BioProtect Marine Planner” to the stakeholders in associated regions.
• Develop collaboration with other EU Mission Lighthouse projects, to stimulate the cross-fertilisation of innovations and enhance the impact of BioProtect solutions.

WP8, led by Indigo Med, will maximise the project’s impact, by producing and delivering customised dissemination and communication activities that will better inform citizens and decision-makers, thereby promoting more effective governance.

Objectives

• Deliver the final versions of all key solutions developed in the project to enhance user uptake: “BioProtect Marine Planner,” “BioProtect Biodiversity Toolbox,” “BioProtect PPGIS Analyser,” and “BioProtect CO2 Calculator.”
• Develop the “BioProtect ABM-DSF” to explore opportunities, constraints, and trade-offs in various areas.
• Disseminate information about the project’s aims, activities, solutions, and results to other Missions and lighthouse projects.
• Support all communication activities, including the design and production of outputs from all other WPs, ensuring consistency and quality in dissemination activities.

WP9, led by MATIS, will ensure that all project objectives are addressed by facilitating overall coordination and management of BioProtect, including the contractual, organisational, and financial responsibilities of the project.

Objectives

• Ensure efficient and timely start of the project, full participation of all partners to reach the project’s objectives.
• Prepare, carry out and post-process major project meetings.
• Ensure liaison and accurate and timely reporting in such a way that the Commission’s rules are followed, thus providing maximum support to BioProtect ́s implementation.
• Monitor the expenses and allocation of the budget to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting (adjustments made if necessary).
• Develop and maintain the communication, knowledge management and fulfilment of responsibilities towards the EC and consortium commitments, including gender equality issues and ethics.
• Ensure appropriate data management and compliance of the project with the HE Open Access policy.