Actions related to objective 3.2

Full text of the objective 3.2 "Establish and maintain marine protected areas in the North Sea that contribute to a coherent transboundary network of marine protected areas" from the National Strategy

Flanders:

Coastal zone programme for the conservation of sand dunes, sandy beaches and salt marshes: e.g. acquisition of land, restoration projects, integrated management actions 

Federal:

• MMM law - 1999. + Royal decree on marine protected area's for the establishment of 5 marine protected areas.
• Communication of the 5 MPAs at the CION for recognition within the N2000 network

Future actions:

• Develop criteria for identification of off-shore marine protected areas.
• Carry new studies on Belgian marine biodiversity.
• Rehabilitate and restore (priority) degraded ecosystems in the North Sea.
• Back up MPAs by rigorous management plans, fully integrated in their global socio-economic context (if possible into an ICZM strategy and pollution control schemes) and accepted by all the parties concerned. Such management plans, among other things, should allow for the transition from overfishing to recovery and from there on to long-term sustainable fishing.