A number of preliminary activities and meetings in participating countries have been undertaken to establish the priority activities needed to create MPAs in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Lebanon, Libya, Montenegro and Syria.

• In Tunisia: Field survey of the Kuriat island
• In Lybia: Demonstration project to initiate a national network of MPAs
• Training activities: 1^st regional workshop on management planning for MPAs & 2^nd regional training workshop on planning for sustainable fisheries in MPAs

The major results of 2010 are:

• 2 Regional Training Workshops on Management Planning for MPAs and Fisheries Management in MPAs (9 days + 1 day field trip for each; 7 trainers + 14 Mediterranean experts; 11 Mentors; 75 trainees from 12 Mediterranean; training material in English and French).
• Participation of all key regional and national stakeholders in MPA creation process (SAP BIO Advisory Committee and other regional and national partners (MedPAN network, CdL, CIESM, UNDP-Turkey ...).
• Initiation of the preparation of 2 management plans for marine protected areas in Libya and Tunisia.
• 11 agreements outlined to apply MPA management learnt tools and methods through activities agreed during the regional training workshops.
• 14 on-job trained local personnel on the many aspects of MPAs field management.
• The existing MedPAN network of MPA managers is expanding by including organizations/institutions from the project beneficiary countries.
• Priority areas identified (Libya (2), Lebanon (1), Morocco (1), Tunisia (1), Croatia (1), Albania (1), Montenegro (1) ...).
• New leaflet for the project's follow-up and presentation prepared and available.

Photo credit: Louis-Marie Préau