Seminar Report - Atlantic Action Plan related growth for Outermost Regions of the EU, and European territorial cooperation opportunities

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1 Seminar Report - Atlantic Action Plan related growth for Outermost Regions of the EU, and European territorial cooperation opportunities Funchal, Madeira, 17 and 18 March 2014 Pestana Casino Park Note: All presentations made available by speakers are available at: /funchal/index_en.htm Monday 17 MARCH In Plenary Session 1: Opening by local, regional and national authorities and welcome remarks Manuel António Correia (gabinete.sra@gov-madeira.pt, Regional Secretary, Environment and Natural Resources, Regional Government of Madeira) welcomed participants to the seminar and thanked the EU and DG MARE for bringing so many people together in Madeira to clarify how the Atlantic Action Plan (AAP) can be implemented. He stressed how important the Atlantic region is in geo-strategic and biodiversity terms, and that for economic growth to continue there is a need to ensure accessibility and territorial links, and to overcome structural obstacles for growth. He urged the seminar to come up with innovative solutions, recognising that the Atlantic is not a barrier but an opportunity and a resource to generate wealth and jobs. Rodrigo Oliveira (ssrpre@azores.gov.pt, Regional Undersecretary of the Presidency for External Relations, Regional Government of the Azores) noted the importance of outermost regions in supporting blue growth, reported on recent government collaboration with researchers in the Azores, and highlighted the need to work together at different regional, national and EU-levels to created added-value of benefit for all, through multi-disciplinary working groups and cross border collaboration to pool knowledge in support of sustainable future growth. Nuno Teixeira (anafilipa.costaferreira@europarl.europa.eu, Member of the European Parliament) noted that the seminar, and the AAP more generally, is critical in bringing people together and in sharing knowledge about projects and the regions. He observed that the location of the islands in the Atlantic is critical in terms of EU contacts with both Africa and America. He highlighted some key challenges and obstacles for future projects, especially with regards to accessing funding sources available, stressing the need for cooperation in making sure that the opportunities for funding of the blue economy and blue growth are not wasted.. Manuel Pinto de Abreu (margarida.almodovar@dgpm.mam.gov.pt, Secretary of State of the Sea in Portugal) highlighted the opportunities presented both by the AAP, and by the sea as an asset. He suggested that the Atlantic Strategy will only be successful if we are able to truly put into practice what is outlined in the AAP. Significant EU funds are available to put the AAP into practice, and he urged participants to seize the opportunity presented by the seminar. He observed that the Atlantic 1 P a g e

2 Strategy bridges the Atlantic east to west, and north to south, and will require cooperation and everyone working together. João Sales Correia seminar facilitator Director, Regional Directorate of Land Use Planning and Environment) concluded the opening session, and thanked the speakers for their contributions Session 2: Implementation of the Atlantic Action Plan, Outermost Regions and European Territorial Cooperation Matthew King Head of Unit C1 Maritime policy: Atlantic, outermost regions and Arctic, DG MARE) spoke about the importance of geographical and sectoral linkages in supporting the concept of blue growth, which was developed to grow the source of jobs in the EU. He commented that balancing job creation with sustainability is the job of policy makers, and that innovation, technology and research will be critical, and recalled that the AAP priorities identified by stakeholder were to: promote entrepreneurship and innovation; protect secure and enhance the marine and coastal environment; improve accessibility and connectivity; and create a socially inclusive and sustainable model of regional development. He stressed that implementation of the AAP will require support for human capacity development and the provision of funds, suggesting a range of funding sources available. He concluded by hoping that the seminar would discuss best practices, ideas for innovative projects, networking, and cooperation, so as to help develop project ideas ready for funding. Joao Fonseca Ribeiro (joao.ribeiro@dgpm.mam.gov.pt, Director General for Maritime Policy in Portugal) noted that outermost regions must cooperate to support growth, manage the environment and climate change, and ensure best use of resources. He highlighted that there are major challenges which require territorial cooperation, especially in the Atlantic given the shared nature of these challenges. He also suggested a need to cooperate with African countries in terms of investment, and with North American countries. Panel 1 discussion: Opportunities for territorial cooperation in the context of the outermost regions Vincente Rodrigues Saez (Vicente.rodriguez-saez@ec.europa.eu, Deputy Head of Unit, DG REGIO D.1, Competence Centre Macro-regions and European Territorial Cooperation) introduced the Panel 1 