The MISTIC SEAS project has been awarded in the second edition of the Atlantic Project Awards. These awards, organized by the European Commission and delivered last Wednesday, November 8 in Glasgow (Scotland) during the inaugural session of the Atlantic Stakeholder Platform conference, recognize projects developed in the geographic area covered by the Atlantic Strategy and that are relevant to implement the Atlantic Action Plan within the framework of the Marine Strategies.
MISTIC SEAS, which implemented from December 2015 to February 2017, aimed to design a common methodology for the monitoring of marine biodiversity in the Macaronesia region, one of the most biodiversified area in Europe, focusing on the populations of cetacean, turtle and seabird species and establish a common strategy to improve coordination in the application of the Framework Directive of the Marine Strategy in Spain and Portugal (Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands).
Six projects have been recognized at the Atlantic Project Awards. Mistic Seas has won in the category Atlantic marine and coastal environment, and the winners in the other categories have been: "Ecoponics" in entrepreneurship and innovation; "Tapas H2020" in accessibility and connectivity; "Marea Project" in sustainability; "Raia" in international cooperation; and the project "Weaving Seas of Solidarity", beneficiary of the 2015 aid call of the Fundación Biodiversidad of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment, has won the special prize. This project had a double objective: the awareness of the importance of our oceans, and the realization of a solidary effort. An ocean woven with blankets was made in schools and senior centers.
The MISTIC SEAS project, coordinated by the Fundo Regional para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Regional Government of the Azores), had as partners with the Direção Regional dos Assuntos do Mar (Regional Government of the Azores), the Secretaria Regional de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Regional Government of Madeira), the Direção Geral de Recursos Naturais, Segurança e Serviços Marítimos of the Portugal Government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment of Spain through the General Directorate of Sustainability of the Coast and del Mar and the Biodiversity Foundation, and the Spanish Institute of Oceanography.
