Commissioner Damanaki discusses marine protected areas with Pierre-Yves Cousteau
Commissioner Maria Damanaki met with Pierre-Yves Cousteau, son of Jacques Cousteau, goodwill ambassador of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and founder of Cousteau Divers, on the promotion of marine protected areas in the Mediterranean and, in particular, in the Aegean Sea and the Cyclades.
At the end of the meeting, Commissioner Damanaki stated: "Marine protected areas can contribute fundamentally to the value of ecosystem services, such as the restoration of specific marine and coastal habitats in support of sustainable fish stocks, as well as to tourism. Their creation is to be encouraged and accompanied by appropriate planning, management and control measures. The new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund will provide the opportunity to support the participation of fishermen in the management, restoration and monitoring of marine protected areas, as well as their participation in other actions aimed at maintaining and enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services."
