The Workshop

> 27 April 07

Human impacts such as overfishing, contamination, acidification, and climate change are driving the loss of marine biodiversity and decrease the benefits that humans can derive from the seas. Our seas and oceans are essential for global food security, for sustaining economic prosperity, and for the environmental health of our planet.

Approximately 100 experts from 18 European Union Member States, UN organizations, regional seas conventions and NGOs met in Berlin during the German EU Presidency, 18-20 April 2007, to discuss three main themes related to marine biodiversity:

i) the marine Natura 2000 network;
ii) future EU marine policy (the Marine Strategy Directive and the Maritime Policy);
iii) protecting biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction.

This website contains the workshop conclusions “Countdown 2010 – Key Messages for Enhancing Marine Conservation”, and other useful information such as workshop presentations.