Striking Gold: Praised Practices for Sustainable Marine Restoration from the BlueMissionAA Atlantic and Arctic basin

The EU Mission Ocean aims to protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity by 2030, fostering sustainable and resilient ocean environments. This session, aligning with the Mission's goals, will explore the governance and management of ecosystem restoration projects within the Atlantic and Arctic Sea Basins, emphasising best practices derived from diverse case studies. It aims to foster a rich dialogue on the transferability, replicability, and scalability of successful marine conservation and restoration projects. By examining the ‘gold nuggets’ —or best practices— identified from various projects across their lifecycle, this session will provide valuable insights regarding innovative and effective methods and approaches that restoration practitioners have applied in different contexts. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how these best practices have been implemented across various environmental and socio-economic settings as well as for projects with different scales and objectives. The session will feature presentations of case studies from notable projects, such as REST-COAST, RESTORESEAS and CLIMAREST, as well as on the SER framework. Each presentation will highlight the specific practices that contributed to the project's success, focusing on critical aspects such as stakeholder engagement, adaptive management, innovative technologies, and long-term sustainability. A key session component will be the moderated discussion segment, which will explore how these identified gold nuggets can be adapted and applied in different projects. This discussion will emphasise the importance of local context, the challenges of scaling up, and the potential for replicating these practices in diverse geographic and ecological settings. By the end of the session, participants will have a deeper appreciation for the nuances of effective ecosystem restoration and be equipped with practical knowledge and tools to enhance their restoration efforts.
This session aligns with the overarching goals of the OBPS Workshop VIII by promoting the development and endorsement of standardised practices for marine conservation and sustainable ocean management. The insights gained from this session will contribute to more sustainable and resilient marine ecosystems, fostering a healthier ocean environment for future generations.