Spanish Institute of Oceanography’s headquarters in Canary Islands hosts the first MISTIC SEAS 3 workshop, this project seeks to define a common approach to develop the descriptor 4 (D4, trophic webs) on the frame of Marine Strategy Framework Directive in Macaronesia (Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands). The main objective of this European directive is to reach the Good Environmental Status (GES) of the marine environment, for which 11 indicators called descriptors to evaluate the state have been defined and their monitoring programs have been established as well as measures to improve the habitats and marine species conservation status.
During two days we have been working work with Spanish and Portuguese scientists in order to advance in the Macaronesian marine biodiversity knowledge. In the cooperation framework stablished between Spanish and Portuguese governments, more than 30 marine experts have addressed the health status of ocean’s food chains.
Workshop ‘s objectives have been focused on deciding which are the best indicators to assess the state of these food chains and its applicability to this maritime region, on assessing the more useful tools and methodologies for that purpose and identifying the data gaps and where appropriate, to propose research programs to collect that information.
In the workshop opening, co-managed by State Agency Superior Council of Scientific Research and the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition, the Deputy Minister for Combating Climate Change of the Canary Islands´ Government, Miguel Ángel Pérez has participated, who has emphasized his support for this project due to its interest for the archipelagos and with a view to future actions that may be developed in other parts of Macaronesia.
Would you like to know more about MISTIC SEAS 3?
MISTIC SEAS 3 has the objective to address the Good Environmental State assessment (GES) of the marine environment based on descriptor 4 of Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), trophic webs, which are the compilation of the ecosystem food chains.
The Project aims to define a common subregional approach between Spain and Portugal for the development of that descriptor 4 on the Macaronesian subregion (Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands) and to strength the cooperation with other subregions on the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean.
The Project, implemented since March 2019 until March 2021, count on a total budget of 1.085.601€ whereof 80% is co-funded by European Commission (CE) (DG ENV/MSFD 2018). It is coordinated by Regional Fund for Science and Technology (Regional Government of Azores, Portugal) and it has as partners the Regional Directorate of Sea Affairs, Regional Government of the Azores (Portugal); Regional Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources, Regional Government of Madeira (Portugal); the Regional Agency for the Development of Research, Technology and Innovation; Directorate General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services of the Portuguese Ministry of the Sea; General Directorate of for the Sustainability of the Coast and the Sea, and Biodiversity Foundation, both of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition of the Government of Spain; State Agency Superior Council of Scientific Research (Spain), and the Spanish Institute of Oceanography.
