In the framework of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”, BlueMissionAA and MPA Europe announce the MPA Awards that will grant 2 Marine Protected Areas.

Deadline: 26 February 2024

The aim of the MPA Awards is to acknowledge and to engage with outstanding Marine Protected Areas that actively contribute to the goals of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”.

This year, the MPA Award will prioritise which had and/or has MPAs with a strong stakeholder engagement component in their establishment and/or management.

The MPA Awards will reward 2 winning MPAs with:

• Award Certificate bestowed by high-level Mission Ocean and Waters actors during the 2nd Annual Forum of the Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters”.
• Visibility and promotion of your actions as a Mission Actor.
• Opportunities for networking and sharing of best practices.
• Access to ocean literacy and education tools.
• Access to the Mission Implementation Platform services (granting access to knowledge, projects portfolio, information on funding, Blue Parks Community of Practice and others).
• Access to the WaveLinks Platform services (granting access to stakeholder engagement methods, citizen science initiatives and others).
• Investment opportunities and expert advisory services.
• Access to support from Lighthouse CSAs and Mission Implementation Platform Help Desks (including support to develop science and transition roadmaps, and skills training).

The awards ceremony will take place in Brussels during the 2nd Annual Forum of the Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters, on the 5th of March 2024. The winners will have their travel and accommodation expenses covered.

More information available here.