Read the Report

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Explore the main activities and results.

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This course explores the role of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and ocean multi-use strategies in building a resilient and thriving blue economy.

Over four weeks, you’ll dive into how conservation, governance, and entrepreneurship intersect in the planning and use of ocean space. From understanding maritime spatial planning to exploring multi-use pilots across European sea basins, you’ll gain practical insight into how the ocean is managed—and how new solutions are developed.

You’ll also discover how MPAs support biodiversity, climate resilience, and local economies, while opening doors for sustainable ventures.

Through real-world case studies, interactive exercises, and strategic tools, you’ll learn how to evaluate MPA effectiveness, engage stakeholders, and integrate conservation into business models.

Along the way, you’ll explore innovative financing, circular economy principles, and leadership strategies that enable scalable solutions.

Whether you’re a student, innovator, or professional, this course will help you understand the governance and business opportunities shaping the future of ocean protection, and your role within it!

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After careful evaluation by an international jury, four winners have been chosen – one from each European sea basin:

Winner Baltic Sea – The end of the journey of the European eel

Photo by Piotr Balazy

“During a dive near the Torpedo House at Babie Doły, Gulf of Gdańsk, Baltic Sea, I came across an illegally set fyke net full of fish. The European eel has become extremely rare in this part of the Baltic Sea due to overfishing, therefore it was difficult to witness another individual trapped in this way. Technique: close focus wide angle, fisheye lens, small dome port, two external strobes.“

Winner Atlantic Ocean – The Solution

Photo by Vebjørn Karlsen

“This is Norwegian marine protection. Saltstraumen MPA is a very small protected area, with one of the world’s strongest maelstroms. The area is protected because it contains endangered, rare and vulnerable nature. But like all other Norwegian MPAs, this is a “paper park”. Unfortunately, these are the images I feel represent this area today.”

Winner North Sea – Sharing the sea

Photo by Francis Kerckhof

“To conserve the marine environment, we must learn to share the sea with marine mammals. These mobile creatures are not limited to any single area. Respecting their space and role in the ocean’s food web ensures the health and balance of the marine environment.“

Winner Mediterranean Sea – Brotherhood

Photo by Julie Virginie Sferlazzo-Rouvier

“In this shot, two feather stars dance side by side among purple sea fans and orange corals, like siblings supporting each other in the silent sea. Their feathery crowns intertwine without touching—free yet united, each different yet complementary. Around them, life unfolds in a thousand colors, guarding a fragile harmony. As in any true brotherhood, what binds them is not similarity, but mutual trust and shared balance. In this hidden corner of the Mediterranean, biodiversity teaches us that coexistence is possible, and that together—even in the depths—we can shine with our own light.“

 

Congratulations to these outstanding photographers! Their images will appear in the 2026 Blue4All Marine Protection Calendar, and each winner will receive a sustainable bracelet made from recycled fishing nets by Bracenet and a copy of the calendar.

This contest has shown how deeply people connect with the sea and how vital it is to work together to protect it. At Blue4All, we believe marine protection only works when everyone is involved—citizens, communities, scientists, and policymakers alike. These photos remind us that caring for our seas is both a shared responsibility and a shared joy.

Learn more about the Blue4All Project and the upcoming exhibitions here, and follow @Blue4All on LinkedIn for regular updates.

You can explore the gallery of all 30 selected photographs below.

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From cross-project exchanges, validation sessions, and interactive workshops to strategy sessions on long-term uptake, the event marked a major milestone in biodiversity mainstreaming within maritime spatial planning.

With MSP4BIO coming to and end, we are proud to share important outcomes of three years of hard work.

Read the full article here!

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Watch here!

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Read the roadmap here.

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Read the roadmap here.

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Share up to 3 photos that capture your connection to marine protection. Whether it’s a peaceful moment by the coast, marine wildlife, or a snapshot from a Marine Protected Area (MPA), we want to see what ocean conservation means to you.

Deadline: 26 August 2025

Winners announced: 1 September 2025

What you can win:

• Up to 30 photos will be selected for our 2026 Marine Protection Calendar and travelling exhibition across 10 MPA sites in Europe.

• Five sea basin winners (one per EU sea basin) will receive:

– A printed copy of the calendar

– A bracelet made from recycled fishing nets from Bracenet

Ready to enter? Submit your photos here.

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Following the introductions, the workshop moved into game mode! Around 30 participants were divided into three groups and challenged to design an MPA corridor based on diverse ecological and stakeholder data. Each team worked with a printed map and was supported by MPA-CN facilitators:

• Sophie Jensen (BioProtect)
• Deborah Gutierrez (MSP4BIO)
• Jannica Haldin (Protect Baltic)
• Mariana Mata Lara (Blue Connect)
• Maëlla Sicard (Blue4All)

Inspired by the mechanics of the game Clue, teams received 20 different data cards—ranging from biodiversity assessments to calls to protest by discontent stakehodlers—and had to collaboratively analyse trade-offs, ecological priorities, and human pressures to propose protected areas.

The discussions were very interesting, all participants were so proactive and to our surprise, the three designs were completely different! While some focused on the ecological value, other decided to protect the most vulnerable areas, and some other to create corridors that would connect different spots. People loved it and despite having been a 1 hour long game, the audience said they would it to be even longer.

Learn more here!

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