theme and stressed the importance of a new configuration of cooperation in the Atlantic area. Specifically he stated the panel discussion would explore the different funding opportunities under the financing framework that will in part support the AAP. Andreia Bretão (Andreia.B.Bretao@azores.gov.pt, Azores counterpart for the Transnational Cooperation Programme Madeira- Açores-Canárias (MAC): Territorial cooperation by the Azores, and the MAC programme ) recalled the eleven thematic objectives set by the EU for the programming period, and recognized that resources are scarce and therefore future projects should be results-orientated and focused on a number of these common thematic objectives. She suggested a need for a strategic approach to align with EU 2020 as the umbrella strategy for EU policies, and macro-regional or sea basin strategies, and ensure cooperation across a number of different regions and Member States. She also noted the need for coherence between AAP programmes, cross-border programmes, and other transnational cooperation programmes. She summarised some projects resulting from the funding programme for the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands. 2 P a g e

3 Jessica Aubourg-Julan Head of the Department of Fisheries, Regional Council of Guadeloupe: The importance for Guadeloupe of territorial cooperation in fisheries ) spoke about territorial cooperation in Guadeloupian fisheries and provided some data on the sector in Guadeloupe, along with examples of cooperation both between French territories, and between the EU and countries in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. She made some suggestions of ways to improve cooperation further and the sorts of areas that such cooperation could cover. Nuno Nunes (nunojnunes@me.com, President, Regional Agency for the Development of Research, Technology and Innovation ARDITI: the Madeira Smart Specialization Strategy ) recognised that the resources available for R&D, and the priorities, vary greatly between Portugal, Madeira and the Azores, as reflected in different research plans, such as Madeira s plan of action for research and innovation. He spoke of the establishment of an Ocean Research Observatory within Madeira, which involved all relevant research institutions, and suggested that ICT strengths in Madeira can be used to better monitor the marine environment as well as to generate business opportunities outside the marine environment. Marie Pierre Campo (marie-pierre.campo@outre-mer.gouv.fr, Directorate General of Outermost Regions, Office of Rural, Agricultural and Maritime Policies: Integrated Maritime Policy in outermost regions ) reported on the different French outermost regions and territories in the Atlantic, and the very different geopolitical contexts. She spoke of the importance of setting up appropriate governance arrangements to bring together all the stakeholders of the sea and coastal areas, and reported on some French governance initiatives. She noted the exceptional biodiversity as far as islands in outermost regions are concerned, and stressed that blue growth provides an opportunity in terms of employment and innovation but requires cooperation, and in that context reported on some ongoing international cooperation projects. Panel 2 discussion: Tourism, fisheries and other maritime economic activities in outermost regions drivers of blue growth Carlos Andrade (carlos.andrade@cmcmadeira.org, Regional Directorate of Fisheries: Madeira ocean aquaculture: established biotechnologies and future trends ) reported that in Madeira various potential aquaculture technologies for marine structures have been tested, and noted that the Mariculture Centre at Calheta has coopered with research institutions in the Azores and the Canary Islands and other continental EU research projects, and has increasingly moved into partnerships with food manufacturers and industry equipment suppliers to support aquaculture developments. Cátia Carvalho (catiacarvalho@quintadolorde.pt, Director of operations, Marina Quinta do Lorde: The nautical sector as an anchor to tourism implementation of a model for sustainable nautical tourism ) spoke about the nautical sector and its potential for sustainable tourism of the sort that the EU is thinking about in the Atlantic Strategy. She highlighted some tourism challenges in Madeiria, and spoke about some recent successful nautical events with benefits not just to nautical businesses but also more generally to the economy through economic and social multiplier impacts. She suggested that we could do more to understand the real impact of coastal nautical tourism and support linkages between the nautical sector and marine research, for example getting boats involved in monitoring currents and marine litter. Alain Auton (alain.auton@station-nautique.com, Director, French Nautical Station: FEDETON project activities ) provided information about FEDETON, its stakeholders, its objectives, and the 3 P a g e

