Mediterranean training session on
the identification and classification techniques
of marine and coastal species
for the ecological monitoring in MPAs.

In order to strengthen the capacity building and skills of Mediterranean MPA managers, practitioners and lead staff, the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas have organised within the framework of the MedMPAnet Project, a Mediteerranean training session on the identification and classification techniques of marine and coastal species for the ecological monitoring in MPAs.

The training session contributed to strengthen the capacity and skills of 8 MPA managers and practitioners from 7 Mediterranean countries (Algeria, Croatia, Lebanon, Libya, Montenegro, Morocco and Tunisia), by providing them with the tools and know-how needed to improve their knowledge on the taxonomy of the marine and coastal species.

The training session was convened in collaboration with the University of Alicante (Spain) and took place in the Marine Research Centre of the Santa Pola (CIMAR) from 25th September to 1st October 2011. The training, delivered by a group of professors from the University of Alicante and RAC/SPA experts, has been alternating between field work and theory lessons.