Fisheries  governance  in  the Marine  Protected  Areas:  Potential  for  'Blue Economy'
Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have multiplied in recent years, with a significant influence on local socio-economies, and artisanal fisheries. The benefits of MPAs for local fisheries become evident with an increase of catches over time, thus of profits for fishermen. In the short term however, their creation is often subject to strong opposition from local fishermen, who perceive MPAs as limiting their activities (e.g. due to the loss of available fishing grounds) and incomes. The FishMPABlue project addresses and proposes solutions to existing and potential conflicts. It involves key actors in the planning of conservation measures and fishery regulation processes in a context of sustainable governance involved in Blue Economy. FishMPABlue intends to start from few successful experiences of co-management between MPAs and fishermen, and develop new means of suports for artisanal fishery, within and around MPAs.