4 public/private partnerships involved. He highlighted that most businesses operating in this sector are SMEs, and spoke about the positive aspects of nautical tourism. In considering how to create a strong sustainable nautical tourism sector in the EU, he reported on competition from new regions of the world, and suggested that partnerships and a shared common vision about an integrated and diversified approach to services offered will become critical for the EU to confirm its place as the first choice for tourists. Araceli Suárez (asuasuas@gobiernodecanarias.org, Consultant, Government of Canary Islands: The Maritime Forum of the Canary Islands) reported on the Forum (a new initiative which provides a mechanism for debate and collaboration for sustainable growth and sustainable jobs), those involved, and some past and planned activities of the Forum. She spoke about different economic sectors offering potential for the future, and a number of cross cutting lines of action e.g. training and cooperation with other regions. She concluded by noting the high priority given to the Forum in the Canaries. Panel 3 discussion: Exploration and exploitation of marine environments in outermost regions Rui Caldeira (rui.caldeira@uma.pt, Interdiciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research - CIIMAR: Island wakes and their relevance for outermost regions ) introduced the third panel discussion on exploration and exploitation of the marine environment and highlighted the importance of research in guiding the sustainable exploitation of resources. His presentation focused on wakes around islands and perturbation of fluids. He suggested that to best exploit solar, wind and wave energy, and other resources such as fisheries, we need to better understand the environment in which such activities operate, and how issues such as wakes could affect such activities. Carlos Barrera (carlos.barrera@plocan.eu, Head of Vehicles, Instruments and Machines, Canary Islands Oceanic Platform - PLOCAN: The use of autonomous platforms to monitor the open ocean ) reported on a range of different devices (e.g. the ocean glider) available to monitor the oceans and detailed how technologies have advanced, reducing costs and increasing efficiency and effectiveness. He spoke about the glider port facility based in Madeira, which provides a deep base observation platform for this type of technology. Filipe Oliveira (contacto14@aream.pt, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Regional Agency for Energy and Environment of the Autonomous Region of Madeira - AREAM: Marine energy in small islands: challenges and opportunities ) noted the potential for harnessing marine energy to power islands in the outermost regions, given the limitations of being oil dependent and the transportation costs of fuel to island locations. He spoke of the opportunities provided by marine renewables but observed that marine renewables present their own challenges in terms of fluctuating patterns of demand and supply, and the need for storage capacity for energy generated by renewable sources. He concluded by hoping that solutions can be identified through a multi-disciplinary approach, and that funding can be secured for developing new technologies. Ricardo Serrão Santos (ricardo@uac.pt, University of Azores: Marine Research in the Azores: A scientific window on the deep and wide Atlantic ) noted that the deep-sea environments of the Azores and Madeira provide great opportunities for carrying out research on unique species and habitats, such as cold water corals, active underwater volcanoes, and extreme forms of life living in chemosynthetic conditions. In very deep waters the presence of minerals, and the range of biodiversity provide opportunities for the future, and he reported on the wide range of species in the Azores. He commented that there is a clear relationship between human pressures and ecosystems, and suggested that there is a need for restoration, conservation and protection of the 4 P a g e

5 wider ecosystem, not simply keystone species. He proposed that this could be achieved by protecting large sea areas, although appreciated this is a complicated process. Panel 4 discussion: Protection and security of resources in marine environments in outermost regions Filipe Porteiro (Filipe.JM.Porteiro@azores.gov.pt, Regional Director for Sea Affairs, Regional Government of the Azores: Government Action on Maritime Affairs ) introduced the panel of marine biologists with a focus on protection and security of marine resources in outermost regions. He highlighted the importance of evaluating baseline environmental status and defining targets to achieve and maintain good environmental status, and spoke of the need for cooperation between stakeholders and territorial cooperation. In conclusion, he stressed the importance of nature conservation in allowing sustainable exploitation of resources and sustainable management of fisheries, tourism, biotechnology etc. which will ultimately lead to the creation of blue growth. Mafalda Freitas (mafalda.freitas@cm-funchal.pt, Director, Marine Biology Station of Madeira: Inventorying deep-sea biodiversity ) presented on recent research in waters of more than 200m completed by the Marine Biology Station of Funchal, and provided information about the facilities and activities of the Station. She highlighted deepwater fisheries research supported by the PESCROF programme and reported on the MARPROF project which helped to identify new species, conduct resource surveys, promote new fishing technologies, establish a new