The Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission assisted by the European MSP Platform have organised a one day workshop which took place on the 11th of September 2018 at the University of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, ES. The workshop provided participants with the opportunity to explore the development of MSP in the context of islands as well the challenges and opportunities that exist for sustainable blue growth. Participants learned about the experience of MSP in islands, including representation from islands of different status within the EU, from island nations such as Malta, to islands with some autonomy from mainland governments, such as Åland, Finland.
The objectives of the workshop included:
- Identifying common challenges and opportunities in developing and implementing MSP and delivering Blue Growth in island contexts
- Discussing the socio-economic and specific environmental pressures faced by island communities and the (potential) role of MSP and Blue Growth
- Highlighting good practices with MSP that could be applied to islands contexts
The workshop targets MSP Authorities, Local Municipalities and Community Groups, Blue Growth Sector representatives and other interested parties. The workshop consisted of presentations from relevant experts, panel discussions and two ineractive workshop sessions.