Status
Principle Investigator Contact Information
Name: Luc van Hoof (Project coordinator)
Email: luc.vanhoof@wur.nl
Description
MESMA has supplied innovative methods and integrated strategies for governments, local authorities, stakeholders, and other managerial bodies for planning and decision making at different local, national, and European scales, for sustainable development of European seas.
At the heart of the MESMA project was the MESMA framework. This framework explores in a logical way how the management initiatives in a certain area were established, so that they can be evaluated and monitored. In cases where no management plans are available, following this framework leads to recommendations for future plans. The framework was tested by applying it to 9 different MESMA case studies that represent 6 EU marine regions, and a range of national and international aspects of marine spatial planning. In addition, a collection of tools and geodatasets was made available, that should help to perform the analyses.
MESMA collected and described over 70 tools such as models, databases and decision support tools that are relevant for the monitoring and evaluation of spatially managed areas. The tools are linked to the MESMA Framework steps or can be explored by category.
Funding Source
European Commission funded project, FP7.
Location of Research
Several European countries: Netherlands, UK (Scotland, England), Denmark, Belgium, Greece, Bulgaria, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Malta, Denmark and Norway.
Project Aims
To produce integrated management tools (concepts, models and guidelines) for Monitoring, Evaluation and implementation of Spatially Managed marine Areas, based on European collaboration.
Study Progress
Project is complete.
Key Findings
Project aims were achieved, producing a number of interactive tools. A link to the tool website is provided in the publication section.