database, and to disseminate and educate the public about deepwater issues. João Clode (clode.marinelab@gmail.com, Institute of Marine Research, University of the Azores: Marine invasions in a changing climate ) noted that the interplay between marine invasions and changing climate have not been well researched, and highlighted that marine bio-invasions have increased rapidly and have significant economic and ecological impacts with the potential to change ecosystems. He reported that models suggest that reductions in biodiversity due to climate change will increase and that temperature aberrations are an important and overlooked part of global climate change research, and could be usefully researched in the MAC area. Bernado Faria (pnm.sra@gov-madeira.pt, Natural Park Service of Madeira: Madeira Marine Reserves, objectives and achievements ) commented that there is still much we need to know about species and habitats. He reported on a number of special conservation zones and protected areas in Madeira established in Madeira, and the motivation for them. He noted that the network of areas is underpinned by good legal and management frameworks, specific conservation projects, and strong institutional support, and concluded by observing that for the future, Madeira wishes to enlarge the network. Luis Freitas (luisfreitas@museudabaleia.org, Director, Madeira Whale Museum: Studying and monitoring Atlantic cetacean populations: a necessary step towards the sustainable use of the sea ) reported on the museum s functions, including its scientific research. He reported on a wide range of studies completed in recent years e.g. to understand causes of death (including the impact of human activity), how living animals use the waters of Madeira, to follow movements and understand distributions and numbers, and to identify biodiversity and species through genetic studies and tagging in collaboration with Azores and the Canary Islands. He noted that all this type of information can be used for management and protection, and concluded by noting some challenges including accessing funding, increasing research, increasing the interdisciplinarity of research, and continued inter-regional scientific collaboration. 5 P a g e

6 Following the presentations and speeches on the first day, participants completed a field visit to the Mariculture Centre of Calheta. Staff from the Centre explained about the work of the Centre and participants were shown algal production, the tanks used for holding broodstock, the collection of fish eggs, and the on-growing of fish larvae. It was with interest that participants heard about the collaborative research projects completed by the Centre (particularly in collaboration with institutions from Macaronesian islands and from mainland Europe), and the ongoing moves to establish the Centre as a fully organic facility. To conclude the first day, the team from the MARPROF project ( provided a short presentation about the activities of the project and presented a cook book prepared as part of the project with recipes using deep-water species. Participants were then treated to a cocktail drink of local Madeira wine, and a tasting experience at the Clube Naval do Funchal of marine products and recipes in the cook book. TUESDAY 18 MARCH Parallel working group sessions Participants were divided into one of three working groups based on their interest and expertise. All the groups had a presentation made by a speaker to set the scene for the subsequent discussions, and the groups then discussed both the challenges and lessons learned from previous projects and experience, as well as possible projects that might be relevant for implementation in support of the AAP. Following the parallel working group discussions, each group presented the group outputs back in plenary. Group 1: Tourism, fisheries and other maritime economic activities in outermost regions drivers of blue growth Rui Lopes (demm@apram.pt, Port Administration of the Autonomous Region of Madeira: The role of sustainable ports in outermost regions Madeira ports, previous developments and future plan ) noted the benefits to Madeira ports of maritime economic activities, in many cases supported by EU funds, and then presented the COSTA project, which is a feasibility study that aims to provide technical and statistical information for further political and financial decisions about deploying LNG as a fuel for propulsion at sea, in addition to propulsion on land. He commented on the economic, social, and environmental reasons for supporting the use of LNG, and the necessary conditions for its increased use e.g. a network of supply, investment in bunkering infrastructure, vessel conversions and training, and synergies with the energy market. Building on these ideas, the working group then discussed challenges and lessons learned, and possible projects for the future. The results of the group discussions were as follows. Challenges/lessons learnt The importance of the following cross-cutting issues was highlighted during the debate: Working in partnership/communication/sharing information; Adequate funding; Training; Safety at sea; and 6 P a g e

7 National vs EU Regulations: connected with the 4th priority of the Action Plan Some possible projects for the future The working group identified 6 possible projects as presented below. Project 1: Cruises-LNG Brief description: Bunkering stations in the Atlantic basin Time frame: Possible partners: Portugal, Spain, Italy and Malta Possible sources of funding : to be determined Project 2: Outermost regions innovation regatta Brief description: Linking the outermost regions on both sides of the Atlantic, to promote the regions and their products Time frame: Possible partners: Sailing associations and marinas in the Atlantic, OR authorities, private partners exploring new products (e.g. renewable energies), municipalities, youth communities Possible sources of funding: to be determined Project 3: Connecting SMEs in the nautical sector with sources of funding Brief description: Creation of an European association for companies in this sector for joint promotion and services Time frame: Possible partners: marinas, maritime touristic companies, universities, relevant authorities for traffic, local and regional institutions (tourism and environment) Possible sources of funding: to be determined Project 4: Cleaner fleet - transportation in respect to priority 3 (connectivity) Brief description: A network in the outermost regions to keep the balance on the cruise industry and the ferries between the mainland and the outermost regions Time frame: Possible partners: association of the Portuguese ports, possible LNG distributors, research (IPMA), institutes for fisheries Possible sources of funding: Horizon 2020 Project 5: Fisheries Brief description: Remodelling of the present fleet and training for new technologies Time frame: Possible partners: associations of fishermen, training schools, equipment companies Possible sources of funding: to be determined Project 6: Assessment of national maritime policies in respect to Priority 4 Brief description: impact assessment on potential cost/losses of regional and national rules vs benchmarking EU rules (conferences, clearing sessions) Time frame: Possible partners: Commission, all interested stakeholders (citizens, legal actors) Possible sources of funding: Commission, International law firms Other participants in the seminar also noted the high priority given to the aquaculture sector in the Atlantic Strategy and the AAP, and suggested that future projects would also certainly need to include a range of projects related to aquaculture-related research and private sector developments in the aquaculture sector. Some examples might include licencing and maritime planning, 7 P a g e

8 aquaculture diversification and research on local species, development of multi-trophic integrated systems, new products and the development of the processing industry, specialization and creation of jobs, and training and entrepreneurship at local community level. Group 2: Exploration and exploitation of marine environments in outermost regions, and marine renewable energy production Gildas Delencre Head of Marine Energy Projects, Réunion Energies: Marine Energy Projects of Réunion Island ) presented the context of the energy situation in Réunion in terms of renewable energy production, and the role of the regional council in supporting self-sufficiency by He commented on challenges for the storage of electricity in energy projects, and regulatory difficulties of building in protected environments. He then reported on the wide range of wave energy, thermal energy, and osmotic projects, all of which offer potential for the future. He concluded by mentioning the project France Energies Marines, which is a national project in France with 5 testing sites in France, and the intention is to ensure that Réunion becomes a 6 th site for this project. António Sarmento (antonio.sarmento@ist.utl.pt, President of the Board of Directors, WavEC Offshore Renewables: the OWC PICO PLANT (wave energy in a small Island grid) and other WavEC projects ) reported on the PICO plant, and then discussed the participants of WavEC, its funding, and its activities in terms of a number of recent and ongoing projects. In terms of challenges and opportunities for outermost regions in terms of energy production, he suggested that some key issues might include: The size of commercial offshore wind farms, which are large due to fixed costs, meaning that the technology for mainland areas may need adapting for small- to medium-sized islands. This fact may also represent an opportunity to develop technology adapted to outermost regions and small- to medium-sized islands elsewhere. He suggested that there may be potential for technologies developed in marine renewable energies to be applied in other ocean technologies, such as aquaculture. In conclusion, he summarised that marine renewable energies provide opportunities, but require cooperation, networking, a world vision and a pragmatic approach as to what is possible and suitable. Building on these ideas and the two presentations, the working group then discussed challenges and lessons learned, some potential solutions, and possible projects for the future in the field of marine renewable energy (MRE). The results of the group discussions were as follows. Challenges and lessons learned from previous experience Poor management of expectations about what is possible over given timeframes Potential regulatory constraints of operating in sensitive environmental areas The time it takes to develop effective partnerships SMEs are frequently unable to identify R&D projects Difficulties in integrating all relevant partners into the definition of research priorities Large R&D organisations tend to control the R&D agenda. Complexity of new technology in wave Difficulties in assessing cumulative impacts of large-scale introductions of new technologies Competition between different MREs for the same space and investment funds The high costs of investments in the marine environment, financial constraints and difficulties in ensuring private co-financing, and the high costs and difficulties of moving from prototype to main production given commercial risks. This shift to full commercial production may require 8 P a g e

9 renewable energies Poor information about why previous projects may not have been successful bringing large companies/industries onboard, and take a long time, and not dependent on projects often but more on the right policy environment Possible solutions and necessary steps for the future Need to share efforts and existing assets in test sites and pilot zones to reduce costs, and to support learning processes Move from lots of small projects to a more strategic approach to development, with larger resources available for fewer projects Need to invest both in technologies that are already quite advanced, but also in potential breakthrough technologies Environmental scientists and experts in MRE technology need to work more closely together to better understand the marine environment prior to MRE projects Better information about the reasons for project failures and successes i.e. improved M&E and dissemination Focus on increasing reliability of new technology by reducing complexity Some possible projects for the future Project idea 1: Creation of a network of partners/institutions for ocean and marine renewable energy technologies, to identify market opportunities, share information and technological developments, agree on future R&D priorities, build on commonalities, etc. This network would be short term with regards to its creation, but the network would be expected to operate over the long term. Possible partners would include those in outermost regions in the Atlantic at first (if necessary due to funding constraints), but would not be restricted to the Atlantic over time i.e. partners in other EU outermost regions, such as Réunion would be desirable. Possible sources of funding could include Horizon 2020, structural funds, national funds, and a wide range of different funding sources. Project idea 2: An assessment of the fatigue cycles and impact on aging of electro-magnetic and control equipment and concrete structures, such as used in the PICO plant. This would be a shortterm project implemented over 2-3 years which would also serve as a test-bed for the specification of new equipment. Project partners would need to include engineering partners, material scientists, oceanographers, and R&D institutions. Possible sources of funding would include Horizon Project idea 3: Study on the impact of marine environmental variability in islands on the introduction of energy into small grids, and on the storage of energy. This project would cover different islands in different areas to understand commonalities and differences in ocean variabilities. The timeframe for this project would be short to medium term (to cover cycles of variability), with implementation over a 3-4 year period. Possible partners would include utility companies, SMEs related to developing storage equipment, environmental scientists, and R&D institutions. Possible sources of funding would include Horizon 2020 While not discussed in detail by the working group, some suggestions were also made by participants for projects focussing more specifically on a better understanding of the marine environment, as without adequate exploration there will be limited progress in the exploitation of the marine resources. Thus it is of importance to continue to contribute to the understanding of the marine environment in order to maximise resource exploration as well as its sustainability. In this regard, in order to make progresses in the exploitation of marine resources such as mariculture and/or wave energy, it is crucial that ocean and coastal monitoring systems are put in place in order 9 P a g e

10 to properly assess the level of resource / energy available as well as its stability and persistence over time. An example is the interaction between waves and ocean currents in the nearshore regions which can generate opposing forces that can significantly affect turbines and/or structures which are placed in the middle of such turbulence. Small island regions offer a unique opportunity to capture issues of coastal ocean complexity in a small region, which can be easily monitored and which can be used as test-cases for the development of marine technologies. Group 3: Protection and security of resources in marine environments Thomas Delliger (thd@uma.pt, Department of Biology Marine Biology and Oceanography, University of Madeira: Turtles - a trans-border natural resource requiring research and management through cooperation") noted that turtles are a trans-border natural resource, require cooperation for management, and act as a useful indicator of marine biodiversity. He discussed the species in the Atlantic and their distribution, some key threats, and a number of ongoing proposals for improved management. He suggested various inter-sectoral linkages that would help both to improve knowledge of turtle populations, as well as to use turtles as the basis for increased tourism activities and as biological monitoring stations to measure a range of oceanography aspects. The group discussion then considered a number of future challenges, as well as some potential future project ideas. The group outputs were as follows: Challenges & risk mitigation Challenge 1. Continuation of funding and loss of key experts/teams at the end of projects 2. Improving research and sustainability of commitment from the governments, without which research teams may not be maintained Risk mitigation Explore baseline and long term funding Effort should focus on coordination and thinking beyond the project framework Explore how stable financing can be achieved Specific Project Ideas Nine specific project ideas were proposed by the working group, as follows. 1. Protecting the environmental food chain through protection of key corridors on the high seas. This project would: improve synergies and ensure better integration of spatial and biological data; cover ecological groups and keystone species; understand the role of biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem functionality. 2. Protection & restoration of important open ocean habitats including seamounts, based on research 3. Improve protection of the environment in relation to threats, such as fisheries, marine litter/debris, underwater noise, general pollution, marine traffic. 4. Joint monitoring programmes, involving the development of methodologies that are sustainable, with partners being experts and government institutions throughout Madeira, Azores, Canaries, Cape Verde. Joint funding possibilities would need to be explored to access medium to long term funding programmes 5. Preparation of a Madeira strategy for the marine environment. This would require stakeholders to work to inform government, with the ultimate responsibility to develop a strategy lying with government. It should comply with the Marine Strategy Framework 10 P a g e

11 6. Consolidate local and regional networks. This could involve basic infrastructure, funding to ensure people can attend such meetings, and fostering cooperation between groups 7. Interaction of SMEs and stakeholders. This would support collaboration of tourism industries, e.g. reviewing codes based on monitoring, recovery stations for marine fauna, etc 8. Access to the marine environment. This project would provide funding for use and access to research vessels and other infrastructure, and would ensure competitiveness through collaboration 9. Ocean literacy, promote education, public outreach. This project would help to make society aware of the importance of the oceans and provide a mechanism for two-way feedback between the public and researchers. Final Plenary Session Matthew King (matthew.king@ec.europa.eu, Head of Unit C1 Maritime policy: Atlantic, outermost regions and Arctic, DG MARE) thanked Joao Correia for facilitating the seminar, the contractors for their organisation, the hosts from Madeira, and all the participants. He noted with pleasure the large number of potential projects proposed during day 2 of the working groups, and informed the seminar that the EU would like to make the ideas available on the Atlantic forum website 1, along with the speeches and presentations. In terms of what happens next, he stressed that while the EC has an important role to play, it is critical for stakeholders to work together to put projects together to access funding, and noted the potential need to compete for projects. He also stressed the importance of ensuring that the operational programmes of governments for EU funding contain a reference to the sorts of projects proposed, and of local stakeholders working to identify possible partners and other sources of funding. Joao Fonseca Ribeiro (joao.ribeiro@dgpm.mam.gov.pt, Director General for Maritime Policy in Portugal) noted the need for coordination in support of future blue growth, and observed that the ocean underpins growth in outermost regions providing opportunities for job creation, social cohesion, and territorial integration, all of which must be underpinned by sustainable growth. He recognized that the EU has financial instruments for the future and stressed the need to access these to effectively support scientific research. He was encouraged by the projects that had been proposed during the parallel working group sessions, and noted that the key to achieving projects is to secure the necessary funds, and that projects must therefore be designed with the available funds in mind. He recommended that there is a need to adapt and prioritize projects, to encourage cooperation at all levels, and to exploit all of the possibilities for the future. To conclude he thanked the participants, the regional Government of Madeira, all institutions from other areas, the interpreters and finally the EU commission for providing the necessary funding for the event P a g e